Hiking in Maine - Mountain Explorer and Guide

"Man is born to Die, His Works are Short-lived, Buildings Crumble, Monuments Decay, Wealth Vanishes But Katahdin in All Its Glory Forever Shall Remain the Mountain of the People of Maine." -Percival Baxter

Mt. Katahdin, is the northern terminus of the famous Appalachian Mountain Trail and is the highest peak in Maine, at 5,267 feet (1,606 m). The Appalachian Mountain Trail runs from Mt. Katahdin, in the State of Maine, over 2,175 miles south, to Springer Mt. in the State of Georgia. It passes through 14 eastern U.S. States and is managed as a footpath/ hiking trail by the U.S. National Park Service. Conceived in 1921 and completed in 1937, the Appalachian Mountain Trail traverses the wild, scenic, wooded, pastoral, and culturally significant lands of the Appalachian Mountains.

Mt. Katahdin was named by the Penobscot Indians and means "the greatest mountain." Fauna include black bear, deer and moose, as well as swarms of bloodthirsty black flies (a sort of midge) and mosquitos in the spring. Among the birds are Bicknell's Thrush and various songbirds and raptors. The mountain has its own indigenous butterfly related to an Arctic type. The flora include pine, spruce, fir, hemlock, beech, maple, birch, aspen, and diapensia.

Katahdin is first referred to in American History, in the writing of John Giles, who was captured by the Abenaki Indians in 1689, outside of Portland, Maine. While indentured to the Abenaki as a captive, he describes their wanderings up and down the various rivers of Maine, including the Penobscot. He saw what the Abenaki referred to as the "Teddon" (Katahdin)and remarked at its being higher than the White Hills (White Mtns), at the head of the Saco River. The Abenaki avoided the Katahdin area however, as they felt it was the home of Pamola, the storm god.

(Both photos above show Mt. Katahdin and are courtesy of Flickr)

The motto of the Appalachian Trail is "Maine to Georgia". However, it is far more common for experience hikers to start the 6 month hike in Georgia, in April and finish in Maine in September. The reason for this is that the weather conditions are much more favorable (snow storms are common in April in Maine). Also, it is better to challenge the most difficult parts of the Trail after one is in good physical shape.

The Appalachian Mountain Trail runs for 276 miles within the State of Maine, from Mount Katahdin to the New Hampshire border. No part of the original Trail was more difficult to build in 1933, than the Maine section, due to the fact that the area lacked the infrastructure found in New Hampshire and Vermont and was an utter wilderness area.

However, Maine's wilderness presented not only challenges to the building of the AMT, but also its allure. Built through virgin territory, with the exceptional beauty of pristine mountains, lakes, forests and streams the Maine link provides a glimpse back into history.

The Trail in Maine traverses several prominent mountains including the twin peaks of the Bigelow Range, Saddleback, and the Mahoosuc Range. Western Maine offers some excellent hiking opportunities, but the Saddleback Mountain Range heads the list, boasting a 3 mile, above treeline section with outstanding views. In the Mahoosucs, the AMT has what is often described as the"toughest mile." This section through Mahoosuc Notch is a testament to a trail builder's imagination and a hiker's stamina; here the AMT goes over and under an incredible boulder-filled notch. The Trail continues over Goose Eye and Mount Carlo on its way to the state line of New Hampshire.

(Photo courtesy of Flickr)

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