| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Katahdin - Baxter Peak, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Abol Trail, Hunt Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, June 20, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
We’d planned on another hike but upon seeing clear skies we tried our luck at getting parking here. I guess you wait in a line just before the gate until 7:05am to do this as everyone with reservations needs to be in by 7am and then the people without reservations that were waiting in line (like us) can take any leftover spots. They had plenty but also couldn’t guarantee us an actual spot since they can’t account for campers inside the park who can park at the 4K trailheads without a reservation. We spotted a car at Hunt Trail (at least a few spots left), then drove over to Abol where we parked at some spots off to the side where a ranger had told other people they can park as the main lot was full. Park Tote Rd is well taken care of course and should be doable by any car going slow. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Water was still obviously high from recent rain but these trails don’t have any significant crossings that aren’t bridged; I believe the only one is O Joy Brook on Hunt Trail which is up high and did not require wading on Tuesday afternoon. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Abol Trail had at least two blowdowns below treeline. The first was a smallish duck under and the second I don’t recall what it looked like but it was very shortly after this first one which I believe was toward the middle of the trail. Abol Trail is blazed in blue and Hunt Trail is blazed in white (AT). Other than the usual ambiguity at times above treeline, they seemed sufficiently well blazed/easy to follow. I believe there were some blowdowns along Hunt Trail as well but they were older, relatively insignificant, and didn’t seem likely to be taken care of. Trail signs were intact. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Dogs are not allowed in BSP. |
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 | Bugs: |
They were bad. Even with bug spray they could be quite a nuisance when we stopped. Black flies and mosquitos I believe. No ticks at least!! |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Carried out a water bottle. If you lost one on Abol Trail feel free to message me. I don’t have it with me to describe it, sorry. |
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 | Comments: |
1st full day staying in Old Town on a mini-redlining vacation. A friend and I had planned on a Dwelley Pond traverse possibly followed by a Doubletop traverse if the water wasn’t too bad but upon seeing clear skies, my friend suggested Katahdin which I was thrilled to get as I needed Abol and Hunt Trails and I’d have a car spot! We decided to ascend Abol Trail and descend Hunt Trail but having hiked down Hunt Trail now, I would not want to do this again.
Abol Trail starts out gradual and gets progressively steeper and rougher; there was a spot or two where one might want to take off their pack and pass it to another. Only minor standing/running water on it. Definitely some scrambling on the upper reaches of this trail. We saw many others of course but it did not feel crowded. The Table Land was incredible; this was my first time on it. A much needed break after the steep ascent up Abol. A good deal of standing water around Thoreau Springs and Abol and Hunt Trail in either direction from here for awhile. The summit was a bit crowded with folks coming up from various directions but nothing crazy at all.
The descend down Hunt Trail was pretty awful. It continues flat for a ways beyond Thoreau Spring but then descends very steeply with lots of scrambling. I do not recommend it for descent unless you’re comfortable with technical climbing. Lots of lowering myself down with my arms so much so that I felt it in my triceps afterward, lol. Worst of all, was the single iron rung to aid people in getting up. Coming down, the iron rung was actually in the way and this spot felt particularly treacherous. You also dip down below treeline once, just to come back above it. Once finally below treeline for good, the trail continued to be very steep, rough, and scrambly for a ways but gradually improved. There was some moderate running down the trail in two or three spots. Very eroded and sometimes the trail seemed to split as a herd path that itself was very eroded went around something.
Katahdin Stream Falls was roaring. There were some herd paths leading toward it but I didn’t find one well travelled trail that lead to it. It’s not a redlining spur technically anyway as it’s not given with a distance. The spurs I found had you looking down at the falls rather than up at them. The trail was very mellow from here on out (and a ways before it) and went through some cool, brushy, ledgy terrain. Gaia had me at 8.8mi, 3900ft of gain, 8.5hrs. |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-06-23 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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