14 Hour Solo Day Hike | Katahdin and the Appalachian Trail

When you hear about the state of Maine, you might have a lot images come to mind: Rocky shores, overcast skies, horror stories about killer clowns and of course… Lobster.
With the crisp, salty smell of the Atlantic, I finished the last leg of my road trip. All the way from California to Maine, I made it from corner to corner of the United States.
For the last part of my journey, I had to venture even further north in Maine, to some of the lesser known areas of the state. Beyond the scattered lakes and into the dense forests, the appalachian trail twists and winds to this point: Baxter State Park.
I had lucked out by getting a quintessential lean to shelter in the park itself, right along the the trail. For most of us lay people, the park of Baxter is relatively unknown. However, for the mountain lovers out there, they may know the mountain that looms high in the center: Mt Katahdin. Among the Penobscot Natives, this mountain was referred to as “The Greatest Mountain” or in their language, Katahadin. Standing over 5200 feet tall, it may not be the highest point in the US, but compared to everything around, it surely towered over anything else in sight.
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All of the musical compositions or arrangements and footage in this video are original, and were composed, recorded, and captured by Andrew Lin, Bryan Lin, Robby Huang, and Thomas Sinard
Featuring drums by Nate Laguzza
Original content and music is copyright Adventure Archives (c) 2018

[@OutdoorMemoirs]

Katahdin... I'm transported back to our 13 hour hike every time I see/hear the name. We started at the Helen Taylor trail, traversed over the Knife's Edge, summited, then went down the saddle trail. At one point, in the descent, while still in the Alpine section, my foot slid in to a rock crevice. My heart sank and I called out to my boyfriend. It didn't take long to free my foot. The end result could have been a lot worse. Thank you, Thomas, for bringing back those memories through your AT hike of Katahdin. Great adventure!

[@kdavis4910]

Yeah, New Hampshire and Maine are tough sections of the AT but I grew up hiking in the Whites and am fortunate to be used to it. There aren't many wild places left like there are in Maine. It's beautiful here. You were on the right trail, lol. Katahdin is really like that.

[@chris-thumper7205]

Katahdin was the ultimate climax of a Northbound (NOBO) Appalachian Trail thru hike. 133 days, the toughest physical thing I've ever done. Lost 46 pounds in the process. I want to do it all over again.

[@RobbyHuang]

Robby from the future to say that this hike is roughly a million times harder than what it looks like in this video haha

[@stellashepherd3229]

I saw your video of that hike. It makes Huntington ravine seem like a cake walk. 😬 But beautiful.

[@billyhorr7126]

100% hard took me 10 to get up 5 to get down plan all day leave at 2/3/4 in the morning

[@Pww642]

This is so funny. I’m from Colorado and just hiked Katahdin. Spent the whole time wondering where the hell the switchbacks were. These East Coasters are hardier than I’d realized….

[@Picklekicker]

I live in Maine and Love that Mountain. I have done that trail many times. This is by far the best video I have seen of this trail. I was diagnosed with MS several years ago and can no longer hike. Thank you so much for this video I feel like I am on the mountain again....

[@DoYerBest]

That looked like a fun and challenging climb! Stunning scenery from the summit, too. Awesome job.

[@michaelh9656]

"I know I'm going higher, because..." *zooms in on face* >made me lol

[@williambeck6364]

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.

[@ChrisProuse]

Really enjoyed that! Beautifully done - thanks for sharing Thomas!

[@skelitalmisfit12]

I am so glad ive found your channel. Thank you so much for everything you do. Your videos help me relax and put my anxiety at ease. Ive also become extremely motivated to go hiking again! You are all so awesome!

[@jason_from_canada]

That was great Thomas! The climb up might be tough but the payoff, when clear, is that view! Beautiful! Nice touch with the Thoreau quotes, fitting and poignant. Well done! 👍 Lol take the elevator down 😁

[@thewaverslmao.1149]

So in love with your channel.. no words to express! It gives me life!

[@vincemedlock]

Great hike and beautiful scenery. Congratulations on finishing the whole road trip.

[@johnbarns548]

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!

