Baxter Park cancels May 15th opening

[TJ aka Teej]

Just got off the phone with Baxter Park HQ in Millinocket. Due to the poor conditions of the roads all reservations for the traditional Opening week-end of May 15th are being canceled and campers holding reservations for those dates will be contacted regarding refunds or swapping ahead for new dates.
Only one campground in the northern end of the Park will be open for May 15th.
I've been at Katahdin Stream almost every May 15th for the last 30 years.
Ain't never heard of this happening to KSC and Abol before.

[walkin' wally]

A little snow left over Teej?

[mudhead]

What happens with clean-up day?

[TJ aka Teej]

A little snow left over Teej?

Yup. I've seen the tote road to the E closed many times on May 15, and the tote road closed above Daicey Pond closed more often than not. But the whole she-bang? Not in my memory.

[TJ aka Teej]

What happens with clean-up day?

That's the litter pick-up alongside the road to the Park, best to check with HQ on that one.

[Lone Wolf]

Yup. I've seen the tote road to the E closed many times on May 15, and the tote road closed above Daicey Pond closed more often than not. But the whole she-bang? Not in my memory.

global warming for sure

[mudhead]

The HQ made it sound like the road got washed out. After seeing Boarstone's pics, I don't doubt it one bit.

Few extra days. Seems like global warming here. Toasty.

[Red Hat]

Right now it is 95 in my backyard, and supposed to be 97 by this afternoon! Talk about toasty! But that's Texas, not Maine....

[warren doyle]

Thanks for the info TJ.

[Autumnwind]

Bangor Daily published this new of Katahdin trails today. Delays......

http://bangornews.com/news/t/aroosto...371&zoneid=175

[jersey joe]

Bangor Daily published this new of Katahdin trails today. Delays......

http://bangornews.com/news/t/aroosto...371&zoneid=175

"The lodging facilities at Chimney Pond, which was still buried under 80 inches of snow as of mid-April, likely will be closed until June 1." Damn! 80 inches in April!

[Bluebearee]

I'm hiking into Russell Pond tomorrow from South Branch Pond (the northern campground that opened last week by its lonesome). If anyone wants trail conditions or what the mountain looks like from afar I can post an update next week.

The Perimeter road (aka Tote Road) needs to harden before it can completely open, with that much snow this year, it's taking longer. The latest newsletter from the Park indicates that there was an inordinate moose problem on the spur to Roaring Brook this early spring. Moose couldn't find safe exits and therefore were trotting ahead of sleds for up to 6 miles. Staff had to start to rearrange their work schedule by when the moose were out and about on the roadway. This is most unusual.

[Autumnwind]

Newest Katahdin news on trails today May 24,2008

http://bangornews.com/news/t/news.as...762&zoneid=500

[sasquatch2014]

So from this I get that the trails above treeline are still closed. Is that correct?

[4eyedbuzzard]

So from this I get that the trails above treeline are still closed. Is that correct?

The article said the Abol Trail is open.

[sasquatch2014]

it was this part that made me wonder about above tree line.
"The good news is that all the hiking trails below the tree line are open. People should expect to find muddy conditions. In some cases, they may not be able to get to a trail head."

[TJ aka Teej]

When Katahdin trails close, they close at the trailhead. Not at 'treeline' as that would be impossible to enforce.

[Bluebearee]

I just got in from 4 nights @ Russell Pond, hiking in from the north end, through South Branch Pond. As reported Abol trail opened on Friday and Sunday they opened Hunt (AT) for the first time this season! I didn't have a clear shot of the mountain from Russell but can report little snow on the low elevation trails I hiked including out to Wass. Lake. Sunday was a gorgeous day up here, and the bugs are starting.