My daughter had told me that she didn’t want to play fall sports this year. After many conversations to make sure that she was really certain this was her officially official decision, my calculated response to her was that if that was the case, her you-know-what was grass and she was officially selling her soul to hike the Crockers and Redington (and hiking a LOT of miles at least every other weekend) with me. Well, that was really all it took for her to do the math and realize just how close she was to completing the 14 Maine 4000 Footers. I could see her gears turning as she looked off into the distance and stated that if she could catch up to me, we could finish the list together.
That was the moment everything changed in our worlds. As she accepted her fate, I chose to halt my plan to finish my own list this season if only to allow her to catch up to me and to share that celebratory summit party with the coolest kid ever. Which meant a few repeats for me…and I was absolutely okay with that as I knew she’d be coming along with me this time around!
We started planning, plotting, and packing…and I was so proud of her for setting yet another incredibly challenging but attainable and amazing goal. She never ceases to amaze me. I can’t wait to watch her continue to shine as she gets older.
Our adventures are highlighted below!
South Crocker, North Crocker, Redington 8/21/2021
Apparently, climbing Katahdin the Monday before we tackled this triple bag just wasn’t enough for me. It was back to the AT to snag South Crocker, North Crocker, and Redington. South Crocker stands at 4010, North Crocker at 4168, and Redington at 4010 (although the marker says 3984…it lies!).
Haters gonna hate: This triple bag of mountains totally gets a bad wrap and peak baggers only do them “because they’re on the list.” Well, we thought it would be the same for us…but I was pleasantly surprised and found this to be a fairly decent, easy trail with lots of lush green moss, mushrooms, and bushwhacking! Yes, bushwhacking! Finally—some excitement!
Of course, some of that excitement meant the return of me stumbling upon FREAKING A-HOLE GROUND HORNETS yet again just at the start of the bushwhack. So, my daughter had the brilliant idea to bushwhack the bushwhack and we successfully maneuvered back onto the trail. With no stings!
This kid of mine was amazing. She hasn’t done much in the way of hiking because of camp…and this was her first 4000 footer since Katahdin in October last fall. She didn’t just tag one—she tagged all 3! She’s only got 4 of the 14 Maine peaks to go—and we’ve got some major plans to get her caught up fast! I am SO dang proud of her!!!
If you’re planning to do the Crockers and Redington, we highly suggest the loop. It’s gentle on the knees and beautiful to the eyes.
But watch out for those a-hole hornets!
Sugarloaf and Spaulding 9/4/2021
I swore I’d never EVER do Spaulding EVER, EVERRRRR again but that kid of mine hit 12/14 on the 4000 foot list after doing this double bag!
In early September, we headed back to the other side of the road from where we were two weeks prior and hit up Sugarloaf (4237’) and Spaulding (4009’ although the sign totally lies)! One had killer views…the other just had rocks and roots and trees lol. My daughter officially hit numbers 11 and 12 after this hike—SO proud!!!
This is a beautiful portion of the AT with lots of gentle grades, steep and giant boulder fields, rocks, roots, moss, mushrooms, and the official 200 miles left to go “marker” for all AT northbound thru hikers! It’s also where the final link of the AT was officially connected between north and south on August 14, 1937. There’s an official marker to commemorate that amazing feat! We saw a lot of thru and flip floppers today—got to talk with a few of them and I love this part about hiking. Also got to talk to others who have done other NE 67 peaks; I’m starting to think that my kid may have caught the sickness and might be interested in tackling the Long Trail with me now…
Back to this trail…I have a love hate relationship with Spaulding. The ridge walk between Sugarloaf and Spaulding is my all time hands down favorite stretch of any trail I’ve ever walked. But that 150 yard haul to the top just plain sucks. Today, it may have redeemed itself as my favorite co-pilot truly enjoyed it. Which by default made me enjoy it.
Unfortunately, her feet have continued to grow since getting her new hiking shoes just a few months ago. Teenagers lol! She put up with it like a champ…but those last two miles back to the car (and back around those giant boulders) was just a long slog. She still rocked it. And now I guess have a new pair of boots for me since they’re my size. We’re on the hunt for new ones before our next adventure—Katahdin!
