In Earl Shaffer’s book, Walking With Spring, he states that Katahdin rivals, and possibly surpasses, Washington (i.e. Mount Washington) for weather extremes.
It seems that while Katahdin may have severe weather, who could testify about it? The rangers won’t actually let hikers go up top in severe weather conditions.
Does anybody have any hairy stories of severe weather on Mount Katahdin - anything rivaling Mount Washington? 'Twould be cool to read.
Kineo Kid
unlike Washington, the rangers at Baxter State Park can close trails and keep the fool harty off the mountain when it is hazardous.
And, Mt Washington has the weather observatory on the summit. No weather records on Katahdin, so who knows what the extremes are.
Peaks
Nothing compares to Katahdin. There is no road to the summit like Washington. At Katahdin you earn your view one step at a time. There are no easy ways to get to the top of Kathadin, only a few less difficult ways. The Hunt Trail according to many thru hikers, is probably the most demanding five miles of the whole AT. The Mahoosucs get mentioned in that conversation but rarely Washington. Yes, Washington is renowned for its weather because it reports weather. Right now, in October, there are pools of ice on Katahdin and in a few weeks it will be unhikable unless you can ice climb.
Fly By Mike
OK so he was the governor of Maine and probably biased beyond belief but here’s what Percival Baxter had to say about Katahkin.
“the greatest monument to nature that exists east of the Mississipi River”.
Fly By Mike