I realise that this is not biking, but Mt. Katahdin kicks ass. Any hikers should definitely check it out.
We got up at 3:20 am, got in line at the gate for around 4:00. There were already 16 cars ahead of us to sign up for access to Baxter Park. The only let about 30 cars into the park, so best to get there early. Doubted it was true, but decided not to risk having our 7 hour drive go to waste. Turned out it was a good thing we got up with the Loons. (bird kind).
It was coooooooooold!
Started the hike up Helon Taylor trail around 6-ish. Hit the summit by 11:00. The Knife Edge was nuts. So much fun, couldn't have had better weather.
We then proceeded to descend via a trail known as Catheral. Crossed a bunch of people headed upward giving us the "You're nuts" look. Turns out going DOWN that way is not recommended. It was a little hairy, but I can't imagine that going down Helon-Taylor would have been a whole lot easier... ehn, whatever. Good times all the same. Downclimb, bumslide? Varying techniques were used...
Got back to the trailhead at around 4:30 pm completely exhausted, with sore feet, sore knees and big smiles.
So, to all you Mainers out there, you got yourselves a fine mountain. And to any hikers out there, if you haven't hit Mt. Katahdin (Cat-ahhhhh-din, as we learned... he heh) yet. Go.
What a great weekend.
We got up at 3:20 am, got in line at the gate for around 4:00. There were already 16 cars ahead of us to sign up for access to Baxter Park. The only let about 30 cars into the park, so best to get there early. Doubted it was true, but decided not to risk having our 7 hour drive go to waste. Turned out it was a good thing we got up with the Loons. (bird kind).
It was coooooooooold!
Started the hike up Helon Taylor trail around 6-ish. Hit the summit by 11:00. The Knife Edge was nuts. So much fun, couldn't have had better weather.
We then proceeded to descend via a trail known as Catheral. Crossed a bunch of people headed upward giving us the "You're nuts" look. Turns out going DOWN that way is not recommended. It was a little hairy, but I can't imagine that going down Helon-Taylor would have been a whole lot easier... ehn, whatever. Good times all the same. Downclimb, bumslide? Varying techniques were used...
Got back to the trailhead at around 4:30 pm completely exhausted, with sore feet, sore knees and big smiles.
So, to all you Mainers out there, you got yourselves a fine mountain. And to any hikers out there, if you haven't hit Mt. Katahdin (Cat-ahhhhh-din, as we learned... he heh) yet. Go.
What a great weekend.
