A film festival will soon be held, including a category for short documentary films. Given I am enthralled with our Knife Edge accomplishments, I have decided to submit a documentary about our Trail experience.
The below 30-minute video has many pictures and videos you have never seen. When I did my original video, it was seven minutes and did not include any return hike after we reached Baxter Peak and only a few videos and pictures of us getting to the Knife Edge Trail.
I suggest you sit your friends and family down, make some popcorn, gather your favorite drink, and watch this Knife Edge documentary.
Be prepared to close your eyes if you are severely afraid of heights.
I present the Fabled Knife Edge Trail of Mount Katahdin, Maine. A 15-hour and 11-mile hike, followed by the trail mapping plan. Five friends and I will take you with us, share the Knife Edge experience, and discuss the planning.
We planned a long day of hiking, only to find a day and evening of climbing. The plan seemed relatively straightforward:
You cannot drive or paddle to reach the Knife Edge Trail. First, it takes a 7-hour uphill hike from Roaring Brook campground to Chimney Peak to get to the beginning of the notorious and legendary Knife Edge Trail. Next, after a two-hour hike described above, you finally arrive at the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail at Mt Katahdin's Baxter Peak. And remember, what goes up a mountain, must come down. After reaching your Baxter Peak goal via the Knife Edge Trail, you now must hike down five miles on Mt Katahdin's Appalachian Trail in more treacherous ridge terrain for six hours to return to the Katahdin Stream Campground.
Sit back and enjoy - and cringe - as we cross the fabled Knife Edge Trail. Now showing on Bedford Community Television (BCTV) - produced by OutdoorSteve.com
Click here for a narrated Map of our Katahdin Trail Route using Google Earth.
Click here for A Little Stroll Along Katahdin with Dundee and LoonsNest.biz
Knife Edge Trail
We were into our hike for about 6 ½ hrs. of rock strewn, rugged and prolonged steepness on the Dudley trail reaching Pamola Peak, followed by a technical Pamola descent. We ascended Chimney Peak, and the start of the almost mile high Knife Edge Trail. Whew!
The Knife Edge Trail is perhaps the most spectacular trail in New England – and also the most dangerous. It would take us two hours to cross from Chimney Peak to Baxter Peak.
We were advised to avoid the Knife Edge in stormy weather. The exposure to high winds and lightning is extreme. We were warned once we decide to cross the Knife Edge we MUST CONTINUE ON THE TRAIL. There is no safe way to descend off either side of the mountain ridge. Our weather conditions were perfect!
The mile long Knife Edge path stretches across the South Basin’s headwall between Pamola and Baxter Peak. You get a sense of what these six outdoor enthusiasts experienced crossing this unique narrow mile-high ridge with 1,000-foot plus drops on both sides. At a few points the width of the ridge was close to 10-inches. The views, when we dared a birds-eyed glimpse, are magnificent and certainly breathtaking.
A very special thanks goes to Linwood and Betty of Loons Nest (http://www.loonsnest.biz/) for their immense help in preparing this trip.
For more of Steve’s outdoor guidebooks and documentary videos, visit OutdoorSteve.com and Outdooradventurers.blogspot.com.
Here is the 50-second Trailer I developed to promote the half-hour "Hiking the Fabled Knife Edge Trail."
Here is the half-hour film submitted to the Film Festival:
------------------------------Intro Narrative----------------------------
We planned a long day of hiking, only to find a day and evening of climbing. The plan seemed relatively straightforward:
- Hike to Baxter Peak, the northern terminus of the 2,162-mile Appalachian Trail (AT).
- Cross the fabled 1.1-mile Knife Edge Trail.
- Hike five miles on the AT starting at its northern beginning at Baxter Peak.
You cannot drive or paddle to reach the Knife Edge Trail. First, it takes a 7-hour uphill hike from Roaring Brook campground to Chimney Peak to get to the beginning of the notorious and legendary Knife Edge Trail. Next, after a two-hour hike described above, you finally arrive at the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail at Mt Katahdin's Baxter Peak. And remember, what goes up a mountain, must come down. After reaching your Baxter Peak goal via the Knife Edge Trail, you now must hike down five miles on Mt Katahdin's Appalachian Trail in more treacherous ridge terrain for six hours to return to the Katahdin Stream Campground.
-----------------------------------
More Detail Videos of Knife Edge, Google Earth Map Route, and Overview of Our Katahdin TrekSit back and enjoy - and cringe - as we cross the fabled Knife Edge Trail. Now showing on Bedford Community Television (BCTV) - produced by OutdoorSteve.com
Click here for a narrated Map of our Katahdin Trail Route using Google Earth.
