Maine?

W

Wgpauto

Joined
Jun 27, 2007
Messages
51
I am going to Maine next week with a couple friends for a bit of a backpacking hike. Exactly what will I need when I am up there? I am fine with knives and everything but exactly what kind of clothing, fire starting materials and other stuff will I need for this trip?

Thanks
 
Bug Spray and Money for Seafood...no really.
 
I'd be sure to bring a heavy shirt, sweater, or fleece jacket ( summer evenings can drop into the forties), and rain gear. Bug dope is a good idea, but the worst of the bug season is past. Fire starting is easy, there is birch and spruce all over the place. A current edition of the DeLorme Maine Atlas and Gazetteer is a pretty valuable resource as well, especially if you'll be driving any of the woods roads in the northern part of the state.
 
Wgpauto said:
I am going to Maine next week with a couple friends for a bit of a backpacking hike. Exactly what will I need when I am up there? I am fine with knives and everything but exactly what kind of clothing, fire starting materials and other stuff will I need for this trip?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Acadia, Baxter or other? If you are planning on hiking in any of our parks, it would be a good idea to check their web page for any restrictions. For example, pets are not allowed in Baxter, and firearms must be unloaded and locked away in your trunk when in the park. No open fires! If you don't get there by 0630, you probably aren't getting in that day. Once the lots are full, the rangers close the gates. Like I said, check out the parks online first. Lots of good info there. Bring the appropriate gear for any weather conditions. It can be 45 deg and rainy in the morning and 90 deg with 100 percent humidity by afternoon. The worst of the bug season has passed, but in the deep woods they are still out enforce. Deer flies are the worst this week.
Enjoy!
Scott
 
Tanguay Custom Knives said:
Acadia, Baxter or other? If you are planning on hiking in any of our parks, it would be a good idea to check their web page for any restrictions. For example, pets are not allowed in Baxter, and firearms must be unloaded and locked away in your trunk when in the park. No open fires! If you don't get there by 0630, you probably aren't getting in that day. Once the lots are full, the rangers close the gates. Like I said, check out the parks online first. Lots of good info there. Bring the appropriate gear for any weather conditions. It can be 45 deg and rainy in the morning and 90 deg with 100 percent humidity by afternoon. The worst of the bug season has passed, but in the deep woods they are still out enforce. Deer flies are the worst this week.
Enjoy!
Scott
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info! :thumbup: I'm going to Baxter next week. :)

But are you sure about no open fires? The website indicates:

12. FIRES: Fires or other cooking or heating devices are permitted only in designated campsites or picnic areas. No person may leave a fire without totally extinguishing it, nor discard any burning cigarettes, cigars, matches, or any other burning material within the Park. At Chimney Pond and Davis Pond, open fires are prohibited and only gas or propane stoves are allowed.

Also, if I have a campsite reservation do I have to find a parking spot before 0630? :confused:

I've never been to Maine so I'm pretty excited! :D
 
I was lucky enough to live in Maine for almost 2 years back around 2000. No matter what you do up there, if you are into outdoor activities- you are gonna love it. I really miss it, but am going to be able to make it back there for a quick trip at the end of august.

I found the weather during the summer to be rather agreeable. It does get hot and even humid in some areas. At higher elevations it can get cool at night. During all of my summer trips up there, I was fine with some pants, a long sleeve shirt, a fleece jacket and a light rain shell.

AS for Baxter- if you have a reservation you should be ok, but double check. I only made it there once, with the express purpose of day-hiking Katahdin. I found a place to camp outside the park the night before, (PM me if you want details on that) and arrived at the gate EARLY. I think it was before 6am. There was already a line of cars there.

And this thread has bought back some painful memories of the BUGS. So bring a BUNCH of insect deterents. I cant remember the brand, but I found a deet product up there that was in clear gel form, and that worked better than anything else I used.

Congrats on your trip to Maine!
 
akennedy73 said:
Thanks for the info! :thumbup: I'm going to Baxter next week. :)

But are you sure about no open fires? The website indicates:

12. FIRES: Fires or other cooking or heating devices are permitted only in designated campsites or picnic areas. No person may leave a fire without totally extinguishing it, nor discard any burning cigarettes, cigars, matches, or any other burning material within the Park. At Chimney Pond and Davis Pond, open fires are prohibited and only gas or propane stoves are allowed.

Also, if I have a campsite reservation do I have to find a parking spot before 0630? :confused:

I've never been to Maine so I'm pretty excited! :D
Click to expand...

The last time I was in Baxter, no open flames were allowed. I think it depends on the danger level (amount of rain/how dry the woods are). If you have a reservation you are good to go. That is taken into account when they count the cars entering the park. I think you still have to get there by a certain time though. I'd check.

