View Full Version : sking katahdin
samthaman
12-05-2006, 10:41 PM
So i'm looking at skiing katahdin sometime this winter and basically i'm just looking for tips, suggestions, trip reports and photos from people who have done it. Primarily, whats a good time to go for fun snow/not out of control avi danger? how much time shoudl reasonably be allowed for an enjoyable trip? and what are the best runs on the mountain? I know katahdin sees many fewer skiiers a year than washington, but figured this would be the place to look for people who would know.
thanks for any help.
skiyak777
12-06-2006, 04:53 AM
There have been a few discussions on T4T about organizing a trip:
http://timefortuckerman.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2801&highlight=katahdin
It requires some planning ahead and the ability to demonstrate that you have a competent team with some experience. Rules are pretty restrictive:
http://www.baxterstateparkauthority.com/camping/win_procedures.html
I'd bet you could get a group together from this board if you wanted to organize some pre-Katahdin shakedown trips to get to know people, as there are quite a few people here with sufficient interest and experience to do it. If not, you could arrange something with Acadia Mountain Guides.
Other Guide Services:
Rhinoceros Mountain Guides (http://www.rhinocerosmountainguides.com/) aka: Jim Shimberg. Concentrating on Climbing these days but many Katahdin ski-in/ski-out trips with clients.
Marc Chauvin has run Trips up there too. It looks like they will be sticking to the Presidential Range and a couple of European high tours this winter.
IME Will be staying in the Presis this season too...But give them a call, they may be happy to schedule something
North American Telemark will be going to the Chic Chocs ( Gaspe Penninsula, Quebec) and to the Ruth Glacier(Alaska) for it's usual Telemark Camps.
EMS Climbing School has some White Mountains trips http://emsski.com/tours.htm
We've got a group going in February.
The application process was pretty straightfoward, and was accepted no problem. Link to app: http://www.baxterstateparkauthority.com/camping/winter_regform.html
The key to the trip is time. Takes alot. You need to give yourself a day each way for travel and atleast 4 days in the park (to account for weather, etc)
I can provide updates as the process progresses.
Affix Snow
12-06-2006, 10:48 AM
I can provide updates as the process progresses.
You do this. And good luck. We're all counting on you.
samthaman
12-06-2006, 02:15 PM
I'm plannin on doin it, but being a student i dont really have the funds for hiring a guide. I have a few friends that were intersted but all but one realy need a lot more experience winter camping and ski touring.
I did see a few of the other threads, but did any of those trips end up happening? If they did can anyone who was on one post some pictures and tell me where the best spots to ski are?
So i guess i'll be the one who starts it off this year, if anyone is interested in going to katahdin this year post it here, but be serious about it, have an avi class under your belt, avi gear and ski touring experence.
also, unrelated: is there a website or a phone number to call to check on the snow conditions in th Chic Choc's, I havnt found anything anywhere.
Affix Snow
12-06-2006, 02:18 PM
And good luck. We're all counting on you.
pulverschwein
12-06-2006, 02:46 PM
I did see a few of the other threads, but did any of those trips end up happening?
Not that I know of. There was talk of a trip this winter in one of those threads, but the only Katahdin TR I've seen 'round these parts have been from el bagr.
I gots qualifications and interest, but too little time and too many other distractions on my plate to say I'm serious. BUT, if someone drops out of your group and you need somebody for your trip, I bet you could find somebody here. Good luck and keep us updated. And bring back lots o dem purdy pitchers.
website or a phone number to call to check on the snow conditions in th Chic Choc's, I havnt found anything anywhere.
Here's a thread from Jolly J (happy birthday, btw dood:) ) with some helpful chic choc beta:
http://timefortuckerman.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2173&highlight=chic+choc
There is tons of info in Goodmans Maine and NH ski touring book, including descents which might be fun. No topos there tho.
March is a bit warmer, and perhaps more cover. Best ski-touring months..April and May they close.
I'd love to climb Chauvin-Cole if I went there...
astrotech
12-06-2006, 04:38 PM
None of the trips discussed here have panned out so far. I certainly want to get up to Baxter sometime and ski Katahdin. Jay$ is correct in that it looks like it requires a larger time investment.
samthaman
12-06-2006, 05:57 PM
The vibe i've been getting from the baxter state park website and a quick look through that guidebook have basically lead me to believe that the biggest hastle is from the park's red tape not any weather or avi concerns.
anyone have any idea of how solid a resume they appove your application?
