Silverfox
New member
Baxter, Hamlin Peaks 8/20 via Chimney Pond, Saddle, Hamlin Ridge trails
Trail Conditions: Chimney Pond Trail well engineered and in great shape..some amazing bridges..some mud..never steep...Saddle trail starts off fine then turns from quite steep boulder hopping to steeper yet slide..thankfully the trail was dry..Once on the tableland the trail to Baxter offers good footing with only a couple of moderate spots..the approaching Knife Edge grabs your attention.... Trail back over to Hamlin offers good footing with spellbinding views in all directions...Hamlin Ridge Trail starts off steep and gets steeper..a long bouldery descent with a few edgy spots...rocks were dry..Basin trail back over to Chimney Pond rough and rooty
Equipment: Cold and windy on the summit and we layered up after the slide.Long pants a must today along with hats and gloves..We all got blown about by the wind several times and at the summit we truely hugged the sign.. Poles helpful in spots, useless in others.. this hiker did some hand over hand on the slide especially ..lots of scrambling
Comments: excellent day with OTHH in Baxter as Grumpy Gran, Native Lady, and Silverfox finish up NE4k's..The slide was interesting in spots..just as happy to go up that... Hamlin Ridge trail offers spectacular views in to the amazing west basin and to the ponds and lakes below..The approach into Chimney Pond is spectacular..today there were some clouds on our ascent which lifted as we climbed..the edge of Pamola, the Knife Edge, the long rocky ridges..we did a lot of stopping just to look around this day...what a place.. I had origionally planned to ascend hamlin and descend the slide but early morning high winds had us reverse the route to limit exposure and things worked out fine..We arrived at the summit to find 5 thru hikers that had just completed their hike..high fives all around and shared pictures aplenty we would run into these folks that evening at the Big Moose Lodge for a couple of brewskis..(wine for the ladies) and the next morning at the excellent Appalachian Trail Cafe in Millonocket for a breakfast that couldn't be beat...
pictures
http://www.flickr.com/photos/silverfox777/sets/72157606884881944/
Trail Conditions: Chimney Pond Trail well engineered and in great shape..some amazing bridges..some mud..never steep...Saddle trail starts off fine then turns from quite steep boulder hopping to steeper yet slide..thankfully the trail was dry..Once on the tableland the trail to Baxter offers good footing with only a couple of moderate spots..the approaching Knife Edge grabs your attention.... Trail back over to Hamlin offers good footing with spellbinding views in all directions...Hamlin Ridge Trail starts off steep and gets steeper..a long bouldery descent with a few edgy spots...rocks were dry..Basin trail back over to Chimney Pond rough and rooty
Equipment: Cold and windy on the summit and we layered up after the slide.Long pants a must today along with hats and gloves..We all got blown about by the wind several times and at the summit we truely hugged the sign.. Poles helpful in spots, useless in others.. this hiker did some hand over hand on the slide especially ..lots of scrambling
Comments: excellent day with OTHH in Baxter as Grumpy Gran, Native Lady, and Silverfox finish up NE4k's..The slide was interesting in spots..just as happy to go up that... Hamlin Ridge trail offers spectacular views in to the amazing west basin and to the ponds and lakes below..The approach into Chimney Pond is spectacular..today there were some clouds on our ascent which lifted as we climbed..the edge of Pamola, the Knife Edge, the long rocky ridges..we did a lot of stopping just to look around this day...what a place.. I had origionally planned to ascend hamlin and descend the slide but early morning high winds had us reverse the route to limit exposure and things worked out fine..We arrived at the summit to find 5 thru hikers that had just completed their hike..high fives all around and shared pictures aplenty we would run into these folks that evening at the Big Moose Lodge for a couple of brewskis..(wine for the ladies) and the next morning at the excellent Appalachian Trail Cafe in Millonocket for a breakfast that couldn't be beat...
pictures
http://www.flickr.com/photos/silverfox777/sets/72157606884881944/
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