Katahdin National Monument

780 July 16-17, 2022 Katahdin National Monument

We checked in at Wilderness Edge. We were lucky because first of all, they were able to extend our reservation and we are staying for a week. Secondly, Ranger Dave was on the porch. Tim and Ranger Dave looked at the map for Katahdin National Monument. Ranger Dave gave very clear directions for reaching the park and lots of good advice on things to stop and see.

We settled in to our site and then took off to explore a little. Following Ranger Dave’s instruction, we turned at Dolby Lumber Yard. This particular hint saved us from traveling all the way back to Medway…it was a secret shortcut.

This train had 50 cars. The first 35 cars were filled with wood chips…no doubt headed for a paper mill.

We rode on gravel roads for almost 20 miles and easily found the remote primitive campground, Sandbank Stream. We planned to leave the RV in town and come back on Saturday for an overnight stay.

We drove back the way we came. We had decided on dinner in town and after showering, we went to Scootic In. I had blackened scallops on rice with salad…so good. Tim had clam chowder and chef salad. We noticed that our server was wearing a Jeep T-shirt. This sparked conversation. She is a single mom with a 13-year-old son. The two of them love to take her Jeep out onto the backroads, especially when it is muddy! Before leaving town, we “ducked” her Jeep. This involves leaving a yellow rubber duck with a note. It is meant to create smiles 😊

On Saturday, I drove the Jeep into town and walked on the Michaud Trail.

Upon returning, we packed the Jeep for our next adventure. We took the same route that we had the day before…over two sets of railroad tracks, make a right where the road looks more traveled in 1 ½ miles…keep going until the T and make a left.

Instead of setting up our camp, we took the Jeep on Katahdin Loop Road.

This was our first look of Mount Katahdin. The Appalachian Trail begins at that mountain and meanders some 2,200 miles all the way to Springer Mountain, Georgia.

We walked the short distance to Lynx Pond at Mile 2.

The most stunning views of the day were at milepost 6. We really were wishing that we could have camped right there!

Scenery along the way.

At mile 12, we parked the car and walked to Katahdin Brook Lean-to. We had lunch here and then walked back to the car…we did not hike all the way up to Barnard Mountain.

We took a spur, Oren Falls Road and hiked to the ford in the Wassataquoik Stream.

I took a time out here, sitting cross-legged in a flat and mossy area, just noticing…the breeze, the fresh pine smell, the flowing water, and the tiny pinecones. Can you notice the little tree? It is only ½ inch high…the promise of the future of this forest.

When we got to the car, we saw the first people of the day. We had traveled the entire loop all by ourselves. Here, there was another couple getting ready to hike to the falls with their dog.

We went to Sandbank Stream.

I went to sit by the water. I had seen lots of scat and animal tracks. I was hoping that if I was very still and very quiet, I might see something come to the water to drink. It was a lovely place to be. The water was crystal clear and cool on my feet. The bottom was really silty though and I started to sink! The temperatures are just perfect in Maine in July. The lily pads on the water, the wildflowers in a myriad of colors, the birds calling; an idyllic setting.

Tim was setting up camp when I was finished with my musing. He was having a problem folding the tent out. The hinge was locked. There was another couple camped next door who lent Tim a wrench. He was able to finally get the platform unfolded. He did some damage to the tent and was mad at himself.

Tim took a bike ride and I sat watching 3 male jays squawking and cavorting.

When it was time to cook our omelets for dinner, I realized that I had forgotten the eggs…no worries. I offered Tim a choice of blueberry jam and bread or I could make grilled cheese sandwiches. We hadn’t had grilled cheese in such a long time. I used the whole grain bread and the shredded cheese I was going to use for the eggs and I made it work!

As we prepared for bed, we heard a growling noise coming from the woods some distance away. We heard the noise for more than an hour and more than a dozen times. We are not alone in these woods! A moose or a bear??? Then, it was quiet and peaceful and we slept well.

This morning, Tim did some yoga.

I walked in the woods.

Ranger Dave stopped at the campground and gave us some more advice about places to visit in the area. He and Tim pored over the maps.

We decided to return to Millinocket via the road that was recommended only for high clearance vehicles. It was a pretty ride through thick forest. We stopped to walk at the water’s edge.

All at once the road was flooded…look for a beaver dam! Sure enough right by the road there was a well constructed dam.

Further along, the path became impassable. Look at the impressive structure that the beavers had built to make a pond in the middle of the road!

We took logging roads. Using the Jeep’s GPS we knew we were getting closer to Lake Millinocket and so we drove further. At last, we found a place where we could walk to the edge of the lake. All the bouncing on gravel roads was worth this spectacular view!

Ruffed grouse or partridge.

We stopped to eat breakfast and realized that we were parked right next to a blueberry bush. The berries were just beginning to ripen and we grabbed handfuls to eat.

Another couple had been out gathering blueberries. They stopped to chat. They had a camp on the lake and they invited us to follow them home and she even offered to make fresh blueberry muffins for us. We declined. We were eager to get back and repair the tent and shower!

Tim worked on the tent and after a trip to the True Value Store, the repair was fine enough for now. The tent is working better. Curtis…if you are reading this…Tim definitely thought about using a ten-pound maul to fix it!

Tim cycled to town and back while I worked on the blog and walked the loops in the RV campground.

This evening, we went to River Drivers Restaurant, part of the New England Outdoor Center. This is a swanky resort with lodges and cabins and adventure trips aplenty. The couple we met this morning picking blueberries reommended the restaurant.