[at-l] Baxter State Park: Wilder within

[Snodrog5@xxxxxxx (Snodrog5@xxxxxxx)]

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Radar writes: "I haven't hiked the Blueberry ledges trail, but I can't see
how
the shorter distance would offset the natural beauty of the current
trail.  The 10 miles along the Penobscot and Nesowadnehunk Stream and
past Daicey pond was one of my favorite sections of the trail (except
for the silly little bypass trail they installed this year to avoid
walking through Daicey pond campground)."


Blueberry Ledges is open for the first half, often on rock ledges as the name
implies (25 years ago a fierce forest fire burned away the ground). It's
pretty, turns into older unburned forest at the No Hunting boundary line
about three miles inside the park. Then it winds along an old jeep road,
descends into tall pines, crosses acres of stumpage, and climbs a bit into
hardwoods and so on into the Birches camping area. It's a nice hike of about
4 1/2 miles, but is not as scenic or historic as the AT route. The logic
behind the Park wanting ATers to use the new trail is that it would allow
hikers camping outside the park to still have a do-able summit Baxter Peak.
That little bypass took you right through the old AT site at Daicey Pond is
routed right where the picnic table was between the two little lean-tos that
were removed. I reccomend all AT hikers still hike into Daicey and take in
the view from the Library's porch. Many an AT tear has been shed by hikers
rocking on the porch and gazing out across the pond at the route they'll soon
take up Katahdin.
TJ