Originally Posted by
KnightErrant
We entered the Hundred Mile planning to stay at the Birches the night before Katahdin. But then because of two days of nasty weather preceding our summit day, we were worried the Birches would be full if a couple of days worth of hikers were bottling up waiting on a clear day. I found I had service with Verizon to call Baxter the day before from a hilltop somewhere between White House Landing and Rainbow Lake Campsite, probably around mile 2155-2160? I don't remember which mountain, just that it overlooked a lake and would have had a great view of Katahdin except that most of the mountain was socked in rain clouds. The line was busy the first couple times I tried it, but once I got someone, it was super easy to make a reservation for the following night.
It turned out only 6 of the 10 spots were full at the Birches, but we enjoyed the chance to stay dry in our private little shelter at Katahdin stream because it poured all night long, and it was only $5 more per person ($30 for one shared site at KSC vs $10/person for the Birches). The next morning we had a nice early start and an absolutely gorgeous summit day.
Getting back to Millinocket was a bit tricky. We signed up for the shuttle and arrived in time for its scheduled departure, but it never came. The ranger was super vague when we asked her, going on and on like: "Well, they usually come at this time, and I did radio to my colleague at the gate that we had people signed up. But they have to radio the hostel in Millinocket, and I still haven't heard back from her if she's heard back from them. She might not be in her truck with the radio. But, sometimes they don't come at all. But don't worry, they'll probably come. But, you know, if you can get a hitch, I'd recommend doing that."
After sitting around for over two hours, all seven or eight of us who had signed up for the shuttle eventually did get a hitch back to Millinocket with fellow thrus whose families had come to pick them up.
We finished on a Friday and ATM's mom drove from Montreal on Saturday to pick us up. I'd plan to spend a day in Millinocket with your family when you finish if you can. It's a cute and scenic town, and the atmosphere is uniquely celebratory and bittersweet. Of course, that was probably mostly my own attitude influencing how I perceived it. But I appreciated having most of a day to wander around the town and start to process the fact that the hike was done. I wouldn't have wanted to load straight up into a car and drive away.