A view of the Great Valley, possibly with Hamlin Peak (4,751 ft.) on the left. The Great Valley is a glacial circque, which is an area hollowed out by a glacier. The Great Valley is where a large glacier once butted up against Katahdin and scaped away a large amount of material.
This weather-battered sign atop Pamola Peak makes clear the danger. From here, it is either forward or back the way you've come. Click here to read the sign.
The Knife Edge, from South Peak or Baxter Peak. In the photograph, Pamola Peak is all the way on the left. Chimney Peak is just to the left of Pamola. The gap between Pamola and Chimney peaks is Chimney Col. Note the serrated or serpentine nature of the Knife Edge as it climbs 350 feet from Pamola Peak to Baxter Peak.
Another shot of the Knife Edge from Baxter Peak. Chimney Peak is at left. Note the cairn at right, marking Baxter Peak. The Knife Edge is an example of a glacial arete, which is a ridge squeezed and sharpened by glaciers on both sides. Although most sections are not as narrow, there are many places on the Knife Edge where feet, shoulder width apart, would be on either slope.
Hikers along the Knife Edge. One would have to travel thousands of miles north to pass the tree line and stand in an arctic environment like this; here in Maine's highest country, less than a single mile will do.
Baxter Peak looms above us at the end of the Knife Edge. Although the walk kept us warm, it was a cool and damp day and our greatest desire after reaching Baxter Peak was to get back down to camp again.
Commemorative plaque at the summit of Baxter Peak. Click here to read the plaque.
Sign at the summit of Baxter Peak. Click here to read the sign.
Greg Collins (left) and Don Faust at the top of Maine. From here, it was a half-mile or so along the top of the mountain to the Saddle Trail. We had planned to hike back again across the Knife Edge, but, to be truthful. we didn't think we had that much left. Crossing the Knife Edge was, for me, the end of a desire I had nursed since the age of 11, when one of the Eagle Scouts in my Boy Scout Troop, Troop 254, Mays Landing NJ, returned after hiking the entire Appalachian Trail. It was certainly worth the effort.