[@inthewoodswithbigfoot3941]

Great trip! Thanks so much for bringing us along!

[@esthers5876]

Wonderful video, Thomas! What an amazing mountain. You did a great job filming, editing, and narrating. I enjoyed the scenes in Philadelphia and New York later. Thanks!

[@johndevos9003]

Love this had no idea the east coast had awesome views and rough climbs like that. Thanks, Thomas!

[@FingersFew]

Yet another awesome video. Keep climbing mountains and reaching for the sky.

[@joefoster5669]

Great work Thomas, your solo videos seem to be getting better with each new one. Really enjoying the quality of this one.

[@Jeff-sm1ow]

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.

[@lelandpeck4585]

Tom, this was a great video! I'm from the Massachusetts but have only seen Mt. Katahdin from a distance. Thanks for sharing this! Super!

[@kodaexploring5176]

Your video description is awesome. It really compliments your video !!! Great work man

[@rachellsn1791]

I love these smaller side videos with just one or two of you guys, it feels like we get to see different aspects of your personality better 😊

[@BartGmusic]

Great job Thomas!! Enjoyed it!

[@cwhcwz]

Great job filming Thomas! Love the video, I am wishing it was longer video.

[@strickysbackpackingadventures]

Great solo adventure Thomas! Nice edit too. Thanks for sharing.

[@craigbetts1586]

good video Thomas, what a view form the top of the mountain.....and the lobster is good

[@lindamcclain5569]

That was so beautiful, thanks for sharing!

[@joshuapierce4320]

Great video and very interesting information about Thoreau! Theodore Roosevelt also climbed Katahdin in 1879 :)

[@leichaes]

That was so awesome, Thomas!

[@capsoutdoors]

Welcome to hiking in the North-East! We pride ourselves on the boulder fields that are called trails. You all have to get into the Whites next! Great trip, Thomas!

[@NatureShy]

Great episode! Beautiful filming, editing, music, and storytelling, as always. 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.

[@AdventureArchives]

Wow! Thanks so much for writing this! I've copied and pasted it into our list of places we should check out. We definitely want to check out the Pacific Northwest, but it's a costly trip, so we unfortunately can't go up there that often. Hopefully someday we can do a full episode!!

[@deborahflello2316]

Nice work Thomas! You know what Paulides says about those boulder fields! Take care out there everyone and don't go alone!

[@erikgiggey4783]

kahtadin is like all the other mtns in the northeast. what they lack in vertical height they make up for in steepness. great video and thanks for visiting maine, theres a lot of adventure to be had here

[@DS-pj3hu]

Definitely doing this hike!!! This is my dream hike!!

[@The_Turkey_Tank]

very happy to see this pop up in my sub box, Katahdin is easily my favorite place I've been on the East Coast though I would recommend doing the Knife's Edge and the Cathedral trail next time if you really want some vertical climbing haha

[@fernando6801]

Good climbing, Thomas, and great video! Hopefully, I'll be able to climb Mt. Katahdin, too.

[@naturallyadriftphotoadvent123]

Way to go Thomas on conquering Katahdin solo no less! Thanks for sharing and hope you enjoyed Mt. Washington as much as we did this year. Although we cheated and took the Cog Railway up which our 4 year old loved! I enjoyed your East coast/West coast comparison!

[@naturallyadriftphotoadvent123]

Oh and if you really want to climb and take the elevator down check out White Face Mountain in the Adirondacks!

[@careagain81]

Switchback thats like Beating Around to Bush or Taking the Scenic Route to us New Englanders we like to Get Straight To The Point. Great Hike/Climb c u on the next Adventure

[@foxxygearreviews7754]

That looked like a really challenging route up to baxter peak. I think if you go via chimney pond and then up the slide it might be slightly less difficult.

[@bjornalansonoutdoors1270]

If you go up chimney pond to the saddle trail then, yes, it is an easier hike however if you go up the cathedral trail not so much. Sadly, the saddle trail was not open on 6/20/2023 when i made my summit so I went up cathedral and down Hamlin ridge.

[@mroggio]

Pure excellence, thank you.