Affix Snow
12-06-2006, 05:58 PM
And good luck. We're all counting on you.
surfsnowywaves
12-06-2006, 06:02 PM
Go watch Epoch by Meathead films...you local EMS should have it for a nominal fee. Those guys ski Katahdin, and it really shows you have much effort you have to put in to ski Katahdin. The time invest seems to me to be a large part - weather, getting in to Chimney Pond, etc. The problem also is that you have to get allowed to ski, AND then you also need an above-treeline permit. They don't want to take risks out there and have to rescue you, because it would be time consuming and expensive, not to mention quite a long trip. (Anybody know the closest major medical facility to Katahdin? In Portland maybe?)
Go watch Epoch by Meathead films...you local EMS should have it for a nominal fee. Those guys ski Katahdin, and it really shows you have much effort you have to put in to ski Katahdin. The time invest seems to me to be a large part - weather, getting in to Chimney Pond, etc. The problem also is that you have to get allowed to ski, AND then you also need an above-treeline permit. They don't want to take risks out there and have to rescue you, because it would be time consuming and expensive, not to mention quite a long trip. (Anybody know the closest major medical facility to Katahdin? In Portland maybe?)
Closest meds about a day away, says the NE ice climbing guide....
You have to go to Roaring brook first night and only next morning u can go to Chimney Pond. So 2 days going in, 1 going out. If you add 1 day climbing thats 4 days MINIMUM. For that effort, I'd want to stay 2-3 days at the least..
Dont know what kind of climbing/skiing resume they want, but you do have to submit your trip plan, so presumably it depends on what you want to attempt...
Go watch Epoch by Meathead films...you local EMS should have it for a nominal fee. Those guys ski Katahdin, and it really shows you have much effort you have to put in to ski Katahdin. The time invest seems to me to be a large part - weather, getting in to Chimney Pond, etc. The problem also is that you have to get allowed to ski, AND then you also need an above-treeline permit. They don't want to take risks out there and have to rescue you, because it would be time consuming and expensive, not to mention quite a long trip. (Anybody know the closest major medical facility to Katahdin? In Portland maybe?)There's a clinic in Lincoln and Millinocket has a couple of MD's. Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor is the closest major ER...I heard they were upgrading to a Trauma Unit**.
So Much for memory. Here is what there is now:
Name ........................... Local Area.. Lat...Long
Bangor City Nursing Facility.... Bangor...... 44.81 -68.80
Bangor Community Hospital....... Bangor...... 44.81 -68.80
Bangor State Hospital........... Veazie...... 44.82 -68.74
Eastern Maine Medical Center.... Bangor...... 44.81 -68.75 **
Millinocket Regional Hospital... Millinocket. 45.65 -68.72
Penobscot Valley Hospital....... Lincoln West 45.36 -68.50
Saint Joseph Hospital........... Bangor...... 44.81 -68.77
Taylor Hospital................. Bangor...... 44.82 -68.76
**EMMC 489 State St. Bangor ME 04401 (207) 973-7000
Does indeed have a trauma Unit.
davidhowland14
12-06-2006, 10:15 PM
I don't know if anyone here caught the AMC Outdoors story last winter on the group that got caught in a storm on Katahdin. Very informative on what it takes to spend time above treeline there. It's prob. on the AMC website, I just don't have time to search now.
Affix Snow
12-07-2006, 08:03 AM
And good luck. We're all counting on you.
Jolly J
12-07-2006, 08:45 AM
It's on my list....just not this years list.
It's on my list....just not this years list.
I'm thinking, I'd like to go there in the summer first, perhaps climb some of the ridge climbs there, and generally recon the area hiking around..especially around some of the ski descents like taber gully and such..
The vibe i've been getting from the baxter state park website and a quick look through that guidebook have basically lead me to believe that the biggest hastle is from the park's red tape not any weather or avi concerns.
anyone have any idea of how solid a resume they appove your application?
