Date: 2005-09-26
From: Rainbow Stream Leanto

To: Rushing Brook Campground
Miles today: 15.0

Having decided two days ago to abandon the AT route going to the summit of Mount Katahdin, I knew that, by the end of my hike today, I would have to find a way to implement MY hike plan for getting to the top.What I needed first was expert advice about the pros and cons of various options, which I figured I could get from the Rangers at Baxter State Park. The option that appeared from the map to be the most desireable would require me skipping around from the western approach of the AT entry trail into the park to the eastern side - the way most visitors come in. How I was going to get there wasn't clear, but I figured that was a solvable problem. The greater risk was not being able to get a reservation at the two campgrounds where I thought I would want to stay.For those reasons, I got a really early start this morning, and hiked as fast as I could for 15 miles in 8 straight hours, through an almost continuous rain storm, arriving finally at the Abol Bridge campgrounds, about a mile before the entrance to the park.Just before I crossed the narrow bridge over the Pennobscot River, I noticed a sign that said "Moose Check Station Ahead." As I crossed the bridge, I saw a pickup truck go by with an enormous moose head sticking out the back - with a huge rack of antlers. It turns out that today was the first day of moose hunting season - by permit only, won through a lottery. Here I had been traipsing for 600 miles through moose country hoping to get a sight of a bull moose, and it's only on my second to last day I see one - dead as a doornail. The truck stopped at the check station, which also happened to be the campgrounds general store, so at least I was able to get a good photo.... Over the next hour, four more came in. Kind of sad, in a sense, but I understand the reasoning, and a lot of people up here will be eating moose this winter. C'est la vie.Meanwhile, Ol' Private Longhaul is busy stuffing his face with bacon cheeseburgers and philly chese steaks, resupplying for the last two days on the trail, and then - when the phone was finally free - chasing up the good folks at Baxter State Park. I began with the reservations line, and explained to the nice lady at that end what I was trying to do. After consulting a Ranger, she confirmed the wisdom of my hike plan, and then, to my great delight, informed me that I could get into the bunk room at Roaring Brook campgrounds near the front entrance to the park for tonight, and - more importantly - the Chimney Pond campsite for tomorrow night. What that means is that I will use tomorrow to hike up about 2000 feet in 3.3 miles to a sort of staging area at Chimney Pond, and then on Wednesday, I will have another 2400 feet over 2.2 miles, up a steeper trail, to the summit. After I summit, I will then have a 5.5 mile descent back to the Roaring Brook Campgrounds where I will have to get a hitch into the nearest town.To make a long story short, I simply called a taxi from town, who picked me up at Abol Bridge camp store and delivered me and my resupplied pack to Roaring Brook campgrounds.When I reached the bunkhouse, I found a french-canadian lady there who had brought with her both a Coleman lantern for light and wood for the wood stove, so before long it was feeling almost like home. Despite the pouring rain, I was warm, dry and well fed, and ready for a good night's sleep.Not that I needed it, but as I was leaving the Rangers' office where I had registered, I noticed a warning about hiking in the park. It stressed the responsibility of every hiker to ensure his/her own safety. To be sure they had all the right gear, and -- most of all -- not to try to exceed their physical abilities! Well, that's prety much the premise of MY hike plan. It is, after all, my hike, and I'm the one who has to be satisfied, one way or another. And I am.Stay tuned,LonghaulSent via PocketMailEmail Anywherewww.pocketmail.com