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Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Baxter State Park Winter Expedition, Part II – Challenging Climbs
On the third day of our six-day Baxter State Park expedition, eight of us awoke in the midst of a stormy northeaster. We were occupying the bunkhouse at South Branch Pond in the northeast sector of the park. Five inches of fresh snow had accumulated and mixed precipitation was predicted for the remainder of the…
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Seniors Not Acting Their Age: A Baxter State Park Winter Expedition, Part I – The Adventure Begins
A winter expedition into Baxter State Park begins months in advance. Last November 1st, Allen Gaskell and I traveled to Baxter State Park headquarters in Millinocket to participate in the winter reservations lottery. Our goal was to obtain a six-day reservation at the South Branch Pond bunkhouse in the northeastern sector of the park. Allen’s…
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Seniors Not Acting Their Age – Quest for Katahdin, Part II: The Climbs
On the third day of our Baxter State Park expedition a foot of fresh snowfall greeted seven of us when we awoke at the Chimney Pond bunkhouse in the shadow of Mount Katahdin. Led by my son, Adam, I was by far the senior citizen on the excursion. Since as much as two feet of…
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Seniors Not Acting Their Age – Quest for Katahdin – Part I: The Slog to Chimney Pond
My last winter trip into Baxter State Park three years ago was a disappointment for me. Suffering with arthritic hips, I was in constant pain when pulling a gear-laden sled and both attempts to summit Mount Katahdin were turned back by hazardous weather. Since the trip to and from Chimney Pond requires hauling a sled…