Our application was pretty basic. You only need to describe "experience" for the designated trip leaders. The rest of the party just provides contact information.
As for the rangers letting you climb/ski - that is only when they close the mountain because of weather/conditions. You can climb or ski w/o approval from the rangers if the prior day was a 3 or less (They rate the conditions daily). They do recommend you speak to the ranger before your attempt, but you don't have to.
I know alot has been made of the "red tape", but from what I've been told by people who have done this, it's not as bad as it sounds and well worth the effort. I know Affix is counting on us, so like I stated earlier, I'll continue to report out my findings.
Affix Snow
12-07-2006, 09:53 AM
And good luck. We're all counting on you.
And good luck. We're all counting on you.
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Airplane!#Rumack
(sorry sending another thread to the peanut gallery, but Affix started it...)
M@
Affix Snow
12-07-2006, 10:05 AM
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Airplane!#Rumack
(sorry sending another thread to the peanut gallery, but Affix started it...)
M@
AND M@ TAKES THE POINTS!!!!!! Airplane qoute it was. Thatwas fun.:)
Freebird
12-07-2006, 10:28 AM
Affix, I was counting on you man! You needed at least 3 or 4 more entrances into the ****-pit!
As per the thread... The way Rainman and I understood it was that you have to get the permit to ski in Baxter State Park, provide experience for the guides, etc. And you still aren't allowed into any of the 'gullies' or more appropriately- Avalanche Paths as the Park calls them. After that year, you can apply for another permit the following year in order to be allowed into said slide paths.
As far as the 'red tape' goes... I don't see it as red tape at all. I think Baxter is one of the only parks doing what it is supposed to be doing, protecting the park! A rescue out there would severely impact the ecosystem, so they're being pro-active, and I applaud them for it! Yes it makes it a pain in the arse for us to ski it, :( but that's ok by me. Baxter is unique in that a lot of parks are created for the enjoyment of the public.. but Baxter was specifically created in order to protect the wildlife and the natural ecosystems.
and just to re-itterate...
"Good luck, We're all counting on you." Let us know how it works out!
Freebird
12-07-2006, 10:30 AM
Affix, I was counting on you man! You needed at least 3 or 4 more entrances into the ****-pit!
WHAT?!?! As a pilot I'm appauled!!! Since when is a part of an airplane a bad word? Hey what do we have to do to get rid of the sensors on this site? Can we all vote on it?
As per the thread... The way Rainman and I understood it was that you have to get the permit to ski in Baxter State Park, provide experience for the guides, etc. And you still aren't allowed into any of the 'gullies' or more appropriately- Avalanche Paths as the Park calls them. After that year, you can apply for another permit the following year in order to be allowed into said slide paths.
As we've been told by the park, this is not the case. Once your general permit has been accepted, you are able to climb/ski above tree line as long as the conditions permit and you are properly equiped/experienced. There are no additional permits needed or granted.
Over, Under
172Recon
12-08-2006, 08:26 AM
At the end of every summer for the past few years, I talk about doing this trip. I have the gear and the people with the experience, etc. However what I don't have is the time. For me, I need a minimum of five days to do this, not including the seven hour drive up from RI. I usually try to console myself by saying "well, there's plenty of other BC places to ski throughout NE, that don't require a mini expedition."
Along those same lines, for those who don't have the gear or personnel, I checked in with Marc Chauvin last year, and he said that they don't generally do trips to Katahdin, but he did recommend a few people in NH and ME. I'll try to dig up that e-mail and post it if I can.
tim
172Recon
12-08-2006, 08:32 AM
AND M@ TAKES THE POINTS!!!!!! Airplane qoute it was. Thatwas fun.:)
"It's an entirely different kind of flying, altogether."
Affix Snow
12-08-2006, 08:44 AM
It's an entirely different kind of flying.
el-bagr
12-08-2006, 10:31 AM
As we've been told by the park, this is not the case. Once your general permit has been accepted, you are able to climb/ski above tree line as long as the conditions permit and you are properly equiped/experienced. There are no additional permits needed or granted.
Correct. The burden of making good decisions is upon you and your party. BSP climbers have a very good track record of self-reliance and strong decision-making. Please be a part of that tradition.
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