[@yanlap2183]

You are so lucky to have a beautiful blue sky.

[@NotGoingCrazy]

Awesome video, you got some really great shots.

[@uptrail7169]

Very Good Thomas! The wind sure looked brutal

[@DanielSpiegel]

That was an impressive mountain, such a different texture to the landscape than we have here in the west. I too have long legs and have found that hip strength exercises really help with placing my feet where I want them on hikes.

[@chefboy-ar-d6312]

Thomas ,big props hiking solo, you mentioned west coast switch back z lol , maybe eastcoast well catch up lol thanks bro i love your channel with the boys👌🤙🤙🤙

[@sleigh4019]

Knifes edge baby!!!! Love the view ...makes you believe in more then man!!!

[@Lfomod1Dubstep]

I'm scared of hights but omg my eyes would be tearing up on that mountain top! That's so beautiful!

[@AJ-gk5up]

not as good as seeing the sunset from a mile away on a lake, i did yesterday.

[@chris-thumper7205]

Imagine it after an AT thru hike. Took me 4 and half months (133 days) to hike from Ga to maine. Seeing that sign at the top... yea... I bawled like a baby.

[@PocketsForBugs]

East coast and North-West mountains are no joke! I think all of that climbing he did is called ‘Scrambling’, i could be wrong. Awesome video!

[@chrisrobinson3679]

Wonderful thomas, incredible views shame the guys couldn't join you

[@petermentes63]

This was one of the best videos for you all. Nice !

[@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!

[@bjornalansonoutdoors1270]

Great content and congratulations on the summit! Reached mine 6/20/23.

[@pj_-cq1du]

DAM!! UP UP UP UP AND UP!!! this is one awesome hike! Lots of a steep climbing. I hope to go here one day. That view is awesome. That must be difficult back tracking for that camera. ugh. I hope to bump into you guys one day on a hike. Thanks for another awesome entertaining video!

[@bjornalansonoutdoors1270]

up, up, up, up and up,, but you forgot UP LOL there are a few trails to get up there, but my advice is plan it out and get there trust me you will love it!

[@TonyandYazmin]

Really enjoyed this video

[@ednilsonkimura6308]

Great. Thanks for sharing. Greetings from a Brazilian trying to find good hikes around and I found it.

[@JenniferLReichley-tl6co]

Great job Thomas

[@audieo575]

Great video Thomas...I wish you had gone through the Knife Edge...more Thoreau please

[@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.

[@Belrene1225]

Terrific vlog.

[@trailkrum6750]

You should go back one day with the others and do it from the other side -- much more spectacular imho: from Roaring Brooke Campground up the Cathedral Trail (scramble) to Baxter Peak and then back down the infamous Knife Edge to Pamola Peak and then the Helon Taylor ridge back down to the car. By the way, the clam chowder up Mt Washington tastes even better once you're half way through a one-day Presidential Traverse (might have to leave the tripods home for that one!)

[@Dusky672]

Next for Thomas is the other corner to corner....Florida to Alaska! The hike itself reminds me of Giant Mountain in the Adirondacks, New York. It was a boulder scramble for good portions of the trail.

[@bradydavis]

Great video again. Your channel is amazing. Keep it up.

[@TeamPesRotos]

Adorable place

[@anniford5215]

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. :)

[@bengrossman3280]

Next time your in Maine. You should go to the island “Isle a haut” do the goat trial. It’s like this but not nearly as long. U pass many beaches and can go a the island village. There are other intercity hikes u can do and it’s really fun

[@aaron.silveira]

Wonderful video! This actually made me reconsider my vow to only hike on the west coast😂

[@themastertuna]

Smokeys

[@markcummings6856]

Adirondacks

[@MountainLust]

Cant wait to get back there for the NEHH finish on Coe!

[@perfjoshua5432]

Really nice. I miss climbing.

[@towerclimber7277]

After you've hiked almost 2200 miles Mt. Katahdin is an amazing sight.

[@kdavis4910]

I can't wait

[@crarazy]

Hiked this earlier this summer. This was the most fun hike I think I've ever done. Challenging with some fun climbing features. Came here after doing 25 miles earlier in the week, and we flew up this, which was a bummer because we enjoyed it so much.

