Abol closure still leaves five great hiking routes to cheap canada goose uk the top of Katahdin
Carey Kish of Mount Desert Island has been adventuring in the woods and mountains of Maine for, well, a long time. If there’s a trail be it on dirt, rock, snow, water or pavement he will find it, explore it, and write about it. Follow his outdoor travels and musings here, and on Facebook/CareyKish.
Mother Nature wasn’t in a letting go of canada goose uk outlet winter frame of mind this spring, keeping the trails on Katahdin choked with snow and thus closed for a bit longer than normal. But the warm June weather has remedied that situation and all the trails canada goose uk shop are open now, except for one.
Canada Goose online Abol Trail is still closed, but not because of deep buy canada goose jacket cheap snow. Rather, a landside has created an unsafe situation for hikers on the upper part of the route. But that will take at least Canada Goose Outlet a year and perhaps more. Canada Goose online
canada goose deals The Abol Trail is one of the most popular climbing routes on Katahdin, perhaps because uk canada goose it offers the shortest Canada Goose sale way to the top, 3.2 miles to Thoreau Spring on the barren and windswept Tablelands, then a Canada Goose Jackets final mile via the Hunt Trail, which is also the very last mile of the entire Appalachian Trail. canada goose deals
Abol canada goose is surely popular as well because it gets you up and out into the open fairly quickly, offering spectacular views from the Abol Slide south to the West Branch of the Penobscot river and beyond to the woods and mountains of the https://www.canadagoose-coats.ca 100 Mile Wilderness.
Descending the Abol Slide on the Abol Trail. Photo Carey Kish.
canada goose coats on sale Abol is the first trail I hiked to the summit of Katahdin way back when in grade school. A few years before that, like in the 1850s, Abol was the route Henry David Thoreau used to climb the peak, canada goose coats on sale although I’m not sure he actually made it due to weather. Canada Goose Coats On Sale It’s been awhile since I’ve read The Maine Woods, so I guess I should check that again. canada goose coats on sale
canada goose store Six hiking routes lead to canada goose uk black friday the summit of mile high Katahdin. Photo Carey Kish. canada goose store
I got to wondering about the Abol Trail late last summer, when canada goose clearance sale my wife and I used it on uk canada goose outlet the way down. Nearing Thoreau Spring we were hit with a bad storm and high canada goose factory sale winds that pelted us with large pellets of hail, beating into our backs and heads as we raced along. Rather than remain exposed to the storm on the plateau for a fair distanceto descend the trail we came up the Hunt Trail, we beat feet down over the lip on the Abol Trail and slipped, slid and stumbled our way down off the mountain.
canadian goose jacket The miserable weather notwithstanding, I noticed on the descent how bad the trail had gotten since I’d been up that way last. Everything seemed loose and slippery, and I canada goose store remember skidding down long stretches of rocks and sand. And no matter how careful I was, I still managed to dislodge rocks and send them somersaulting downslope. It wasn’t a lot of fun and I was glad to get on to firmer trail down in the trees. And empty my boots and socks of all the gritty sand and pebbles. canadian goose jacket
cheap Canada Goose That said, I wasn’t all that surprised when I heard the news of the Abol closure. I hope the park folks can find a way to repair the trail and make it safe for passage. But I wonder if that’s possible without a major re route, something akin to Canada Goose online what they did on Mount Coe (or was it South Brother?) a few years back, when the trail was moved away from the big slide that had just gotten really bad and potentially dangerous. Guess we’ll see. cheap Canada Goose
Canada Goose Outlet Map of the network of hiking routes on Katahdin (from AMC Maine Mountain Guide). Canada Goose Outlet
The Abol closure will put a little more pressure on the other five routes to the mile high summit of Katahdin, one other from the west side and four from the east side of the mountain. Here’s a brief look at each:
canada goose Hunt Trail: Departs from Katahdin Stream Campground on the Park Tote Road and gains Canada Goose Parka 4,169 feet on its 5.4 mile journey to the top. It’s the canadian goose jacket longest trail to the summit. canada goose
canada goose black friday sale Helon Taylor Trail Knife Edge cheap Canada Goose Trail: Leaves from Roaring Brook Campground and climbs the open Keep Ridge to the summit of Pamola, then crosses the Chimney and snakes along the incredible Knife Edge to South Peak and then Baxter Peak. 4.7 miles, 3,779 feet of elevation gain. canada goose black friday sale
buy canada goose jacket Chimney Pond Trail: Departs from Roaring Brook Campground and climbs 3.3 miles to Chimney Pond Campground amid the towering walls ofthe Great Basin, gaining 1,425 feet en route. buy canada goose jacket
Canada Goose Jackets From Chimney Pondyou have three options for scaling the mountain: Canada Goose Jackets
canada goose coats Saddle Trail: Climbs the famous Saddle Slide to the broad saddle between Baxter Peak and Hamlin Peak, then turns south to reach the summit (2.5 miles; 2,354 feet elevation gain). canada goose coats
Cathedral Trail: Climbs directly up the rocky spine of the three canada goose clearance “Cathedrals,” then joins the Saddle Trail for the last 0.2 miles to Baxter Peak. 2.0 miles; 2,354 feet elevation gain.
Canada Goose sale Dudley Trail: Climbs the northeast ridge of Katahdin past the amazing finger of Index Rock to Pamola Peak (1.4 miles; 2,009 feet), then continues on to Baxter Peak via the Knife Edge. Canada Goose sale
buy canada goose jacket cheap Any route you choose to climb Katahdin is, in the end, a fairly long and arduous one. Come well rested and well prepared Canada Goose Outlet for a full 8 12 hour day on the mountain, geared up with sufficient food, water and clothing for the excursion. buy canada goose jacket cheap
For hikers unfamiliar with climbing Katahdin, Canada Goose Online well, there are few things you really should know before you go. Check out the buy canada goose jacket video I made with the AMC awhile back, “How to Climb Katahdin,” for some good tips.
Be sure to check with the Baxter State Park folks, who have lots of great information about hiking Katahdin, day use parking reservations a must to avoid being disappointed, and camping.
canada goose clearance sale Rock scrambling on the Hunt Trail, The Owl in the background. Photo Carey Kish. canada goose clearance sale
canada goose clearance The upper portion of the Hunt Trail, high on Katahdin famed tableland. Photo Carey Kish. canada goose clearance
Canada Goose Parka Katahdin from the west at Martin Ponds. Keep Ridge forms canada goose black friday sale the center left skyline. The jagged ridge of the Knife Edge is visible above. The Dudley Trail climbs the right skyline. Photo Carey canada goose coats Kish Canada Goose Parka.