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Great videos and trip report, as always. I never made it to the east side of the park on a family trip there a number of years ago. Amazing park for sure. Now that you are home safely, you should check out the book "Night of the Grizzlies" by Jack Olsen. Terrifying stuff. I made the mistake of...

When I did the VT5, I took the LT from 108 as you have described. The last .25mile or so to the peak above Taft Lodge I remember being rather steep and scrambly. Other than that it was standard trail and footing. All in all, nothing you or pup haven't already seen or handled in the Whites or...

Agreed, it's a real pain. In the past, it was great to be able to string together backcountry sites for multiple days checking availability and booking in real time. The phone system is a drag and I've missed out on first choices the last two years because of it.

4 month rolling for the first day of your reservation only. You can add days on no problem if it's available. No, you don't need to try each additional day.

Slightly different product but very comparable performance and price point - I've really liked the Hillsound Trail Pro Crampon that is that middle ground between spikes and full crampon. Easy ratchet binding system and solid bite. I've found them quite comfortable for long hikes and tolerable on...

BSP is just horrible all around. Very terrible place and the worst people. Stay away!!!:)

"I dont know if I won him over with my convention that Daicey is a better campground than Kidney;)" Peakbagger, I'd love to read your persuasive essay on the Daicey vs. Kidney campgrounds :) I'm hooked...

I've had frequent encounters with them this year. Early August on Mt Cutler in Hiram our group had over 10 stings. Then on two separate hikes in Baxter late August my hiking partners were each stung.

https://bangordailynews.com/2021/09/14/news/piscataquis/60-year-old-missing-within-remote-section-of-baxter-state-park/ Interested to hear more details. It seems rare for people to go missing in the more remote sections of Baxter. Russell Pond trail doesn't seem to present any navigational...

I have not invested in ultra light gear and have never completed a long-distance thru hike. I tend to carry a somewhat hefty first aid kit and camp comfort items. I imagine my pack weight is on the average/heavier side of non-ultralight or thru hikers. I like what Tom said about hiking to camp...

Lol, that's funny, Tim!!! Well played

I agree. I haven't seen it this booked up or difficult to get through in the close to 10 years I've been making annual reservations. It's not just the popular spots - I couldn't get reservations to the remote back country spots away from Katahdin that in the past I've had no issue calling and...

Jordan Pond area is well worth the visit. I highly recommend making a loop over Sargent and Penobscot Mountains and around Jordan Pond. A 5ish mile loop makes a great half-day hike.

Brian, I loved The Eight Mountains by Paolo Cognetti. One of the rare times when I've finished a book and flipped right back to page 1 and started again. Your analysis of "insightful, quiet, painful" is spot on. Definitely a story best read slowly, in a dimly lit room (or camp?) with a beverage...

I'd say the Saddleback ridge walk is the most impressive then - most above tree line time. The Spaulding-Abraham Ridge is incredibly soft, gentle, and relatively flat. I really enjoyed it, but it's mostly all wooded until you get to within .5 mile of Abraham. Bigelow Peaks are awesome but...

While the Saddlebacks are awesome, so are the Bigelows. And the Bigelow trailhead is only a couple of miles from the Caribou Pond Trailhead so you could easily knock off 5-8 Maine peaks in 2-3 day hikes if that's what you were looking for. Just note that Caribou Pond road is closed Mon-Fri for...

Found the ski trails up to the Saddlebacks much more enjoyable than most other ski trail hikes. Went in early July and the Lupines were in full bloom - thousands and thousands covering the lower slopes with the trail winding through. Ski area is closed but access road is good and open...

As more confirmation, I was just there last weekend. Road is in good shape. I hiked the 3 peaks on the other side but same starting point. https://newenglandtrailconditions.com/me/viewreport.php?entryid=43285

A nice 4-5 loop can be done from Jordan Pond House going up and over Sergent and Penobscot Mt and down around the pond. Pemetic Mt. is also a great bang for your buck hike that does not see the crowds of neighboring Cadillac. I really enjoy staying at Blackwoods. Many drive to Cadillac for...