| Our trip started at 3:30am (ET) as we left Camp
in the dark. A short trip to Dunkin' Donuts in North Windham ensured
the trip leaders (Scott Coolidge, Terry Coolidge, and Bob Roeder) wouldn't
fall asleep. The sun finally rose on us near Bangor,Maine where our
campers awoke to a breakfast at McDonald's. Another hour later, and
we were driving through the logging town of Millenocket. By 9:00am we reached
Baxter State Park and soon after our Morning Meeting we began to hike! |
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Our hike took us up the steep slopes of Pamola
Peak. By lunchtime, we could see the jagged edges of the Knife Edge
in the distance. Our group did a great job of staying focused and
having fun while the trail turned steeper and steeper. |
| By early afternoon, we reached the summit of
Pamola Peak. We could see for miles. Nothing but forest, lakes,
and a few distant logging roads could be seen. The Knife Edge now
stood between us and the Baxter Peak summit of Kathadin. |
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The troops took a few extra minutes to enjoy
the view, drink water, eat gorp, and rest up for the Knife Edge hike.
Fortunately, the weather couldn't have been better. Skies remained
mostly sunny and the air temperature only dipped into the low 60s. |
| Now the real fun began! Very slowly our
group scaled the rocky Chimney and then proceeded onto the narrow ridges
of the Knife Edge. Nohting but rocky boulders and cairns guided us
to the summit of Baxter Peak. |
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Finally, we reached the highest point in Maine,
Kathadin's Baxter Peak. Just over a mile above sea level, this point
marks the northern terminus of the Appalchian Trail. Our 360 degree
view of Maine was amazing. To the north was the Allagash, to the
south the Penobscot river and to the West in the distance we could make
out the faint ridges of Sugarloaf. |
| We now began our descent to the Chimney Pond
area. We continued north to the Saddle and descended to the Chimney
Pond campground. Many of us enjoyed the site of the Pond and the
steep walls of the ravines leading back up the mountain. |
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Our day would not have been complete without
a Moose sighting. As we rested our feet at Chimney Pond, a large
female Moose stopped by to graze in the shallow waters. Many fellow
hikers grabbed their cameras, while our group did a great job of remaining
quiet and taking notes for an upcoming report on nature for Council Fire. |