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Ascent of Katahdin on 2010-06-02

Climber: Joel Ruark

Other People:

Solo Ascent

Date:

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Ascent Type:

Successful Summit Attained

Motorized Transport to Trailhead:

Car

Peak:

Katahdin

Location:

USA-Maine

Elevation:

5268 ft / 1605 m

Ascent Trip Report

To hike the full rim of Katahdin, leave early. I started at 5:30am and ascended the mountain via the Helon Taylor Trail. Katahdin does not require technical climbing, but any way you go up it's fairly steep. I made Pamola Peak shortly after 9am. I rested for a good long while and waiting for the clouds to blow out of the valley. Normally, they say to allow an hour to climb the Knife Edge from Pamola to the peak, but it was windy that day and traversing the Knife Edge was hard work (although magnificent!). It took me two full hours to do it. I made the summit just before noon. I continued around the rim, bagging Hamlin Peak before descending the Hamlin Ridge Trail, which is very similar in grade and difficulty to Helon Taylor. I returned to camp just before 4:30pm.

A climber in excellent shape who didn't take breaks could hike the full rim and bag Howe's Peak in the process, but Howe's Peak adds another 2 miles to the walk. As it is, to circle the entire rim of Katahdin is a full 10 miles with well over 3500 feet of elevation gain. It's a deeply rewarding climb and descent, with each leg offering more magnificent vistas of Katahdin's majestic grandeur. When viewed from inside the bowl (near Chimney Pond), the 2,000' granite walls are simply stupendous.

Summary Total Data
Elevation Gain:	3700 ft / 1128 m
Elevation Loss:	3700 ft / 1128 m
Ascent Statistics
Elevation Gain:	3700 ft / 1128 m
Route:	Helon Taylor Trail
Trailhead:	Roaring Brook campground 1568 ft / 477 m
Descent Statistics
Elevation Loss:	3700 ft / 1128 m
Route:	Hamlin Ridge Trail
Trailhead:	Roaring Brook campground 1568 ft / 477 m

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