Technetium
New member
At the end of September, I am doing a 4-day backpack in Baxter State Park. It will be pretty easy for mileage, with most days only being 5-6 miles. The hike will be a loop going counter-clockwise from the main parking area up to some ponds north of the mountain, and then south over Hamlin Peak and Katahdin, down to Chimney Pond and out. I will be carrying a lot of weight for this (probably between 50 and 60 lbs). 4 weekends before that, I will be doing a simple day hike of Chocorua up Champney Falls and back, with about the same weight load.
What I need are 3 "step-up" hikes in between. I would like them all to be 2-day trips, preferably with the mileage not too high (6-9 miles) and with the bulk of the elevation gain on the 2nd day. The best I have been able to come up with so far:
1. Something up to the low 4000s, such as South Kinsman via Eliza Pond Shelter, Moriah via Imp Campsite, Cabot via Unknown Pond Campsite, or Isolation via Rocky Branch Shelter. None of these hikes are completely optimal though as far as mileage. Some of them are too little mileage on one of the days, or too much mileage one one of the days. The Cabot one looks the closest to being what I was aiming for, however I am also concerned about the road that accesses the trailhead. This road (York Pond Rd I think) is marked on my map as having a gate that closes at 4pm each day. Which means that if I get down on the 2nd day after 4pm, I'm trapped until the next day, I think.
2. Something in the mid-4000s, such as Garfield via Garfield campsite, or Mt Hight via Spruce Brook Shelter. The problem with the Garfield one is that you do almost all the elevation gain to get to the campsite, and the problem with the Mt Hight one is that the mileage on day 2 is over 12 miles. I haven't really looked much in this range yet, and there may be better options. Off the top of my head, perhaps Wildcat coming into the notch and using the tent area near the hut (it's not marked on my map but I've seen people using it).
3. Something in the upper 4000s to low 5000 range. I really have no idea yet for this. I think the higher peaks like Adams/Jefferson/Washington are still going to prove too difficult.
What I need are 3 "step-up" hikes in between. I would like them all to be 2-day trips, preferably with the mileage not too high (6-9 miles) and with the bulk of the elevation gain on the 2nd day. The best I have been able to come up with so far:
1. Something up to the low 4000s, such as South Kinsman via Eliza Pond Shelter, Moriah via Imp Campsite, Cabot via Unknown Pond Campsite, or Isolation via Rocky Branch Shelter. None of these hikes are completely optimal though as far as mileage. Some of them are too little mileage on one of the days, or too much mileage one one of the days. The Cabot one looks the closest to being what I was aiming for, however I am also concerned about the road that accesses the trailhead. This road (York Pond Rd I think) is marked on my map as having a gate that closes at 4pm each day. Which means that if I get down on the 2nd day after 4pm, I'm trapped until the next day, I think.
2. Something in the mid-4000s, such as Garfield via Garfield campsite, or Mt Hight via Spruce Brook Shelter. The problem with the Garfield one is that you do almost all the elevation gain to get to the campsite, and the problem with the Mt Hight one is that the mileage on day 2 is over 12 miles. I haven't really looked much in this range yet, and there may be better options. Off the top of my head, perhaps Wildcat coming into the notch and using the tent area near the hut (it's not marked on my map but I've seen people using it).
3. Something in the upper 4000s to low 5000 range. I really have no idea yet for this. I think the higher peaks like Adams/Jefferson/Washington are still going to prove too difficult.