With their backpacks slung around their shoulders and snowshoes strapped to their feet, students from the University of Maine at Presque Isle and the University of Maine at Orono teamed up to hike to the summit of Mount Katahdin. The eight outing club members began the ascent on Saturday, Jan. 28, at around 10:30 a.m. Unfortunately, they wouldn’t end up summiting.
Three UMPI students–Thad Dudley, Ryan Christo and Tom Carlton –were members of the group. The other students were from the University of Maine at Orono. On Friday, the UMPI students drove to U Maine to discuss the plans for the trip. The following morning, the whole group drove to Millinocket, where Baxter State Park is located. That’s where Mount Katahdin is.
They went up the south side of Katahdin on Abol Stream Trail. According to UMPI freshman Tom Carlton, it was a tough hike. “It was cold. You have to trek through it either way. You adapt to it,” he said. Climbing Katahdin in the middle of winter can be perilous and Carlton knew that despite the conditions and circumstances, they had to keep going no matter what.
It took them five hours to reach Abol Camp. Two of the students from U Maine were their guides. Once they reached the camp, they set up their sleeping bags inside the lean-tos on the trail. They also learned that day to use crampons and ice picks, since they would need them for the icy trail leading to the peak.
The three UMPI students and one of the U Maine students slept in the center lean-to at the camp, which became the hub. This is where the kitchen was located. The UMPI students even got breakfast in bed on Sunday morning.
They were going to hike to the summit on Sunday. But one of the UMPI students fell ill, probably with the flu that had been going around campus the previous two weeks. The team decided not to climb to the peak. This wasn’t the only factor, however. The previous day there were 60-mile-per hour winds and whiteout and frostbite conditions.
Despite the unplanned events, Dudley still found the journey to be a very positive and memorable experience. “You made these great friends within 24 hours that you just met the day before,” Dudley said. “Everybody has the same goal, so it’s bringing us all together.”
Carlton also found the expedition to be a great experience. “It’s definitely a true test of your endurance and drive to keep doing stuff, that’s for sure,” Carlton said.
Dudley and Carlton both eagerly agreed that they would go again if the opportunity arose. Dudley is planning another trip in late spring. When he graduates in four years, he would like to hike the entire Appalachian Trail.
For more information about events hosted by the UMPI Outing Club, contact Amanda Baker at amanda.g.baker@maine.edu.
