Date: 2016-06-25
From: Katadhin

To: Abol Bridge Campground
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: light rain

So... today I needed to figure out how to get in and out of Baxter State Park without paying that fee. It's not that I object to the fee - but once is enough if you only plan on needing to be in the park twice - Maine residents get enough of a break. They pay no entrance fee and they can book campsites anytime. Which is why I couldn't get a site in the park.I thought about hiking in and out but that makes an 18-mile day. Local maps show additional trails in this area. And, it's hot and humid. The original decision was to hike in on a side trail and south on th AT. The connector trail is Blueberry Ledges. When I got to the junction I decided to hike the long leg, the AT portion, first. The temperature was cooler. The Ledges trail is only 4.4 miles. The AT in Maine is exactly what I expected. No rocks - roots. Lots and lots of roots. But 4 hours later, 1100, I'm in Baxter at Katahdin Stream Campground. After lunch I found the Park Ranger who questioned me yesterday. Today, she had another question: Did I have my yellow slip? No, I don't have a yellow slip, I don't have to register...I didn't hike in from more than 100 miles, as far as Baxter is concerned I originated here. That's true, but today you hiked in. So I have a yellow registration slip.Before I leave I check those I'd passed. Einstein's summit was last week of May - right after the park opened. I guess quite a few hikers arrived mid-May only to find the park still closed. They shuttled to Abol Bridge and started from there. Tin Man completed the second week of June. Goat turned around on his yo-yo about the same time.Then off to The Birches shelter and Blueberry Ledges. I couldn't stay at The Birches -rules. You can't stay here unless you've hiked in more than 100 miles. And how would anyone know? But, rules are for a reason, the Park Ranger explained... I understand. It makes little difference anyway.Blueberry Ledges is a pine forest (read swampy ground under evergreen canopy). Oh yes, and there are bugs. Two mosquitos tried to steal my pack at The Birches. Repellant was applied in short order. I did manage to get the pack back on before the mosquitos got additional numbers. It's amazing how fast they arrive when animals,like me,stop.But the trail is much shorter. After about an hour and a half I arrive at a clearing. A very large clearing. Observation suggests "cleared by fire," not by design. And, as usual, I lose the trail. The cairn indicated a right turn. I look right and see the back of a female with daypack jogging toward what looks like a small river, or large stream? I get to the water's edge and see no obvious route across. There is no through - it's wide, and it's all rapids. Further scouting reveals the girl, apparently with her father, having lunch in what has to be the only shady spot this close to the stream. When I mention the Ledges trail the male tells me I missed the turn, it's left, not right. And he doesn't understand how I could miss it, there's a sign.Back I go, quite carefully; I want to find the sign. I do eventually locate a sign. It is quite obvious, but only if you are coming from Abol Bridge. The sign was probably in the open, with the bar identifying the trail and distance to The Birches about 5 feet off the ground. But some trees have gained a foothold. Some vegetation has returned, even on rock. The sign is now on the left side of the trail as I approached. Hikers from Abol Bridge pass the sign before turning right. The sign fits quite nicely along the tree limbs, hidden from my view by limbs and leaves. There is no posting from the Baxter side indicating destinations and distances.Down the trail. This is easy, it must have been some type of off-road vehicle route; there are parallel ruts for a mile or more. Just after the ruts turn right, I cross the stream bridge. There are two otters under the bridge, but only briefly. It's like I came into view and they simply disappeared.Within a few minutes I'm back at the trail junction. The sign on the back of the kiosk tells me to turn in my yellow registration slip. I guess so Baxter can report I safely left the park grounds (It didn't happen on my watch.). But the box is stuffed with yellow slips. No one must have been reported missing. No reason to empty the box (which, by the way, wasn't secured in any manner). Easier excuses I guess.Now I'm back in the campground. Life must be prosperous here. A large pavilion is under construction, the covered area must be 60 by 100. That doesn't include an enclosed kitchen and full bar. Or the hot tub.Another night with Melody, another breakfast at the campground (included with the camping fee and where I had breakfast today) and then off into the 100-mile wilderness.