After several months of planning and preparation, two trip leaders through PSU’s Outdoor Center, Lindsay Hill and Sierra Prothers worked together to provide students with a unique opportunity to experience the beauty that Maine has to offer. Last Friday afternoon Garrett Zuorski, Quinn Walkera, Jason Hardin, Sam Anderson, Devon McPhee, Garrett Siebert and Taylor Hunt along with student leaders, Prothers and Hill set off for the heart of the wilderness of Northern Maine.
After a six-hour drive on what seemed to be an endless highway, the group made camp at Mt. Chase Lodge on Upper Shin Pond, which borders the northern entrance to Baxter State Park. After a relaxing pancake breakfast, canoeing and wood stacking, there was an exploration of the Lumberman’s Museum in Patten, M.E. The Lumberman’s Museum is full of information, including the history of the logging foundation, exceptional ingenuity, and Maine’s economy in the 1800’s.
Excited to be in a new area, the group was anxious to get a glance at the mountain that they would soon set out to conquer. “As we were driving into the southern entrance of Baxter, we came around a corner and got our first glimpse of the mountain,” Zuorski described, “and we then realized how difficult this climb would be.” A good nights rest was certainly needed.
It was 33 degrees in the morning last Sunday as the nine PSU students rolled out of their sleeping bags in Baxter State Park at 5:15am. After a hot oatmeal breakfast, all nine students prepared for the long tedious 10-mile journey up Maine’s highest peak, Mt. Katahdin, at 5,267 feet. Named by the Penobscot Indians, Katahdin means “The Greatest Mountain.”
Mt. Katahdin offers many different routes to Baxter’s Peak, some more challenging than others. Ready to face an extraordinary challenge, this group opted for the most direct route to the summit of the massive mountain. Blue skies were in the forecast and positive energy was radiating. After careful risk assessment and cooperation with the weather, the leaders decided that they were indeed ready to take it on in hopes of also being able to cross Katahdin’s trademark route, the Knife’s Edge. “We knew we’d have to wake up early to be sure we’d have enough hours of daylight.” Hill explained, “It’s an incredibly demanding hike and we would need all the daylight we could get.”
Determination and fortitude carried the participants to the peak of Mt. Katahdin. “I felt so accomplished, but also so far away. I was so tied to everyone that I was with,” Walker said looking back on the experience. Sam Anderson expressed how amazing it was to be at the end of the Appalachian Trail. “So many people strive to reach that peak after such a long journey,” Anderson said. All participants stood in awe as they looked across the untouched wilderness of Maine. “You could see for a 100 miles,” Zuorski explained, “It was almost like Katahdin was placed in the middle of Kansas!”
Devon McPhee was pleased to spend the weekend in his home state. “It was a wicked good day to go up to Katahdin,” McPhee said, “the Knife’s Edge was wicked awesome!” At 12:45 p.m., the nine PSU students began their decent across the Knife’s Edge and it wasn’t until 5:30 p.m. that they got back to the parking lot.
Exhaustion hit when the mountaineers fell asleep at the Katahdin Stream Campground later on that evening with smiles of satisfaction across their faces. During the six hour ride back to campus the students reflected upon their amazing accomplishment. “I hope this trip becomes an annual PSU event so that other students can share this experience,” Prothers reflected.
To find out more about upcoming trips the Outdoor Center has to offer visit plymouth.edu/venturecenter .com.