Last year on my way to Baxter I got a flat on my full size quad cab Dodge Ram with BFG all terrain tires. They had just graded the road. BEWARE! If you see a freshly graded road. Try to drive in someone else's tire tracks. The shale grading kicks up is razor sharp. A plugging kit and a small cigarette lighter air compressor can save the day. I know it did for me!

BTW, my camp is 30 minutes south of the park.
Enjoy!
Scott
 
Scott,

Thanks for the info! I will be at Baxter, and then we are probably taking a whitewater rafting trip one of those days down the Penobscot I believe(which looks to be where you live!) The info on fires is helpful but I am sure the Ranger's special rules will be posted before you go into the park.

I know my question was vague, but I really needed to know exactly what I needed because Maine was such deverse weather. I know my first time to the top of Washington I didn't know it would be so cold in April!
 
Tanguay Custom Knives said:
Last year on my way to Baxter I got a flat on my full size quad cab Dodge Ram with BFG all terrain tires. They had just graded the road. BEWARE! If you see a freshly graded road. Try to drive in someone else's tire tracks. The shale grading kicks up is razor sharp. A plugging kit and a small cigarette lighter air compressor can save the day. I know it did for me!
Click to expand...

Many thanks Scott! That sort of info is invaluable and could save me hours of hassle and headache. :thumbup:
 
Guys you are very welcome!

Maine has a lot to offer in the way of outdoor recreation. Just like anywhere, dress in layers as the weather can and does change very rapidly. Lightweight Gore-Tex jackets and pants are very handy, as is a fleece to wear under them if it gets really nasty.

A boonie style hat helps keep the sun, rain, and bugs off your head. Deer flies in particular seem to love coring into your scalp! We hike in shorts and tees, but always carry our rain gear. Deep Woods Off (my favorite) is a must any time between late may to late Sept.

When you enter Baxter, the rangers will take all your personal info, including a contact number in case you don't check out at your indicated time. They have a real strong presence in the park too, and its not uncommon to run into them while hiking the trails. At least one ranger hikes Katahdin every single day.

There are many trails in Baxter, and the rangers can tell you the difficulty rating of each. Some are a real challenge with alot of rock/boulder scrambling involved. Carry enough water for the entire day!

Quality, well broken in boots are a must. Two years ago I ran into a woman hiking katahdin in some sort of sandals. She was in agony. Bad choice. If you are hiking Katahdin, I recommend planning to head out on the trail very soon after first light. Its an all day event hiking up and back, but one I promise you won't forget. One trip across the knife's edge and you will never forget it.

You will probably run into alot of Appalachian Trail through hikers too. This time of year many are wrapping up their through hikes. Lots of celebrations on the summit!
Hope you have a blast!
Scott
 
Hmm, that sounds good. Thanks for the recommendation on the Bug Spray. We are used to it down here in CT, but I know that is just the tip of the Ice-Bug of attacking pests.. I have a pretty light Gore-Tex jacket. I don't expect it to get too cold but I will big layers so I can wear them under the jacket. If I was to do one of the more challenging hikes, what size of a day pack would I need with me?
 
comment: One of the things about east coast people, so many do not get to travel anywhere, even so short a drive from Ct to Me.

(this is not a strike against the OP)

I am just saying, even here in the moderately spread out midwest, my kids have been to every surrounding state and most of the states in the country. Here a 100 miles is just up the road, out west a 100 miles is a trip to town. out east, a 100 miles is a journey. one reason there is such a conflict in mentalities re personal responsibility and so on.

Just a comment.
 
I don't really consider CT to Maine a "short drive" 9 and a half hours in the car isn't a "short drive" to anyone so I do not understand your "comment"
 
Guntotin_fool said:
out east, a 100 miles is a journey
Click to expand...

Hmmm... I live in Maine. My wife drives over 100 miles a day to work and back, the closest traffic light is 55 miles away (right up the street from the closest Wal-Mart), the closest mall is 85 miles away (as is the closest interstate highway). Several times I've driven close to 200 miles in an evening just to watch a highschool basketball game. The whole east isn't a city.
 
Check the weather first. Lately it has been hot and humid Downeast.

Hey x39, I've done the hundred mile commutes myself. Lets you get some coffee into you and wake up before you hit work. Sometimes I actually missed the long drive home. These days it only takes about ten minutes to get home from work....not nearly enough time to process and unwind.
 
Yeah I used to drive 45 miles each way into New York.. Fool really doesn't understand yet he thinks that because NY, Philly, Boston and DC are within 400 miles of each other, they are very close, and I agree on that part but not all of the East is one giant-connected city..
 
Guntotin_fool said:
one reason there is such a conflict in mentalities re personal responsibility and so on.
Click to expand...

:confused: I don't really understand this part of your comment. Can you please explain what you mean by this? Are you trying to say that people's travel patterns and thoughts on driving distances in the east are somehow related to how they relate to each other and whether or not people take responsibilities for their actions?
I am not trying to start anything here, I am just curious as to what point you were trying to get across.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top