| Forget the White Mountains, if you haven't nailed | | | | 2,000 feet of "over exposure" on both sides. Yikes! |
| Katahdin then you haven't yet bitten into the New | | | | This one mile trail took almost 2 hours to complete |
| England's juiciest hiking apple. This baby really lived up | | | | despite our fearless leader, Hiker Bob, telling us that |
| to its reputation for excitement and adventure. | | | | even if we fell off the trail it probably wasn't steep |
| The sacrificial offering of an old pair of hiking boots, | | | | enough that we would die (yea thanks Bob that's |
| burned at the stake at our full moon campfire, really | | | | very reassuring). |
| seemed to pay off pay as the "weather gods" | | | | We then arrived at Pamola peak and picked up the |
| blessed us with clear skies and unseasonably warm | | | | Helon (Hee-lon)Taylor trail enjoying 3 hours of |
| temps the whole weekend. | | | | Chinese knee torture, as we descended 3,400 feet |
| Our adventure began Saturday morning with a | | | | of rough rock, and landed our little tent village in the |
| moderate but scenic 3.5 mile hike that took us | | | | woods. After several minutes of heated discussion |
| through a forest of rainbow colors and virgin blue | | | | our friendly Ranger did manage to convince us that |
| lakes. Arriving at Chimney Pond we looked straight up | | | | our $6 per night camping fee didn't include a massage |
| at the mouth of this monster glacial basin at the foot | | | | or Jacuzzi we licked our wounds and went happily off |
| of Katahdin. | | | | to bed. |
| We then proceeded up the steep, cardio bomb of a | | | | Next morning we arose in the predawn light and |
| trail they call Cathedral, and clawed our way up 2,300 | | | | hobbled over to the nearby Sandy Stream Pond in |
| vertical feet in just 1.75 miles. After "topping out" at | | | | hope of spotting the ever elusive "Bullwinkle the |
| Baxter Peak we played the role of the welcome | | | | Moose". After an hour of watching the morning sun |
| wagon for "Wackie Jackie", a 60 year old female | | | | light up the glacial basin, Bullwinkle finally made a |
| 'through hiker' who had just climbed her final | | | | majestic but rather brief appearance (I think the TV |
| Appalachian Trail peak. After lunch and some | | | | show has really gone to his head). |
| Transcendental Meditation, we struck a pose next to | | | | We then had breakfast at the nearby "hikers only" |
| the Katahdin trail sign and headed out on the second | | | | diner in town and "blew that popstand" feeling fat |
| half of our 9 mile loop by tip toeing our way along | | | | and oh so satisfied. I hope everyone gets to |
| the infamous Knife Edge trail. This 3-6 foot wide ridge | | | | experience the thrill of Katahdin real soon. See you |
| grinds up and down like a angry snake over boulders | | | | on the trails! |
| and jagged rock for about a mile and offers a handy | | | | |