14 Hour Solo Day Hike - Katahdin and the Appalachian Trail - AdventureArchives
video description
The dense forest going up the trail reminds me a lot of the Pacific Northwest, just without the giant trees. The short, dense trees resemble some of our older clear cut forest patches, actually. The rockiness and steepness of the trail reminds me of a trail I hiked in north-central Washington.
I know you guys have limited time throughout the year, and with so many places to choose from, it would be extremely hard to choose. But I think you will all absolutely -adore- backpacking or hiking in the Pacific NW. I would bet that it is the most geographically diverse area in the nation. It's got basically everything from rainforest, glaciers, desert, lava flows, volcanoes, coniferous forests, broadleaf forests, islands, coastline, beaches, and canyons.
Andrew would have a field day identifying all the wildflowers, trees, and other plants here. There's just so many different kinds of wildflowers here! Some of my personal favorites (just naming them off the top of my head) include Large Leaf Lupines, Indian Paintbrush, Henderson's Shooting Star, Red Columbine, Tiger Lily, Heather, Arrowleaf Balsamroot, Spirea Douglassi, Monkeyflower, Oregon Sunshine, Fireweed, Dogwood, Glacier Lily, Pink Fawn Lily, Trillium, Western Pasque Flower, Stonecrop, Western Wallflower, Pacific Bleeding Heart, Wild Roses, Checkermallow, Foxglove, Red Flowering Currant, Beargrass, Yellowbells, Grasswidow, Western Blue Eyed Grass, and Rhododendron. But there's -much- more than that in the NW.
In fall, the alpine larches in the high rugged peaks in North Cascades National Park and the Alpine Lakes Wilderness turn vibrant yellow. In Oregon, you have the Western Larch that turn color. Really amazing to hike among deciduous conifers. High up, the huckleberry and heather also turn color, filling the mountainsides with reds, oranges, and gold. (Some people say it looks like -Fruity Pebbles, - haha) The vine maples also turn vibrant red, orange, and yellow. They grow as a tree in the shade, and a shrub in the sun. They sort of resemble Japanese maples. You can also find cottonwoods and quaking aspens in some parts, which turn yellow. In the west, wet side, the Big Leaf Maples turn dark gold. Unless I'm mistaken, the Big Leaf Maple is the tallest maple in the U. S, and has the largest leaves of any maple in the continent. (Maybe the world)
One thing that's great with the North Cascades/Olympic NP hikes in Washington, is that usually you start out in deep rainforest, then ascend up into rugged, glaciated peaks and verdant wildflower carpets. The trees grow super huge, down in the valleys. 7 feet wide, quite often, and over 200 feet tall. Then, ascend into massive, granite peaks smothered by glaciers. There happens to be over 600 glaciers in Washington-far exceeding that of any other state (there's something like nearly 400 alone in the North Cascades National Park-which is far more than the number located in Glacier National Park, ironically. There's a ton of wildlife. Seeing a herd of mountain goats is almost a guarantee. They're just so common in northern Washington. Black bears, foxes, wolverine, owls, deer, Roosevelt Elk, bald eagles, and marmots make up some of the other well known NW wildlife. Marmots are another near-guarantee to be seen.
Down in Oregon, it's all about the volcanoes and lava fields. The obvious is Crater Lake, but there's so much more. Huge expansive lava flows surround massive, glaciated stratovolcanoes. Among them, wildflower meadows adjacent to black lava flows. Washington has it's share of volcanoes, too, including the 14-footer Mount Rainier, draped in massive glaciers. Also, there's Mt. St. Helens, which also has great hikes in the devastation zone-now full of wildflowers in early summer.
With all the rainfall, there's going to be a ton of waterfalls. The Northwest is home to more waterfalls than anywhere else in North America. Washington even has some of the highest falls in the lower 48, all taller than Yosemite Falls. They're located in the North Cascades. Everywhere in the NW, but especially in Oregon and southern Washington, are amazingly beautiful waterfall hikes. Sometimes they're located on approach trails into the higher mountains. its like having a (waterfall) appetizer before the -main meal! - (the mountains)
There's massive desert hiking, too, such as the Painted Hills, Owyhee Canyonlands, Smith Rock, and the Blue Basin, but I wouldn't advise it as one's first trip here. The rugged mountains are -so- much more worth it. especially on Mt Rainier or in the North Cascades.
There's also some amazing stretches of coastline. Washington happens to have the longest stretch of undeveloped wilderness coastline in the lower 48, at Olympic National Park.
Sorry for the long comment, though. I'll stop now before it turns into a ten page essay, haha. If you guys ever decide to come to the PNW, feel free to shoot me a message or something. I've hiked on at least 700 miles in this area, and know where the best hikes are, what are the best times to see the wildflowers, best times and hikes for the fall colors, where the best wildflower meadows are and when to go, and when the winter snowpack usually melts out. And I would recommend July-September, to avoid the rain. It really is hot, sunny, and dry in the summer, trust me! It's not always raining here, haha.
