Katahdin 2005
Finally, the report from the
trip.
We had yet another great trip up to the mountain this year. The weather was again almost perfect and in a big surprise, the bugs were almost non-existent. We managed to get all 7 of us up and ready to hike just at the cut-off time of 5PM. But, since it was during one of the longest daylight days of the year, we had no problem and were at camp well before dark. We all settled in a bit and then cooked up a fancy tortellini dinner.
In the morning, all of us except Heather hit the trail for Hamlin peak. We had climbed Cathedral trail the year before and no one was really interested in doing the Knife's Edge, so we opted for the 3rd option. It worked out well for me, since it was the only part of the mountain I hadn't done yet. We left camp under sunny skies and warm temps. But by the time we reached the peak a few hours later, it was overcast, cold, and the wind was really causing trouble.
We spent as long as we could on the peak, getting some food in. We then made the quick trip over to the top of Saddle trail, expecting to continue on to Baxter Peak. But by now, rain had started falling. Well, not falling really. SInce it was so windy, it was more 'needling'. Down Saddle we went.
Shortly down the trail, the sun came back out. It was a little disappointing to see but it got worse again fairly quickly and we felt we had made the correct choice.
So, we ended up back at camp much earlier than planned. The decision was made to head off to see the Pamola Caves. It was about a mile or so up and across. Heather tagged along, Kristin stayed at camp and while Rick started to come with us, he decided to turn back. The rest of us climbed over huge boulders, walked through a stream, along a smooth wall of rock and finally got to the caves. The first part is squeezing yourself through a thin passageway. This was fun on the way through but not on the way back where I really thought I was stuck. After that, its onto a tunnel which you climb out the top of, a smaller tunnel that you crawl through, and finally into a large cave. Here's is where we turned back. Kelly, Jared, and I were beat by this point.
Back at camp, we had dinner and spent a good amount of time playing cards and talking. In the morning, we could see clouds forming and dissipating as the wind came over the bowl of the mountain. Very cool to watch.
The hike out was uneventful and not raining like last year. It was getting pretty damn hot though. Like the folks hiking in last year in the rain, I felt bad for everyone hiking in for a hot weekend.
We drove out along the golden road, getting to see one moose up close and a large bull moose from a distance. We stopped at Abol bridge to view the mountain and walked out on the big dam whose name I can't spell. On the drive back, we used a boat launch to do some swimming. The water was just above the point of freezing. I could swear I could see ice in the shady areas.
We made the customary stop at the Millinocket House of Pizza and then hit the road for home.
The Climbing Crew:
The Cutest Hiker Ever:
The Moon over the mountain:
The Moose
Resting on the way up:
Posing on the way up to the caves:
We had yet another great trip up to the mountain this year. The weather was again almost perfect and in a big surprise, the bugs were almost non-existent. We managed to get all 7 of us up and ready to hike just at the cut-off time of 5PM. But, since it was during one of the longest daylight days of the year, we had no problem and were at camp well before dark. We all settled in a bit and then cooked up a fancy tortellini dinner.
In the morning, all of us except Heather hit the trail for Hamlin peak. We had climbed Cathedral trail the year before and no one was really interested in doing the Knife's Edge, so we opted for the 3rd option. It worked out well for me, since it was the only part of the mountain I hadn't done yet. We left camp under sunny skies and warm temps. But by the time we reached the peak a few hours later, it was overcast, cold, and the wind was really causing trouble.
We spent as long as we could on the peak, getting some food in. We then made the quick trip over to the top of Saddle trail, expecting to continue on to Baxter Peak. But by now, rain had started falling. Well, not falling really. SInce it was so windy, it was more 'needling'. Down Saddle we went.
Shortly down the trail, the sun came back out. It was a little disappointing to see but it got worse again fairly quickly and we felt we had made the correct choice.
So, we ended up back at camp much earlier than planned. The decision was made to head off to see the Pamola Caves. It was about a mile or so up and across. Heather tagged along, Kristin stayed at camp and while Rick started to come with us, he decided to turn back. The rest of us climbed over huge boulders, walked through a stream, along a smooth wall of rock and finally got to the caves. The first part is squeezing yourself through a thin passageway. This was fun on the way through but not on the way back where I really thought I was stuck. After that, its onto a tunnel which you climb out the top of, a smaller tunnel that you crawl through, and finally into a large cave. Here's is where we turned back. Kelly, Jared, and I were beat by this point.
Back at camp, we had dinner and spent a good amount of time playing cards and talking. In the morning, we could see clouds forming and dissipating as the wind came over the bowl of the mountain. Very cool to watch.
The hike out was uneventful and not raining like last year. It was getting pretty damn hot though. Like the folks hiking in last year in the rain, I felt bad for everyone hiking in for a hot weekend.
We drove out along the golden road, getting to see one moose up close and a large bull moose from a distance. We stopped at Abol bridge to view the mountain and walked out on the big dam whose name I can't spell. On the drive back, we used a boat launch to do some swimming. The water was just above the point of freezing. I could swear I could see ice in the shady areas.
We made the customary stop at the Millinocket House of Pizza and then hit the road for home.
The Climbing Crew:
The Cutest Hiker Ever:
The Moon over the mountain:
The Moose
Resting on the way up:
Posing on the way up to the caves:
Posted: Sat - June 25, 2005 at 11:47 AM |
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Published On: Nov 21, 2005 01:53 PM
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Published On: Nov 21, 2005 01:53 PM