Order of Visit: High Point #1
Date Visited: July 24, 2018 (and again on September 5, 2019)
Route Taken: Appalachian Trail via the Hunt Trailhead – 10.4 miles roundtrip
Type of Terrain: Steep, well-defined trails, followed by some Class 3 rock scrambling.
Elevation: 5,267 feet
Ancestral Lands: Penobscot, Wabanaki, Abenaki
What’s in a name?
Maine’s high point is unique in that it’s the only mountain that serves as a terminus for one of our National Scenic Trails. Thus, for many Appalachian Trail thru-hikers (myself included), simply mentioning the word Katahdin triggers deep emotional feelings.
In the trail community, Katahdin is not just a destination. It’s the end (or beginning) of an epic journey. It’s the word that you mutter for motivation on the hard days on the Appalachian Trail. Katahdin is one giant reason you keep moving forward step-after-step, day-after-day, rain-or-shine.
The local Penobscot Native Americans named this mountain Katahdin, which translates to “greatest mountain.” This moniker makes Maine’s tallest peak one of the few state high points to still holds it’s traditional indigenous name instead of being [re]named by Anglo-American settlers or geographers.
Only three other state high points in the U.S. that have a similar distinction, including: Cheaha Mountain (in Alabama), Denali (in Alaska), and Mauna Kea (in Hawaii).
For the Penobscot people, Katahdin represents birth and spiritual enlightenment. When they lived on these ancestral lands, they believed the an evil spirit name Pamola lived on the mountain and they cautioned against climbing to the summit, which is they referred to as Pamola Peak (many maps now refer to it as Baxter Peak in honor of former Maine Governor Percival Baxter.)
Climbing to Katahdin’s summit could result in being killed our devoured by Pamola, so to appease him they’d offer regular sacrifices of oil and fat. These tales of Pamola remind hikers to respect the mountain and the fickle weather or severe storms that often surround it.
Trip Summary
Unfortunately for us, much of our July visit to northern Maine was supposed to be inundated with rain. Therefore, when we spotted a lone Tuesday with a reasonably dry forecast, we hurriedly booked a parking reservation near the Hunt Trailhead.
Our plan was to get an early start (i.e., before 7 am and my requisite two cups of coffee), because we knew that it might take us 10 hours or more to climb this summit. Not only was the clime supposed steep and difficult, but we were going to attempt it with a 11 year old in tow.
Once at the trailhead, we dutifully signed the hiker register with our starting time and route. This safety measure helps park rangers learn about missing and/or injured hikers, but it also serves as a tool to see how many people are ahead of you on the mountain.
As I signed us in, it was humbling to scan down the list of names and see how many other hikers started hiking Katahdin hours earlier than us that day! We’d be playing catch-up for sure.
The trail was well-defined, but it wasn’t long before the dirt path began ascending sharply. Then we encountered large boulders in the middle of the trail that we had to climb up and around, only adding to the difficulty of the journey. It was extremely slow hiking around these obstacles, and I immediately understood why this summit takes so long to ascend.
Around 2 ½ miles into the hike, we finally popped out above the treeline and into dense fog surrounding the mountain. And from here to the summit, we no longer had a traditional dirt trail, but rather a series of white blazes paint on rocks helping us navigate through the notorious rock scramble.
This next mile of rock scrambling was undoubtedly the hardest section of Katahdin’s route. Finn and I climbed up and over the boulders pretty easily. But Keith struggled in several places where his surgically-repaired, “old man knees” didn’t want to bend as much as the Class 3 terrain required.
Nonetheless, we pressed on slow and steady. Our focus was mostly on our handholds and footing, which was fine since the fog enveloping us on all side ensured there weren’t any views to linger on.
During this rock scrambling section, we passed numerous people turning around and heading back down. They didn’t feel completely safe on the handful of places where they needed to climb over the rocks using some metal rungs. I could understand their hesitation, but honestly, it wasn’t that bad.
As we continued to climb higher, we got to a ledge that felt very exposed and cold, especially whenever gusts of wind would come up. So we used a short break to add a layer of clothing before the temperature dropped too much.
With the rock scramble complete, we trod through an easy mile of flat tableland. The route through this section was well-marked with ropes so hikers don’t wander off and crush the delicate alpine flora. Atop this tableland another route merged with us, and soon the crowds began to grow.
There’s not much more climbing after the tableland. Just a few more rocks and we were at the summit. We made it!!
Of course, there was a line of hikers waiting patiently to take their photo with the iconic Katahdin A-frame sign – and we were no exception. We wanted that picture to prove our achievement!!
Afterward, we found a low spot to sit on the summit where we were mostly protected from the wind, and we broke out our lunches. All of us were starving from the climb and ready to fill our bellies. After lunch and some celebratory Snickers bars, it was time to pack up and head back down the way we’d come.
During the descent, the clouds briefly broke to give us a few fleeting glimpses of the scenery miles below us. I can only imagine how much we’d enjoy climbing Katahdin on a sunny day. However, given Keith’s distaste for narrow ledges and sharp drop-offs, it was probably better than he couldn’t see those grand views on the way up.
Scrambling down the rocks was definitely harder in several ways. There was at least one section where the white blazes seemed to disappear and we couldn’t discern any easy way ahead. Nonetheless, we eventually made it back down to treeline on weary legs.
The final few miles back to the car were mostly quiet. We were all tired and lost in our thoughts. Plus, there were all those knee-jarring steps around rocks to focus on before we finally made it back to the trailhead.
All told, took us just over 9 hours from to the time we signed in on the register until we signed back out. Not a fast pace, but it was well worth the hike.
(Author’s Note: If you also want to read about my second time summiting this high point at the end of my Appalachian Trail thru-hike in 2019, click HERE)
Details
When to Visit: June to late September. Snow usually closes the trails during other times of the year.
Getting There: Mt. Katahdin is located within Baxter State Park, approximately 35 miles north of Millinocket, Maine.
Entrance Fees/Permits: Non-residents must pay a $15 entrance fee for Baxter State Park, but there is no permit or additional fees to hike up Mt. Katahdin. All hikers should register their climb on the clipboard near the trailhead they use – signing in and out at the beginning/end of their hike. This method helps the park rangers identify lost hikers, coordinate rescues, and manage their resources appropriately.
Parking: Baxter State Park limits parking at the three trailheads (Abol, Hunt, and Roaring Brook). If you plan to hike Katahdin in July or August, parking reservations are highly recommended. A link to the parking reservation page is HERE. Note: Non-residents can only make reservations up to two weeks in advance.
Accessibility: This is a remote hike that is best for adventurous hikers. This climb requires an elevation gain of 4,000 feet and the average round-trip hike for a Katahdin hike is 8-12 hours! Definitely pack a lunch and lots of water. In addition, the park does not allow children under the age of 6 to hike above timberline.
Bonus: Katahdin is the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. So, expect to see lots of hikers there when you visit, especially if you arrive in late summer/early fall when many thru-hikers are completing their nearly 2,200 mile journey along the Appalachian Trail.
Blog Links: Why I Chose to Summit Mt. Katahdin Before a Thru-hike
Resources: