Meeting hikers at Mt. K

imported
#1

I wrote Baxter State Park asking about the earliest I could enter the park and begin inching my way up the mountain.
A: 5:00
Problem is that if you arn’t in line at 5:00, the chances are good you can’t park the car! (this acording to the BSP folks).
Then there is the worry that the day you planned on joining up with your hikers is rainy, foggy, etc. Anyone know if A) the worries about parking are valid and B) what are the chances of a dry day vice one with lots of fog or rain?

Sweeper, if you’re out there, what strategy did your folks use? - Mike

Mike Horowitz

#2

Glad to hear you ar making the hike, that is if you get thru the gate and into the park! Haha. Good luck have lots of fun. Take it slow and you will enjoy. Don’t try to keep up with the boys. Actually the boys should hang back with you. At that point no need to RUSH to the finish line. I’m heading back out next Monday. Give my congrats to the guys for a hike well done! Sue T

~hamockhngr~

#3

Glad to hear you ar making the hike, that is if you get thru the gate and into the park! Haha. Good luck have lots of fun. Take it slow and you will enjoy. Don’t try to keep up with the boys. Actually the boys should hang back with you. At that point no need to RUSH to the finish line. I’m heading back out next Monday. Give my congrats to the guys for a hike well done! Sue T

~hamockhngr~

#4

Don’t worry about getting into Baxter. The people who want to meet you need to be there at about 4:00 am. AO NOT GET THERE ANY LATER THAN THIS. We got to the gate at 4:45 and there were already 6 cars there. Good luck!

windex

#5

Remember that you can’t use a phone in the park. The closest on is outside the park at a gas station. We lucked out in having some section hikers leave early from Katahdin Stream and leave thier site to thru hikers. US! Our bro-in-law knew to be in line early but we didn’t count on him just coming up to Daicy Pond, which is where he thought we would be, to visit the day before we were going up. The Ranger there radioed ahead to all gates with name and description of his van and were told if he shows to let him in any time, just pay for the site, and go in. All arranged by the Rangers. He ended up coming in to Katahdin Stream at 7pm. What luck and cool magic from the park staff. They are NOT, repeat NOT, Trail Nazis as they have been called. My wife cried when Marcia from Daicy handed here the pass to Katadin Stream. All was cool. Tell whom ever comes up to get you to be polite at the gate and you will be rewarded. Just tell the gate guy/girl you are picking up hikers…and bring donuts. :>)

Bushwack

#6

My husband, Texas Jack, and his hiking buddy, Grampy, were told at the gate that the maximum number of cars had already gone in. They agreed to hike in another section of the park, paid their fees, were dropped off, and then climbed Katahdin. They were later told my Rangers in the park that this “car rule” only applied to day hikers, not thru-hikers, which they were, and they should have been let in at the gate. If you have problems, you might mention that you are thru-hikers and see if it helps.

Carol