buckyball1
New member
For a number of reasons, I just haven't gotten around to Baker, the last of my 50 Finest. I woke to an unexpected small window of clear skies in the recent (all summer?) rains in Maine and decided to take off on the spur of the moment for Greenville/Kokadjo (yes i had it planned long ago 
).
I got a super late start, but no traffic and no wrong turns got me to the base of S. Baker before 11. The dirt road(s) drive in from the Lily Bay Road is a little complicated, but directions from Big Moose were spot on and saved me time. Thanks also to One Step and Nate on this one. There's a fairly new logging road that goes around? Baker from the clearing I parked in at the base of S Baker and probably merits exploring to take at least a few tenths off the wack-everything on this one would be welcome.
Lacking a better plan and only shooting for Baker proper, I had decided on a straight line shot. I plunged into the woods and while the skies were clear/cloudy, the recent heavy rain had made conditions pretty difficult with everything soaked, mud ankle deep in many places and some water crossings a bit testy-i think i skidded and fell at least 5 times as often as i normally would on this hike.
The hike is pretty much a continual full body beating. The woods are moderate to thick in most places with only a few "breathers". The trip up went as well as I could have expected, no major issues. The lower portion of the climb had several disorienting ups/downs/gullies/streams. There are bands of thick balsam here and there and the summit ridge is wicked in spots. Blowdown fields were only a minor nuisance on the way up. I reached the top more quickly than i had hoped and soon found the nice canister placed last year by Big Moose. Only one (unknown to me) person signed in since then.
Baker did exact more than a physical toll and usual blood sacrifice(as always shorts and T ) . On the way up, I lost an almost new Black Diamond pole-2 sections in 2 different places. Yes, I have a history with this , but the new flick lock design was at least partly to blame-it's really easy to "open" in very heavy bushwacking-probably should never have brought them. I also lost my Wal Mart watch (ripped off my wrist at one point i guess) and a nice empty nalgene that was in a water bottle pocket.
On the way down the "50 foot rule" (Amicus?) came into play. I tried to retrace my steps, but got into some awful stuff. One place, I clearly strayed into the drainage basin from Middle Baker that One Step warned me about. It was awful, pick-up sticks and no progress-really bad beating. I finally climbed back "up" to a ridge, managed a better line and returned to the car tired, but happy. Rain fell just as i turned the ignition.
Odd thing--I saw a small snake at "eye-level" about a foot from my face in a thick steep section- had worked its way up about 3-4' onto a balsam branch and was curled up sunning --have never seen this before.
Baker is the last of the Fifty Finest for me--I've really enjoyed this group of peaks and commend them to you
this hike was for my friend who knows why
jim
).I got a super late start, but no traffic and no wrong turns got me to the base of S. Baker before 11. The dirt road(s) drive in from the Lily Bay Road is a little complicated, but directions from Big Moose were spot on and saved me time. Thanks also to One Step and Nate on this one. There's a fairly new logging road that goes around? Baker from the clearing I parked in at the base of S Baker and probably merits exploring to take at least a few tenths off the wack-everything on this one would be welcome.
Lacking a better plan and only shooting for Baker proper, I had decided on a straight line shot. I plunged into the woods and while the skies were clear/cloudy, the recent heavy rain had made conditions pretty difficult with everything soaked, mud ankle deep in many places and some water crossings a bit testy-i think i skidded and fell at least 5 times as often as i normally would on this hike.
The hike is pretty much a continual full body beating. The woods are moderate to thick in most places with only a few "breathers". The trip up went as well as I could have expected, no major issues. The lower portion of the climb had several disorienting ups/downs/gullies/streams. There are bands of thick balsam here and there and the summit ridge is wicked in spots. Blowdown fields were only a minor nuisance on the way up. I reached the top more quickly than i had hoped and soon found the nice canister placed last year by Big Moose. Only one (unknown to me) person signed in since then.
Baker did exact more than a physical toll and usual blood sacrifice(as always shorts and T
) . On the way up, I lost an almost new Black Diamond pole-2 sections in 2 different places. Yes, I have a history with this , but the new flick lock design was at least partly to blame-it's really easy to "open" in very heavy bushwacking-probably should never have brought them. I also lost my Wal Mart watch (ripped off my wrist at one point i guess) and a nice empty nalgene that was in a water bottle pocket.On the way down the "50 foot rule" (Amicus?) came into play. I tried to retrace my steps, but got into some awful stuff. One place, I clearly strayed into the drainage basin from Middle Baker that One Step warned me about. It was awful, pick-up sticks and no progress-really bad beating. I finally climbed back "up" to a ridge, managed a better line and returned to the car tired, but happy. Rain fell just as i turned the ignition.
Odd thing--I saw a small snake at "eye-level" about a foot from my face in a thick steep section- had worked its way up about 3-4' onto a balsam branch and was curled up sunning --have never seen this before.
Baker is the last of the Fifty Finest for me--I've really enjoyed this group of peaks and commend them to you
this hike was for my friend who knows why
jim
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