Is there Backcountry Skiing on Mount Katahdin Maine?
 

Anyone know or anyone done it? Any info would be appreciated

Thanks

On Tue, 12 Aug 2003 12:51:53 -0300, "Max Tracy"
wrote:

Anyone know or anyone done it? Any info would be appreciated

Depends on your definition of BC skiing, but yes there is.

In winter, when the roads in to the major campsites are not plowed,
many people will ski in with a sled to their basecamp.

There is some terrain suitable, but the rangers will caution you a
good bit about the isolation from any help. Parts of it are very
challenging, similar to Tucks but no avvy reports or rescuers.

See:
http://www.baxterstateparkauthority.com/

especially:
http://www.baxterstateparkauthority.com/camping/wintercamping.html

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

The Goodman book has a section on it -- definitely some of the best
ski mountaineering terrain in New England. But the red tape to get
there is a pain, and in return for that you don't get anything of
value (e.g., no avy rpt, as Gary said).

Getting into Baxter SP in winter is complex. See their site for
details, and keep in mind that the reservations get mostly filled
within a few days after they start accepting them for hteupcomong
season.

Just out of idle curiosity I went to the web site. Holy Crap! It sounds
like an authoritarian nightmare even in the summer! It's really sad that
the state is in the role of protecting people from their own stupidity.

-G

On Wed, 13 Aug 2003 10:40:56 -0700, Greg
wrote:

Just out of idle curiosity I went to the web site. Holy Crap! It sounds
like an authoritarian nightmare even in the summer! It's really sad that
the state is in the role of protecting people from their own stupidity.

Well, they are the people who have to go out and rescue hikers.

Fact is, it is easier to get a permit to climb Denali in winter than
for Katahdin in winter.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

Gary S. wrote:

Well, they are the people who have to go out and rescue hikers.

Do they have to? I think that's part of the problem. If a handful
of ill-prepared hikers died each year, people would learn a greater
respect for the mountain and weather conditions. I don't want to sound
too crass, but availability of rescues just gives the illusion of safety.
Too many people expect safety. Telling them when/when not to climb and
being there for rescues just reinforces this thinking.

I was hiking down from the summit of Mt. Hoffman in Yosemite NP, which
although it has much more benign weather than Katahdin, *is* over 10kft and
in a wilderness area miles from the road. I met an older couple on their way up
and the man didn't look so hot. They asked me about the first aid station on the
summit. I was astounded and told them that they was no such thing (on top of any
Sierra summit AFAIK). They thanked me politely and kept ascending. Where do
people get these notions?

Fact is, it is easier to get a permit to climb Denali in winter than
for Katahdin in winter.

Very odd. With all due respect to Katahdin, I have to beleive that Denali is
more dangerous!

-Greg

I am only Mt. K. short of climbing every 4000 footer in New England. I am
in a permanent boycott of that park. The rules now actually aren't as bad
as they were about 20 years ago.

Find a through hiker on the Appalachian Trail who was forced to wait for a
number before climbing K to finish the 2000+ mile trek. Or worse, who was
completely denied the chance because of an artificial date on the calendar,
regardless of actual weather and climbing conditions.

Add some really xenophobic rules that give preference to Mainers and there
are plenty of reasons to stay away.

Tommy T.


"Greg" wrote in message
...



Getting into Baxter SP in winter is complex. See their site for
details, and keep in mind that the reservations get mostly filled
within a few days after they start accepting them for hteupcomong
season.

Just out of idle curiosity I went to the web site. Holy Crap! It sounds
like an authoritarian nightmare even in the summer! It's really sad that
the state is in the role of protecting people from their own stupidity.

-G