The Republican journal., 1916-08-24
A Hike to Mt. Katahdin.
Belfast Boys Have an Enjoyable Trip to
Northern Maine.

/
from hike of 125 miles. which included the
ascent of Mount Katahdn-the highest noun
tain in Maine. whose top is 5,385 feet above
the sea-and a visit to the big dam at Ripo-
genus. The story of the trip, every hour of
which was enjoyed, is told in diary kent by
one of the boys as the basis for an article in
The Journal. The first few pages are devoted
to list of the supplies required. ranging
from bible to cake of soap, and a minute
expense account. The diary follows
THURSDAY. July 81. 1916. With good weather
We started on trip to Mt. Katahdn and Ripo
genus, which was to be the realization of
more than years anticipation. Through the
kindness of Messrs. N. Andrews, Row f.
Young and George Weymouth, we had an auto
ride to Searsport, where we took the $50 a.
m train at Mack's Point, arriving at Norcross
at 1922, Is minutes late, and were met there
by A. F. Fowler, manager of the Norcross
Transportation Co. Here we stored our street
clothes at the store and house. and BOARDING
the steamer Rainbow with our packs were
landed at Perkins Mills, IL miles north Of
Norcross. Shouldering our packs we went on
the out tote road until we struck the Mill.
nocket trail. Here we turned our faces north
ward and after travelling seven miles arrived
about p. m. atPockw ckamus bridge, where
made camp for the night, and with food
from home had good supper. o! the black
flies, mosquitoes and "buzz wagons" that first
night!
FRIDAY. July 28th. At 45 a. m Keith and
Raymond, unable to sleep, got up and built a
fire, and there not much sleep for the
rest of US after that. Talk about Bob cats.
loupcerviers and man eating tigers! They
would not be in it with the sounds that pro-
ceeded from camps. At $50 a. M we all
turned out got breakfast, and finished the
food brought with US, and were sorry to part
with it. Then we rolled up our blankets and
at 5 80 struck the trail for the mountain. At
ABBOTT we did some fishing and caught a good
mess of trout for dinner. At 12.45 we left the
Millinockett trail, taking the Katahdin trail.
and at p. m. arrived at the fire station. Here
we were met by fire warden A f. Sewall,
whose son Bob had Joined us at Norcross and
was great addition to our party, He was
perfectly familiar with all points of interest
and was a good companion Warden Sewall
soon had pork stew ready; and talk about
boys eating, if you could have seen that stew
disappear it would have made you smile. We
left only the Dishes At p. m. turned in
and were soon in the land of nod with all the
'buzz wagons going just the same.
SATURDAY, July 29th. At 4.30 a N. we were
up and getting ready to climb the mountain.
At 7.30 we were on our way up the Great
Slide. When arrived at the top it was SO
smoky the scenery was shut out, but we had
enjoyed our climb and knew we were on top.
making our record, etc. The wind shifting to
the south we made tracks for the slide and
reached the fire station at 2 80 p. NJ, and it
was fortunate we left when we did, for just
we reached the station the clouds settled down
and shut out the whole top of the mountain.
THE Old Man of the Mountain Mr..
Sewall is called, remembering the appetites
of the boys the night before, put two quarts
of peas to stew and had ffteen-quar kettle
nearly full for our supper and we cleaned it
out. Then we wrote cards home and Mr..
Sewall sang for us. AT 9 we turned in.
SUNDAY, July 30th. We got up at o'clock
late for u.s. The day was cloudy and the air
full of smoke, making the sun look like
great brass ball, while the mountain was shut
from view enveloped in the peculiar clouds.
Pos. cards and birch bark letters were writ
ten home and the day spent quietly few
of US went down to Garland camp about half
mile from the fire station.
| MONDAY, July 31st. We crawled out at a.
M, rolled up our blankets and after hurried
breakfast struck the trail at 4 As for Sourda-
hunk and arrived at the ABBOTT camps at the
foot of the mountain, four miles from the
Lookout, at o'clock; pretty good time. About
half a mile below here encountered thun-
der shower. We got out oil blankets, sat
down on log, spread the blankets over US
and let it rain. In about is minutes the sun
came out and we ent on our way. When we
got to where the trail crosses ABBOTT we struck
snag and also got good wetting. The
Great Northern Maine Paper Co. were driving
down 90,000,000 feet of lumber, the water was
| high and ABBOTT meadows were submerged
| We had to work our way around the overflow
through tall grass, wet with the recent shower
and low. thick underground. 1t was dis
agreeable stunt, but we succeeded, and in
working our way down katahdin brook found
the trail again, arriving at Sourdahunk at
10 80. Here a crew of men was at work sluc-
ing logs, and as some of the boys had never
seen anything of the kind we laid down our
packs and took an hours rest. took several
pictures, and picked berries. After travelling
fige miles more on the trail we arrived at Gull
lver's Pitch where, three miles below the
Gorge, there is small camp called Uncle
Toms Cabin. Here We pitched lean to,
having made 18 miles since leaving the fire
station at 45 that morning, and as the boys
were legweary we turned in early and had a
good nights rest. We remained here two and
one-haf days.
TUESDAY, Aug. LIST. When we awoke at 4,3O
Raymond and Joe were up and had fire built
Soon all were astir, and after breakfast were
ready for the trip up-river to see the big dam
at Ripogeaus and the Gorge. Joseph Mullin
superintendent, gave permission to &c
where wanted to, but at our own risk
Here we had dandy dinner roast beef
turnp, mashed potato bread, cottage pudding
cake, tea and coffee. Raymond and Keith ate
so much the cook made fun of them. After
dinner W. mailed orr most cards hOuQht few