Click here for A Little Stroll Along Katahdin with Dundee and LoonsNest.biz
Below is the time and miles breakdown by trail
Trails | Start | End Total Trip Hrs:Min | Hours Miles | Comments |
Roaring Brook Campground to Chimney Pond Campground | Start 6:45 am | 9:30 am | 2 ¾ hrs 3.3 miles | Chimney Pond Trail easy hike. 4 of us used Tracking Poles. Some nice side trail views. |
Chimney Pond Campground to Pamola Peak via Dudley Trail | 10 am | 1 pm | 3 hrs 1.4 miles | After a snack and rest at Chimney Pond Campground, we tied our tracking poles to our packs. The Dudley Trail is a 2,000 elevation gain and a relentless massive granite boulder laden trail nearly straight up requiring our hands for pulling, grabbing rocks and hand holds, our legs for pushing, our arms for lifting our bodies, our feet for pushing and toe holds, and our butts to sliding up and holding our bodies at times. All of us were exhausted. Indeed it was a very trying physical test of our mettle. |
Pamola Peak to Chimney Peak/Knife Edge | 1:20 pm | 2:12 pm | ¾ hr | Our descent down the 40 foot drop from Pamola Peak was technical “rock climbing” . We held indentations in the rocks while reaching for footholds. Indeed for this descent we used using hands, arms, body and butt. |
Knife Edge to South Peak | 2:12 | 3:00 pm | 1 hr .8 miles | A 1.1 mile balancing act along the ridge of the Knife Edge Trail. Prior to this trip I had visions of panicking because of the elevation and 1000 foot drop offs and extremely narrow trail. Truthfully, I had no fear as I crossed this very unique trail. |
South Peak to Baxter Peak | 3:00 | 3:50 pm | 1 hr .3 miles | This ridge trail went up and down. Just when we got to the top of the trail, it would drop and we would start another descent. Then an ascent followed by another descent. We were close to 7 hours since we left Roaring Brook campground and were tired. At each high ledge we could see Baxter Peak, but could not differentiate the rolling ridge. |
Baxter Peak via Hunt Trail through Table Land | 4:00 pm | 5:15 pm | 1 ¼ hr 1.0 miles | Tableland was like a country hike. It was flat and a welcome hike. We passed the famous Henry David Thorough Spring. We had been hiking for near ten hours. |
Hunt Trail after TableLand to Katahdin Stream Campground | 5:15 pm | 10:00 pm | 4.5 hrs 4.2 miles | We were now headed down and home, BUT still had 4.2 miles according to the trail sign. The first two miles were a steep down and over rough granite. We did have some technical areas. One section had steel handles in the granite to make the descent from huge ledges a bit easier. Took us two hours just to get below the tree line. At 8:30 pm we put on our headlamps. We used our trekking poles to give us stability through the downward rock strewn path. At 10 pm we reached the ranger check-in station where we signed-on the register that six of us were back. We also met the Park Ranger who had been told by two people who passed us earlier in the dark with headlamps and that we were fine and on our way |
TOTAL HOURS | 6:45 am | 10:00 pm | 11 miles 15 hrs! | What a Journey!!! |
We were into our hike for about 6 ½ hrs. of rock strewn, rugged and prolonged steepness on the Dudley trail reaching Pamola Peak, followed by a technical Pamola descent. We ascended Chimney Peak, and the start of the almost mile high Knife Edge Trail. Whew!
The Knife Edge Trail is perhaps the most spectacular trail in New England – and also the most dangerous. It would take us two hours to cross from Chimney Peak to Baxter Peak.
We were advised to avoid the Knife Edge in stormy weather. The exposure to high winds and lightning is extreme. We were warned once we decide to cross the Knife Edge we MUST CONTINUE ON THE TRAIL. There is no safe way to descend off either side of the mountain ridge. Our weather conditions were perfect!
The mile long Knife Edge path stretches across the South Basin’s headwall between Pamola and Baxter Peak. You get a sense of what these six outdoor enthusiasts experienced crossing this unique narrow mile-high ridge with 1,000-foot plus drops on both sides. At a few points the width of the ridge was close to 10-inches. The views, when we dared a birds-eyed glimpse, are magnificent and certainly breathtaking.
Are You Ready for Katahdin?
A very special thanks goes to Linwood and Betty of Loons Nest (http://www.loonsnest.biz/) for their immense help in preparing this trip.
References
- www.baxterstateparkauthority.com/
- Bedford Community Television (BCTV): Knife Edge to Baxter Peak at the Northern Terminus of the Appalachian Trail produced by Steve Priest
- The Wilderness Map Company, Franconia, NH 03580 (I could find no web site on the map I used titled, Katahdin: Baxter State Park, Maine)
- OutdoorSteve Blog Post November 2009: Springer Mountain, Georgia - The Southern Terminus of the Appalachian Trail
- Appalachian Trail Conservancy
- http://www.loonsnest.biz/
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"Everyone must do something. I believe I will go outdoors with family and friends"
Steve’s latest book, Outdoor Play "Fun 4 4 Seasons" is available as an e-Book at Kindle ($3.99) and hard copy at Amazon.com ($11.95)
"Everyone should believe in something. I believe I’ll go Outdoors.”
Steve’s books are available as hardcopy and e-Books at Amazon's Kindle and hardcopy at Harborside Trading Company, 81 Main St, Sunapee, NH, Wild Goose Country Store, 77 Main St, Sunapee, NH, Morgan Hill Bookstore, New London, NH, Bookstore at Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Gift Shop, Lebanon, NH, and Village Sports, New London, NH.
For more of Steve’s outdoor guidebooks and documentary videos, visit OutdoorSteve.com and Outdooradventurers.blogspot.com.
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