After a quick stop in Skow-Vegas for snacks (and I maybe let her get a Mountain Dew because she crushed this hike today!), all was right again. We rocked out to Weezer and Johnny Cash on the way home. Great day in the mountains and amazing day with my girl.
Bring on the final 2!
Katahdin via Hunt Trail 9/19/2021
This was a perfect day for climbing! We didn’t need this one for the list, but it sure marked the teenage hiker’s number 5 summit and my lucky number 13! This poor girl has been up and down this mountain 4 times now and every single time has included Abol in some fashion or another. So today, it was to be up Hunt and down Hunt so she could experience its ruggedness in all of its glory—which I was absolutely okay with because it’s my favorite trail!
It’s also a major ass kicker. We’re banged up! Scraped up! Bruised and sore! I had warned her that we would need to be able to give ourselves extra time going down on the boulders and ribar—yes, RIBAR—and she did amazing! And her new shoes worked magically! They’re officially broken in now!
We got to see TONS of thru hikers cheer each other on at the summit today and congratulated them up and down the trail. We even got asked if we were thru hikers and one told my kid she should do it with me in a few years. She’s now at the “I’m thinking about it” phase. Progress!
I think I’m gonna take a break from Katahdin for a bit. I think two weeks should do it.
Fun story: This was the first time I was actually in line with a pass BEFORE 6am at the gate. Major shout out to the Milli Dunkin’ for opening at 430. Totally hit them up for their darkest roast before getting in line at the gate. This is going to be the start of a new tradition!
Hamlin 10/3/2021
Doesn’t everyone prepare for big mountain climbs with matching Halloween jammies, Snapchat filters, unicorn cakes, and Halloween movie marathons? No? Well, I guess we’re just cooler than cool then.
The first 2 weekends in October have become our annual weekends to hike Katahdin. This adventure started out quite eerie and somber. We made our way to the Milli Dunkin’ for another delicious dark roast for the long wait in line at the Baxter Gate, and we were quickly greeted by a Ranger, who informed us that there would be other Rangers coming through as there was a search and rescue operation going on during the day. As we made our way to the gate, they told us a bit more to keep us informed and prepared for what we may see throughout the day.
We passed their post at Katahdin Lake, with their mobile unit set up and many wardens/Rangers/SAR getting ready for the day. We asked if we needed to be on the lookout today for anything to provide any help, and we were told that we would be okay on our side of the trail. So, off we went!
Hamlin Ridge is simply beautiful and doesn’t get the love that I feel it deserves. Peakbaggers seeking the 4000 footers tack it on to a long day with Baxter, but I really love going up and down just this one trail in one day, taking the time to enjoy the view of Pamola, Knife Edge, South Turner, and beyond. Plus, it has one of those epic spiny ridges that you all know I love to play on.
It was a layer on layer off kind of day. We were able to enjoy all of the day despite low temps in the upper 30s/low 40s—we were treated to beautiful nonstop views and only saw two other hiking parties climbing Hamlin all day. One pair as we went up and a group of college age kids still climbing up as we were going down. We saw and heard helicopters all day, and stopped to watch them as they passed each time, silently throwing good vibes into the universe.
The cut off trail is always damp, mossy, and so green. I always forget how beautiful it it. And chimney pond is just…chimney pond. But we chose to take lots of stops to see the viewpoints, changing leaves, water features (which were all bone dry when I was here in August!), and mushrooms (my kid loves them!)!
I talked with her about not always needing to go for the big K summit—we don’t have to tag Baxter to say we climbed Katahdin. Hamlin is 4756’ up rocks, roots, boulders, more boulders, rock scrambles…to do that and get down safely is still just as badassy as tagging a faded sign. It’s safe to say that we’re finally ready to explore the back side of the mountain a little more next year with some hardcore backpacking adventures.
We both realized that after a summer hiking most weekends on the Appalachian trail, we really miss the white blazes unique to that trail. We need to go back for more. All 2190 miles more. I mean, she hasn’t thrown me off a mountain yet…
But first, we’ll finish our Maine 4000 footers together next year on North Brother. Get ready—we’re ready to celebrate this one with a major camping adventure with all our friends!!! Happy trails and cheers to more adventures in the days to come!
