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Baxter State Park

Saturday, August 26, 2023 - Saturday, September 2, 2023 -- $1625 ★★, ONLY 1 SPOT LEFT


Maine's Baxter State Park home of 5267' Mt. Katahdin is a wilderness area located in the Great North Woods of Maine. The sometimes dark and ominous woods can give you a sense of isolation and remoteness that you may have never experienced and makes you feel that you are part of nature, rather than an observer.


Our hike will traverse the quieter Northen section of Baxter's wilderness featuring beautiful lakes almost every night. These dulcet lakes will hopefully be warm enough for post-hike swimming or even a moonless dip on a warm summer evening.


Hopefully, we'll see the totem animal prevalent in these woods: Moose. But we may also encounter deer, black bears and ubiquitous chipmunks chattering at you as you walk by. We will almost certainly hear loons chortling (or whatever sound they make) at night on remote or adjacent lakes. If we're lucky, we may catch a glimpse of a bobcat, fisher or pine marten (Note: We won't).


Come explore this wilderness with us. The trip will occur mid-summer when the days are long and the weather is warm.



Topographical Map of Proposed Route

See CalTopo map


Weather

Weather is always an important concern when hiking. Expect daytime hiking temperatures in the mid-70s and nighttime temperatures in the low 50s. However, be prepared for the possibility of daytime temperatures as high as 90 and as low as 30, with a reasonable chance of rainfall at any point in the trip. There may also be mosquitoes, black flies, no-see-ums, greenheads or all of the above (or possibly none of the above). Here is the Baxter State Park weather page.



Probable Trip Leaders

Bruce Cannon
Any Other Guide(s) TBD

Difficulty


Trails in Maine are often full of rocks, roots, mud or all of these things. We find that terrain is the most difficult impediment most participants face when hiking ... even more than elevation gain or loss. And then it might rain.


However, this is one of the most attainable backpacking itineraries you'll find in Maine. If you're not up to summiting mountains or trudging up all-day climbs but still want to experience the primeval wilderness, this route is the one for you.



Cost

$1625 per person double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will share a hotel room with another trip participant. You will also be responsible for transportation to and from Bangor Airport (BGR), as well as personal equipment, restaurant meals and any gratuities for guides. You may also be assessed parking charges if you leave your car at the hotel all week. Shuttling to the park may also be an option


Covered expenses include 1 hotel night, 2 nights in front country campgrounds, 6 days of trail meals, airport ground transportation, ground transport to/from Bangor and Baxter, State Park permits and a mediocre guide.


Tipping: In order to keep our prices competitive with (and hopefully favorable to) other outfitters, we shamefully can’t pay our guides as much as we think they deserve. Like most other guiding services, we rely on the generosity of our participants to make up this shortfall by tipping the guides. While tips are not required or expected, if your guides have served you well, please consider a gratuity so they can continue living their extravagant lifestyles of eating powdered meals, sleeping in the dirt and pooping in smelly outhouses and small holes they've dug.



Notes


We do NOT plan to summit Mt. Katahdin on this trip.


Our group size is limited to 4 people.


This is the 2nd of 2 trips to Baxter State Park in 2023. Here is a link to our 1st 2023 trip.


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Itinerary
Weather
Guides for this trip
Cost
Important Note
Difficulty (Please Read)
Map
 
 

Itinerary


Saturday, August 26, 2023

Drive or fly into Bangor Airport (BGR). The best time to arrive is between around 9AM-Noon. However, if you have completed your online shakedown and will arrive fairly ready to go, you can fly in a little later.

We'll pick you up at the airport and shuttle you to a local hotel to gather the group

We will assemble at: TBD, To Be Determined

Mini-equipment shakedown, following up your virtual shakedown done prior to the trip

Make-Your-Own Trail mix bar

"Before" body composition measurements taken

Buy last minute and forgotten items at LL Bean Outlet Store, 534 Stillwater Ave., Bangor, ME 04401, 207-942-0146, open 'til 9PM

Option 2: Epic Sports, 6 Central St, Bangor, ME 04401, 800-466-2296, 207-941-5670, open 10AM-7PM

All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and put in storage.

At around 3PM, shuttle to campsite: Nesowadnehunk Field Campground, Baxter State Park. Site(s) TBD Elevation: 1305'

Shuttling will take about 1.5 hours

Guides prepare dinner in camp. On some trips with longer shuttle times, we may opt to go out for an opening dinner at a local restaurant. (Cost of restaurant dinner not included in trip price)

Camp at Nesowadnehunk Field Campground, Baxter State Park. Site(s) TBD Elevation: 1305'


Sunday, August 27, 2023

Second set of "before" body composition measurements taken

Start hiking at Nesowadnehunk Field Campsite, elevation 1300'

Hike 5.6 miles to Center Pond Lean-To, elevation 1575'

Camp at Center Pond Lean-To, elevation 1575'

Miles today: 5.6. Total miles: 5.6

Possible bailout: Nesowadnehunk Field


Monday, August 28, 2023

Hike 2.9 miles to Wassataquoik Lookout Trail, elevation 1625''

Drop packs and day-hike 0.6 round trip miles to Wassataquoik Lookout, elevation 1833'

Hike 4.7 miles along Wassataquoik Lake to Russell Pond Lean-To, elevation 1340'

Camp at Russell Pond Lean-To on Russell Pond, elvation 1340'

Miles today: 8.2. Total miles: 13.8

Possible bailout: No great options


Tuesday, August 29, 2023

Pack up, but leave packs here while we day-hike

Day-Hike 3.7 miles on the Grand Falls Trail to Grand Falls, elevation 1100'

Day-Hike 2.4 miles past Inscription Rock back to Russell Pond Camp, elevation 1340'

Put on and carry full packs

Hike 3.5 miles on the Pogy Notch Trail to Pogy Pond, elevation 1150'

Camp at Pogy Pond Lean-To, elevation 1150'

Miles today: 9.6. Total miles: 23.4

Possible bailout: One Day Away


Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Hike 5.8 miles on the Pogy Notch Trail to South Branch Pond, elevation 1000'

Camp at South Branch Pond Lean-To, elevation 1000'

Miles today: 5.8. Total miles: 29.2

Possible bailout: South Branch Pond Access Road


Thursday, August 31, 2023

Hike 2.7 miles on the Middle Fowler Trail to the Barrel Ridge Spur Trail, elevation 1820'

Drop packs and Day-Hike 0.4 miles to the summit of Barrel Ridge, elevation 2085'

Hike 4.5 miles to Billfish Pond, elevation 950'

Camp at Billfish Pond Lean-To, elevation 950'

Miles today: 7.7. Total miles: Hiking 36.9

Possible bailout: Grand Lake Road


Friday, September 1, 2023

Break camp and hike 2.7 miles back to Grand Lake Road, elevation 700'

End of hiking portion of trip

Miles today: 2.7. Total miles: 39.6

Shuttle back to local hotel: TBD, To Be Determined

Gather your off-trail items from storage

After body composition measurements taken

Dinner and awards ceremony at a local restaurant (Dinner cost not included in trip price)

Stay in our local hotel (included in trip cost)

This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.


Saturday, September 2, 2023

Take free airport shuttle or we will pay for a shared cab/Uber


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