Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-30

down into the chimney, draw up a
spout of water from the pond 90 or 80
feet into the air. then suddenly scat
ter 1t in drenching sheets over every
thing in the vicinity.
Frank Crawford the caretaker,
admitted 1T was a trif1e breezy, but
said we ought to be there when it
really blew. Frank declared one day
the wind blew a bateau right up out
of Basin Pond and over the dam
and sure enough there was the ba-
teau upside down on the rocks below.
Shortly after breakfast it began to
snow and continued until noon. ka-
tahdin was evidently in one of his
fiercer moods, and seemed deter
mined to keep us off his top All
day it blew, and was still going
strong when we went to bed. Thurs
day morning dawned fair. and al
though the wind still blew it was
rapidly diminishing. and about seven
o'clock we started for the top.
Chimney Pond. a mile and a half
away. was soon reached. There we
found the members of the Appalacll-
ian club just starting for the top and
fell in line with them.
For about a mile and a half the
trail was through scrub timber and
quite gradual in ascent, although
frequent blow downs resulting from
the previous days gale made pro-
gresS slow and often difficult At
the foot of the slide our climb began
in earnest. The slide is about one
half mile in length and rises 1000
feet in this distance. AS we neared
the top the path was especially pre-
cipitous and the loose gravel and
l. Il tIoo, i
but we all made the top of the table
land in time. From here across the
plateau and up to Monument Peak,
the highest point, altitude 5270 feet.
the distance is about one and a half
miles, with a rise of $40 feet. We
reached the peak about 1890. Here
we found ice melting in the rock
monument, and gave thanks that we
did not venture up in the fierce blow
of the previous day.
1t is futile to attempt a description
of the view from Monument Peak.
Not even the camera can convey the
tremendous impression Of the scene.
We ourselves found it difficult to
judge that almost sheer. dizzy drop
into the chimney the gigantic height
of the towering sides of Pamela and
the Knife Edge. Howard Wood and
John Smart rolled huge houlders
over the edge down into the Chimney.
We expected to hear them strike the
bottom almost instantly. but it
seemed several minutes before we
heard the last faint tinkle from far
below. Actually they were a full
minute in falling, accurately timed
by Commissioner Parsons watch. a
boulder negotiating practically a
sheer drop will travel far in a Min
ute's time. Ones heartbeat quick
ems at the thought Of falling into
such an abyss.
Although the day was sunny and
the wind light, 1t was decidedly chill
ly at this altitude, and after enjoying
the view for a few minutes we were
glad to travel back down into the
warmer air Of the table land. Near
the head Of the slide, in a sheltered
nook among the low scrub growth,
we found Howard Wood waiting for
us with luncheon ready and a Kettle
on to boil for tea.-a CHEEKY sight for
men with tired legs and empty
stomachs. Soon we were refreshed,
and after short rest and soothing
smoke, we started another climb, this
time to North Peak, about a mile
and a half away.
About half way up we stopped to
take pictures of Pamela and the
Knife Edge. The members of the
Appalachian club, whom we had left
at Monument Peak. could now be
seen negotiating the Knife Edge. AT
that distance they appeared like tiny
black dots against the sky. One or
two members were not visible. Lat
err we learned that they were climb
ing on their stomachs. But their
humble posture was not deserving of
ridicule. The Knife Edge is very