Yesterday marked my 9th Katahdin climb (7 Baxter summits, 1 Baxter/Pamola summit, and 1 Hamlin summit). It was also my daughter’s third summit of Baxter peak in less than one year. She had set this goal for herself and crushed it with ease (that girl of mine is truly my hero and inspiration!)! It was a bluebird sky day with snow on the summit (yeah snow ball fights!)…but also a reminder of how important safety is when setting out to climb this massif. I’ve had a lot of time on the trails in all sorts of weather to think about things that went wrong, things that went well, and things I’ll never do again. I’ve compiled an ongoing list I’ve come to call Thoughts on Katahdin:

*Get to the gatehouse early. And I mean early. Even with a day use parking pass. Also—get a day use parking pass. Don’t risk the major bummer of not being able to climb because you can’t get a parking spot. Maybe even consider a campsite the night before your hike.

*Pack it in and pack it out. Plain and simple. This includes your banana/orange peels and eggshells and toilet paper (GROSS! No one wants to see your discarded used tissues along the trail)! There’s one section of Hunt that’s notorious for this—so disgusting. Just be respectful, don’t feed the animals, and pick up after yourself. Please and thanks!

*Have a backup plan. And a backup backup plan. Katahdin doesn’t care about your plans. The weather can be quite uncooperative!

*Check with the rangers on the latest up to date forecast. If there’s a good chance of lightning happening that day, just don’t do it. And if you do decide to climb, sign in and out at the station so they know you made it down safely (or so they don’t send a search party looking for you). 

*The boulders are unbelievably huge. Bring a friend to help you and your pack get up and over/down the really big ones! (Seriously—I’ve had to have the kid use me as a step stool more than once!)

*In the summer months, bring extra water. Bring a filter. But remember that the springs at the top can be unreliable during dry spells. 

*In the cooler months, bring extra water. And maybe even a water bottle parka. 

*Speaking of layers…cotton kills! Bring moisture wicking layers. And a fleece. And a soft shell. And a waterproof shell. And a warm hat. And gloves. And extra socks. Maybe mittens and a balaclava or goggles. The temperature can be 50 degrees at the base of the mountain…but can be at or below freezing up top! Hypothermia can happen at a temperature of 50 degrees or more if there’s the right combination of moisture or chill winds. 

*The minute you hear the words “snow forecasted for the mountains,” drop everything you’re doing and put microspikes in your pack. Don’t take them out until June. Maybe even July. 

*Have a snowball fight if there’s snow.

*Bring the 10 essentials. At minimum. Map, compass, warm clothing, extra food/water, matches/fire starters, first aid kit, whistle, rain gear, pocket knife, flashlight/headlamp (extra batteries as well!).

*Good lord, there’s a lot of rocks. 

*Take breaks, layer/delayer, and eat snacks! Some chips even double as fire starters!

*Chocolate gets melty in summer. 

*If at any point in time you are struggling, check yourself. You may be able to get up the mountain, but remember—you have to also get yourself down the mountain. There’s no hitching a ride down the auto road or train to hop on here. And climbing down when you’re fatigued is extremely unsafe and when accidents are more likely to occur. 

*The gym doesn’t prepare you for hiking. Hiking prepares you for hiking. (But the gym can help with your overall health…so go!)

*The first week of October is a good time to witness a lot of Appalachian Trail hikers complete their 2180+ mile journey at the summit. It’s my favorite time to climb. Take time to talk to them and hear their stories—they’re some of the friendliest and coolest people I’ve ever met. 

*It’s okay to have a meltdown. This mountain isn’t easy. Sometimes we feel like we’re climbing for forever, and ever, and ever…and this can totally wear on your psyche. Breathe, talk about it, and just keep putting one foot in front of the other. You’ll get there eventually. Promise. 

*Have fun. Laugh. Enjoy the view. 

*If there isn’t a view on a cloudy day, notice the ethereal beauty that a misty sky creates around you. 

*Get contacts. Wet and foggy glasses while walking in the clouds leads to tripping or waltzing right into boulders you can’t see. 

*If you have weak knees, get a pair of trekking poles. I always carry at least one (which really helps for balance if there’s a water crossing!).

*Set a turnaround time and stick to it! I repeat—set a turnaround time and stick to it! Don’t let pride get the best of you in an attempt to stand next to that famous sign and proclaim that you’ve conquered the mountain. Safety is number one! 

*Edmund Hillary said it best: It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves. 

And it can change you in incredible ways forever. 

Taking care of yourself and your hiking party is priority one. Remember that Katahdin (or any other mountain, really) will always be there to climb another day. Safely. 

These are just a few of the things I’ve suggested to others over the years. It’s worked for me but may not work for you. What’s most important is that you’re thinking about getting out there and doing awesome things outside! Here’s to hiking and health and always celebrating a safe journey back home!