Date: 2022-04-30
Related videos
Comments and reviews: 9
Anniford
Dude, I've been up Hunt Trail more than once and it is HARD! I often wonder what the thru hikers think when faced with that trail. If my husband wasn't there to boost me up onto some of the boulders, I don't think I would've ever made it to Baxter peak. The work is well worth it, though. If the conditions are right, you can head across Knife Edge and down Helon Taylor. That's also a spectacular hike, which I've had the opportunity to do. Love the video and look forward to seeing more from you guys. Maybe all 4 of you can make a multi-day trip to Baxter? There's a lot of great hiking in South Branch, if you're looking for something other than summiting Katahdin. :)
reply
Dude, I've been up Hunt Trail more than once and it is HARD! I often wonder what the thru hikers think when faced with that trail. If my husband wasn't there to boost me up onto some of the boulders, I don't think I would've ever made it to Baxter peak. The work is well worth it, though. If the conditions are right, you can head across Knife Edge and down Helon Taylor. That's also a spectacular hike, which I've had the opportunity to do. Love the video and look forward to seeing more from you guys. Maybe all 4 of you can make a multi-day trip to Baxter? There's a lot of great hiking in South Branch, if you're looking for something other than summiting Katahdin. :)
reply
KeiaJinFilms
Hello, east coast hiker here! Fun fact: many of the most famous mountain trails in the east, like here at Katahdin, in the Adirondacks and the Whites, were created before it was popular to cut trails with switchbacks. Had a long conversation with a ranger about this while i climbed franconia notch. switchbacks are a -high tech- way to reduce erosion that caught on as the federal govt formalized creation of the national parks - at least that's the gist of what the ranger told me. in fact, there's a debate about adding more switchbacks in the Adirondacks, as many of the most popular trails are not sustainable for the surrounding environment long-term.
reply
Hello, east coast hiker here! Fun fact: many of the most famous mountain trails in the east, like here at Katahdin, in the Adirondacks and the Whites, were created before it was popular to cut trails with switchbacks. Had a long conversation with a ranger about this while i climbed franconia notch. switchbacks are a -high tech- way to reduce erosion that caught on as the federal govt formalized creation of the national parks - at least that's the gist of what the ranger told me. in fact, there's a debate about adding more switchbacks in the Adirondacks, as many of the most popular trails are not sustainable for the surrounding environment long-term.
reply
TailEnd88
Mountain man Tan Pants! I was genuinely worried to hear you were leaving L. A. because I always liked the contrast of the desertous mountains to Ohio's greenery in the Archives' videos. But this! That was one of the most beautiful mountains I've ever seen! An etheral place that feels ancient and pure. And you are much more charming on camera by yourself than in a group if you don't mind the observation. Keep up the good work!
reply
Mountain man Tan Pants! I was genuinely worried to hear you were leaving L. A. because I always liked the contrast of the desertous mountains to Ohio's greenery in the Archives' videos. But this! That was one of the most beautiful mountains I've ever seen! An etheral place that feels ancient and pure. And you are much more charming on camera by yourself than in a group if you don't mind the observation. Keep up the good work!
reply
Katie
Can-t even explain to you people how sore I was after my family and I finished hiking Katahdin this summer. I-d love to go back at some point in my life though. I-m only 15 but it-s tradition in my family to take your kids and go. Trust me, I complained a lot about having to do it. But overall, it was amazing. The next few days though I regretted it because I could hardly walk-
reply
Can-t even explain to you people how sore I was after my family and I finished hiking Katahdin this summer. I-d love to go back at some point in my life though. I-m only 15 but it-s tradition in my family to take your kids and go. Trust me, I complained a lot about having to do it. But overall, it was amazing. The next few days though I regretted it because I could hardly walk-
reply
William
Great job, Thomas. Having hiked extensively in Acadia N. P, I can safely say almost all Maine mountain hiking is as you experienced. No switchbacks, lots of bouldering, and up, up, up! Scrambling over boulders is considered a -trail- somehow, and you are correct. going down those trails is MUCH HARDER than going down. Thanks for creating the video.
reply
Great job, Thomas. Having hiked extensively in Acadia N. P, I can safely say almost all Maine mountain hiking is as you experienced. No switchbacks, lots of bouldering, and up, up, up! Scrambling over boulders is considered a -trail- somehow, and you are correct. going down those trails is MUCH HARDER than going down. Thanks for creating the video.
reply
john
So awesome! We just got back two weeks ago from backpacking Maine for a month. Maine is our favorite state on the AT. We live at the southern terminus now where AT starts and have hiked the trail plus many sections duplicate times but always return to Maine. So glad you got to feel the call of the mountain!
reply
So awesome! We just got back two weeks ago from backpacking Maine for a month. Maine is our favorite state on the AT. We live at the southern terminus now where AT starts and have hiked the trail plus many sections duplicate times but always return to Maine. So glad you got to feel the call of the mountain!
reply
Brandon
I can-t find information on specific details, thinking about hiking with my wife. She-s scared of heights (more so cliffs, drop offs) does this trail give you a sense of security? Or are there sections that may look like you could fall? I don-t feel like going half way then having to turn around lol
reply
I can-t find information on specific details, thinking about hiking with my wife. She-s scared of heights (more so cliffs, drop offs) does this trail give you a sense of security? Or are there sections that may look like you could fall? I don-t feel like going half way then having to turn around lol
reply
Jeff
Love the Thomas side excursion videos. I hope you will keep them coming for the Mid-West and the East Coast now that your here. Thomas since meeting you at the Cincinnati Art Museum (Terracotta Warrior Exhibit) you have surpassed Robby as my daughter's favorite AA 'er Thank you for being so kind.
reply
Love the Thomas side excursion videos. I hope you will keep them coming for the Mid-West and the East Coast now that your here. Thomas since meeting you at the Cincinnati Art Museum (Terracotta Warrior Exhibit) you have surpassed Robby as my daughter's favorite AA 'er Thank you for being so kind.
reply
Mike
Nice job as always. East coast rock scrambles are no joke. Even though we do not have the elevation, it is nothing to take for granted. There is something called an Adirondack mile. Until you walk one, you will not appreciate the technical terrain. Switchbacks, what are those?
reply
Nice job as always. East coast rock scrambles are no joke. Even though we do not have the elevation, it is nothing to take for granted. There is something called an Adirondack mile. Until you walk one, you will not appreciate the technical terrain. Switchbacks, what are those?
reply
Add a review, comment
Other channel videos
