Week 24 of the Appalachian Trail

Week 24 of the Appalachian Trail includes day 160 through day 166. I didn’t take any ZEROs this week! .So you’re aware, the first 6 days of this week are all inside the“100 mile” wildness. The last day is me walking through the Baxter State park to the Birches! The summit of Mount Katahdin will be in the next video, all by itself. On day 160, woke up early and got dropped off from Shaw’s Hiker hostel to the “100 mile wilderness” start point. Soon, you’ll see Bell pond and then North pond. You’ll soon reach Little Wilson falls and cross Little Wilson Creek. Next you’ll see me crossing Big Wilson Stream. You’ll then reach the 100 miles left mark and make your way up to the Barren Slide and adjacent ledges. Stop here for the night because of the amazing view of the sunset. That makes 16.3 miles for the day.
Day 161, slept in until the sun came up because it was cold outside lol. Making my way to Carl Newhall lean-to with about 19.6 miles for the day. Leaving the barren slides, next thing you’ll see is the Barren Mountain lookout tower… or what’s left of it. Next is the Chairback Mountain. Good viewers! You’ll see the 2100 miles marker, then cross the West Branch pleasant River. Lastly, stopping at Carl Newhall lean-to for the night.
Day 162, woke up with the sun to hike to Cooper Brook Falls lean-to - 18.9 miles. First peak is Gulf Hagas mountain with no views. Then west peak, also covered in trees. Best views all day come up next at White Cap Mountain! You’ll be able to see Mount Katahdin for the first time. A ways down there trail, you’ll see Mountain View pond. After that will be Crawford pond, which is much bigger! Then Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to for a great nights sleep, listening to the falls.
Day 163, started a bit late due to the raining. I thought maybe it would stop. It didn’t. You’ll see that it rained most of the day. You cross Cooper Brook a couple times. Pass by Church pond, Cooper Pond, and Mud Pond, and lower Jo-Mary lake. You’ll travel along Nahmakanta stream for a while to the Nahmakanta stream lean-to for a total mileage for the day to 15.6 miles.
Day 164, got up early, but stepping off a little late, wanting to make sure the sun was up and dried all my stuff real good before heading out. Only have 13.9 miles today to Rainbow stream lean-to so not in too much of a rush! Most of the morning is still following the Nahmakanta Stream all the way to the Nahmakanta Lake. So still and quiet, it’s amazing! You’ll see many different views from around the lake. Next is the small peak of Nusuntabunt Mountain, only 1560 feet. Decent views of Mount Katahdin just after the wooded peak. The lake below is still Nahmakanta Lake… it’s longer than you think! Next, the trail crosses a dirt road twice and got lucky that some wonderful Angels were there providing trail magic… the same Angels that I had seen several other times in Maine, but forgot to get them in the video. I get excited sometimes and forget to record stuff lol. Peanut butter jelly time! Soon after that road, you’ll see Crescent pond. Then cross over Pollywog stream just after Bean brook meets it. Then follow Rainbow stream to the lean-to.
Day 165, yes… it’s raining again! Following Rainbow stream, you’ll see several ponds/lakes on the way to Rainbow Lake. Next up to the rainbow ledges with a view of Mount Katahdin again! You’re gonna get tired of seeing it lol. A couple more tiny ponds, then you’ve got a road walk for a bit up to the Abol bridge. Keep walking to the store/restaurant that’s on the left. Btw, the restaurant is closed Monday and Tuesday, but the store is open every day.
Day 166, from Abol bridge or the store/restaurant, you’re going to just keep walking down the road and see the entrance to Baxter state park on the left. After you check in with the ranger at the kiosk, you’ll follow the edge of West Branch Penobscot River for a while until you reach Nesowadnehunk stream and you’ll turn right or north and follow that up a long series of falls/rapids. Next is Daicey Pond, which you’ll walk around. Next is grassy pond and if you’re lucky, a decent view of Mount Katahdin. After that, not too far to Katahdin stream camp grounds. If you’re going to the birches or summiting the same day, either one, make sure to check in with the ranger and get your Baxter State Park AT-Katahdin hiker permit. Also, take a picture of it, just in case you lose it. Right down the road is the Birches for a total of 9.9 miles for the day.
Again, not much wildlife… I saw a couple chipmunks at lean-tos, lot of red squirrels, and a deer that was too fast to get a picture of.
No other hikers were featured in this video. Hiked mostly alone, tho I did meet several hikers, none stuck around me enough to feature.