[at-l] Katahdin Trip Report

[Snodrog5 at aol.com (Snodrog5@aol.com)]

Just back from Baxter, Rangers expect the Hunt (the AT) to stay closed until 
Memorial Day weekend. Right now there's deep snow above 'The Cave', and the 
trail is pretty much a stream between Rescue Rock and Oh Joy Brook. The Owl 
Trail is open, and Abol just might be the first trail up Katahdin to open for a 
change. Chimney Pond still reports over 3 feet of snow, Roaring Brook Campground 
might not open until mid June, and the Roaring Brook Road has a major washout 
at Windy Pitch. Hiked into Hurd Brook, past some wicked nice new MATC 
rockwork at the spring. Hurd Brook is low, crossed easy with dry boots. Camped 
northwest of Katahdin on Friday and Saturday, no bugs, nighttime temps mid-30s, 
whitecaps on the lake. Camped Sunday night at Katahdin Stream, rain and sleet, 35 
at 2AM. The perimeter road is still soft and under repair, the decades old 
corduroy road showing through above Foster Field. Early this morning four guys 
from New York in matching raincoats, two with metal cowboy canteens slung over 
their shoulders, were heading up the Hunt Trail to see how far they'd get. 
Ready or not, the hiking season has begun at Baxter Park. Some pics up soon.
Teej