Date: 2022-08-28
From: Hurd Brook Lean-to Mile 2175.7

To: Big Moose Inn (exit at Katahdin Stream Campground) Mile 2189.1
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: few clouds

I woke up in the middle of the night to pee and put air in my air mattress which has had a slow leak for a while. Ironically so does Orchid¢s and I woke her up enough for her to also put in air. I had a hard time falling back asleep - probably due to the excitement and anxiety over the climb up to Mt Katahdin. I had set the alarm about 15 minutes early so that I could walk down to the pond by the shelter to try to spot a moose but none were to be found. We finished packing up and then headed out towards Abol Bridge Campground where we planned to stop for some drinks and pastries. Unfortunately they only serve breakfast to those that stay in the campground but I ended up with a Cinnamon Bun as consolation.The following paragraph will make more sense if you know that Governor Baxter left Baxter State Park to the citizens of Maine about 80 years ago with the stipulation that the park put Wilderness first and recreation second. As a result the park limits visitors and number of people who can submit per day. Parking lots at the trailheads hold roughly two dozen cars - not the hundreds of some of the popular day hikes on the AT. Shortly after leaving the store we came to the Baxter State Park entrance and the infamous Kiosk that induces great anxiety among Thru Hikers that want to stay in the park overnight. It is here that the first 12 hikers that show up can reserve a spot at The Birches Thru Hiker campsite. If you are not one of the first 12, the ranger at the kiosk will try to help find you a spot in the park, but there are no guarantees they will be able to do so. The Birches and Katahdin Stream Campground are basically at the start of the 5.2 mile Hunt Trail which is the trail the AT takes up to the summit. Some hikers will stop outside the park at Abol Bridge Campground and hike the extra 10 miles from there to the Hunt Trail. Other¢s like us, have alternate plans that involve staying outside the park and driving back in the next day. Pilgrim is camping with his wife (who will summit with him) at a different campground within the park which is about a 45 minute drive away from the Hunt Trail trailhead. Orchid and I, along with her dad (who will summit with her), are staying with my parents at the Big Moose Inn outside the park. My dad stayed up until midnight two nights in a row to reserve a parking pass for tomorrow and the following day so we can get back in the park. The Inn is about an hour from the Hunt Trail trailhead but you have to go through the Baxster State Park entrance gate.For the first six miles or so after the kiosk we really boogied to try to get to the Katahdin Stream Campground by noon when the park rangers go on lunch break. Even despite that we still took the side trails to check out the Big and Little Niagara Falls. After a while it became obvious that we were going to miss that target and we slowed way down to smell the roses. Coming into the day we were just planning to wing it and hope for the best with regards to getting out of the park and to the Big Moose Inn. However, Orchid wasn¢t thrilled with that plan and her dad was arriving in Millinocket about noon so we arranged to have him pick us up in the park about 1:30. As a result we had almost two hours to go the last 3 miles. Orchid had read that there was a lake just off the trail that had canoes for rent and so we decided to take the detour and go paddling for a little bit. We easily found the canoes but it took some wandering around to discover they were self serve and you just dropped your payment off in a slot in the office. Neither of us had really paddled before so we looked a bit drunk as we weaved left and right going across the lake but we managed to make it to a great viewing spot of Mama K and even get a photo with us and the boat. Taking some pictures of the water lilies on the other hand resulted in some circles and running over the lily perhaps even more than once. We did manage to make it back to the dock and we didn¢t even run into it. Baxter State Park is dry, in that it does not provide water spigots and so we got a refill from a family staying at the cabins at the lake.After the paddling interlude we continued on to the Katahdin Stream Campground where we are meeting Orchid¢s dad. As expected, we arrived at the campground while the ranger was out to lunch. We proceeded to eat lunch and Orchid also was soaking her feet in the ice cold Katahdin Stream. Just as we were starting to think about heading over to the Birches campsite to visit, Big Hungry, Relish and Play-by-Play walked up. It turns out that Big Hungry summited today, but the twins are summiting tomorrow. We spent a while congratulating Big Hungry and catching up with them. The twins are staying at the Birches and planning to summit starting at 5AM. Pilgrim arrived , followed shortly after by Orchid¢s dad and then Pilgrim wife (who had tried to hike south on the AT to meet him but was directed to a shortcut and missed him). The three of us headed down to get our Katahdin Thru Hiking Permit. I¢m the 1653 permit issued to all AT hikers and Pilgrim was NOBO hiker number 523. Orchid and I then headed off to the Big Moose Inn with her dad where my parents have rented a cabin and we¢ll be staying tonight and tomorrow night. My parents were already checked in and we were able to grab some showers before heading into town for some laundry and food supplies for tomorrow. The five of us all went out to dinner and we regaled the parents with tall tales of our incredible feats on the trail. Well¢¦ perhaps we just answered all their pressing questions. When we got back from dinner, Orchid and I cooked breakfast sandwiches that we can quickly reheat. Tried to get an early bedtime as we are getting up early to be on the road by 5:30 tomorrow. Tomorrow¢s weather on the summit looks good and we are going to summit then.Days in ME without Moose sighting: 21Steps 31542Weather Forecast: