Big K. October 2019

Went up and walked all over Katahdin this past October. First time back since finishing the AT. Kinda funny cause the couple in the summit photo i trail angeled in the whites like a month prior. Funny running into them. A beautiful day. Literally no wind. Clear cool. In the 40s and 50s. I met an a guy from Israel at the ranger station and we ended up doing the whole loop together. Stayed at the AT hostel in Millinocket. Pamola - Baxter - Hamlin from roaring brook. Sweet hike.

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The thing that I find fascinating about Katahdin is that it reminds me of the Sierra Nevada mountains (hiking the JMT in my case) where you spend part of your time above tree line. But the elevation of Katahdin isn't that much... because it's more than 1,000' lower than Clingman's Dome in GSMNP (where I do the bulk of my hiking), yet Clingmans Dome is a forest covered mountain.
Obviously the difference is latitude. I think I once read that "tree line" in GSMNP is about 8,000', but Clingman's Dome is only around 6,600'.

BTW: Enjoyed your pictures.

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Originally Posted by HooKooDooKu

The thing that I find fascinating about Katahdin is that it reminds me of the Sierra Nevada mountains (hiking the JMT in my case) where you spend part of your time above tree line. But the elevation of Katahdin isn't that much... because it's more than 1,000' lower than Clingman's Dome in GSMNP (where I do the bulk of my hiking), yet Clingmans Dome is a forest covered mountain.
Obviously the difference is latitude. I think I once read that "tree line" in GSMNP is about 8,000', but Clingman's Dome is only around 6,600'.

BTW: Enjoyed your pictures.

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It's that same feeling you get on the AT when you hit the Whites. Even though Clingmans is higher. The whites and maine feel 10x bigger than the rest of the AT.

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Wow nice pics thanks for sharing. I can't wait to get up there, that whole work thing gets in the way.

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Originally Posted by JNI64

Wow nice pics thanks for sharing. I can't wait to get up there, that whole work thing gets in the way.

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Do ittt

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it's been a long time since I was last up there. I need to go back before I'm too old and lame...

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Originally Posted by Slo-go'en

it's been a long time since I was last up there. I need to go back before I'm too old and lame...

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I reckon things haven't changed much up North.

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Originally Posted by fastfoxengineering

Do ittt

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Yeah well me and Colorado have some unfinished business then I think Maine is on my list.

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Originally Posted by JNI64

Yeah well me and Colorado have some unfinished business then I think Maine is on my list.

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Excellent. Touching Baxter Peak... all I could think about was starting a long walk south to GA.

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Originally Posted by fastfoxengineering

Excellent. Touching Baxter Peak... all I could think about was starting a long walk south to GA.

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Do it!! ��

How many miles is this loop? I ask because you say the month of October. And may consider this a future endeavor and adventure of my own.

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Originally Posted by JNI64

How many miles is this loop? I ask because you say the month of October. And may consider this a future endeavor and adventure of my own.

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If I remember correctly it was right under 13 miles. I got to Baxter 30 minutes before the park opened. 6am I believe. Then started hiking around 7. Was back at the car around 2:30.

We were steady all day but never once felt like we were pushing ourselves. Never even broke a sweat!

Knifes edge is not nearly as bad as people make it out to be. In good weather.

My experience hiking it. Its 1.1 miles long. Only about .3 is actually hairy. And I can feel for someone uncomfortable on rock being intimidated by that .3

The rest of it I was on my two feet walking the Knife Edge.

The stretch from Baxter over to Hamlin was pretty gentle. And even going down Chimney was pretty gentle.

You certainly want to start with the knifes edge.

However. It would suck on wet rock and I wouldnt do it

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Originally Posted by fastfoxengineering

I reckon things haven't changed much up North.
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The last time I was up there, there was 6" of snow on the top. The time before that, there was light coating of ice. Both times we had to sweet talk the rangers into letting us up there. That's when we decided Columbus day weekend wasn't the best time to do a Baxter trip :)

Hard to beat that loop up from Roaring Brook. So many folks are fixated on the summit and getting home that they miss the best part of the mountain. There is similar long loop from Russel Pond that is just as if not more spectacular via Northwest Basin trail to Hamlin, then an optional run over to the Baxter Peak then back to Russel Pond via Northern Peaks trail. The big difference is if you stop at Hamlin and skip Baxter Peak you may only encounter 4 or 5 folks all day.

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Originally Posted by peakbagger

Hard to beat that loop up from Roaring Brook. So many folks are fixated on the summit and getting home that they miss the best part of the mountain. There is similar long loop from Russel Pond that is just as if not more spectacular via Northwest Basin trail to Hamlin, then an optional run over to the Baxter Peak then back to Russel Pond via Northern Peaks trail. The big difference is if you stop at Hamlin and skip Baxter Peak you may only encounter 4 or 5 folks all day.

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I really enjoyed this loop I did and can whole heartedly recommend it. I told the ranger I went over to Hamlin and he said.. noone days that!

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Originally Posted by Slo-go'en

The last time I was up there, there was 6" of snow on the top. The time before that, there was light coating of ice. Both times we had to sweet talk the rangers into letting us up there. That's when we decided Columbus day weekend wasn't the best time to do a Baxter trip :)

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I believe this was October 13th. A week prior Nobos were making snowmen on the summit lol

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