Maine
What to know about the dangers of climbing Mount Katahdin, Maine’s highest point – The Boston Globe
They were last seen at approximately 10:15 a.m. Sunday, setting off from Abol Campground towards the summit, Baxter State Park officials said.
Trail guides and experts have some pointers on how to prepare to climb Katahdin.
1. Don’t be fooled by numbers.
“People underestimate how challenging it is,” said Jesika Lucarelli, a Registered Maine Guide who’s been leading hikes up Katahdin since 2012. “People often look at a route and see it’s only 4.5 miles to the summit, but they don’t understand how rugged the terrain is.”
2. The terrain rises, trails scramble.
Mount Katahdin rises sharply from the northern wilderness. The trails scramble over steep, often slippery rock with limited visibility. “That’s why we say climb Katahdin and not hike it,” said Lucarelli.
Round-trip hikes average 8–12 hours, and all Katahdin trails are rated “moderate” to “extremely strenuous,” according to the Baxter State Park website.
3. The weather is tricky to predict.
The weather can change fast, especially in the “shoulder seasons” of late spring and early fall.
“The mountain is so high, it creates its own weather patterns,” said Tori Gray, a Registered Maine Guide and former Baxter State Park ranger. “Thunderstorms can roll in that weren’t even on the weather forecast. It happens very quickly, in a matter of minutes.”
Because conditions can change quickly, Noah Kleiner, a certified guide who leads hikes in summer and winter said he’s “always collecting data,” paying attention to both the environment and how his body is responding “in order to make the right decision.”
4. Think wilderness first, recreation second.
“It’s really rugged, it’s true wilderness, and sometimes that’s lost on people,” Gray said.
“Wilderness first, recreation second” is a guiding principle at Baxter State Park, Gray said. “The park promotes and stands by a primitive experience,” she said.
5. Avoid ‘summit fever’
The most important thing is knowing when to turn around. Gray said. “A lot of hikers are super experienced, but they have summit fever, they don’t care about anything but reaching the summit,” she said.
“But in a situation where you’re not feeling safe or comfortable on the mountain, say you see dark clouds or your ankle is starting to bother you, turn around.”
“The hike doesn’t end at the summit,” she said. “It ends in your car.”
“The mountain will always be there, it’s not going anywhere, whether I get to the summit today or tomorrow,” Kleiner said. ” And I think people forget that when they’re there. But you have to ask, what is the risk? And is it worth more than [reaching] the summit?”
Rita Chandler can be reached at rita.chandler@globe.com.