[@mradomski]

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?

[@PMCraig]

I can relate to your comment on your long legs making you clumsy on down hills! I’m 6’2” but with a 36” inseam. Having a high center of gravity definitely makes you less steady especially if you’re carrying a pack.

[@scottmay1324]

I have to say that I took some pleasure as the lesson "There's more than California" was finally beat into Thomas. He's too smart to sound so Cali-foolish (Said with goodwill as a big fan of Thomas' solo adventures).

[@alexluka9521]

im doing a 120 mile hike at my camp merrowvista ending at mt katadhin. glad to see this video

[@ANT-ER]

Haaaa! Pun: "I finished the last leg of my road trip." You get points for that one lol

[@beckykeith756]

You were in my backyard. We live on 300 acres bordering the Appalachian trail at the start of the 100 mile wilderness. I can see Katahdin from my ridge.

[@ReeWrayOutdoors]

Excellent job, Thomas! Super cool cloud timelapses there near the end. I'm guessing this was originally going to be a 30 min video, until Robby cut out the last 12 mins of you cursing your way back down the mountain? haha

[@reidmitchell1980]

You need to go climbing in the whites. The presidential range is so amazing.

[@markcummings6856]

Incredible and stunning video. Thanks for sharing. Have you ever considered visiting the Adirondacks? Rugged! Largest forest preserve/ wilderness in lower 48. Larger than Yellow Stone, Yosemite and Glacier combined.

[@amyzukowski5979]

That one handed climb had me scared for you.

[@arkonomus]

That was one of the most dangerous looking trails I've seen. Don't even want to think about one of the boulders being unstable... @-@

[@lanigiguere2363]

Wow Thomas, you took one of the tougher routes up. Chimney Pond Trail to one of the other trails beyond that would have been more enjoyable. Maybe next time.

[@jon6288]

You went up Sugarloaf?! I live 10 minutes from there! I wish you had better weather -- and next time you need to take the trail up!

[@bknwuzheer1]

17:40 Thought you were being a jackwagon for a second when you said "incredible views" but then the clouds cleared up and I realized you wouldn't do your friends dirty like that lol

[@272attwell]

9.37 - 9.43 ...been there and thought that more than once!

[@1980Amazonia]

"Goodnight you Princes of Maine, you Kings of New England!"

[@DJandBiskit]

Having done this Mnt myself, I appreciate your saying how difficult it is. Now that you’ve done both, is K worse than Whitney? You mentioned it in the beginning but never circled back. I’m the opp of you in that I’ve done tons of East Coast hiking, but no West.

[@ChrisWilliamsRMWpigeon]

haha early bird gets the worm, second mouse gets the cheese :P

[@DrewPicklesTheDark]

I live a couple hours from here. I need to do this some day.

[@tilton-foggfamilyblog977]

We just like the most efficient way!

[@OutdoorsWithJohnUSA]

I had no idea you guys were quoting Henry David Thoreau. Please come back to New England soon.

[@sleigh4019]

To funny how he says Katadian ...lol...spent my summers in Baxter its a jewel !!! Maybe my favorite place in the world ...spent many 4-5 days n nights at Russel pond .

[@lynnsension1187]

Maybe you have already, but if you decide to try Katahdin again, the new Abol Trail IS mostly switchbacks. 😁

[@wendysuperfan1014]

thanks Thomas

[@MsPennay1]

Great hike Thomas. East coast has great views and swichbacks🤣. Entire trail was designed by one man and manipulated since😪. Enjoy the east coast hikes of McAfee Knob, Sharp Top Mountain, Falls of Hills Creek

[@matthewsinger]

Oh man. Thomas, how did you not convince the rest of the crew to come with you for a full episode?

[@VictoriaLune123]

landscape reminds me of some parts in the uk :)

[@bibtebo]

It was the same mountain range when the continent's were together. Scandinavian mountains too.

[@delstanley1349]

So you're in Maine. When I briefly saw the title, and not at all familiar with Katahdin I thought for a moment you were in Nepal, somewhere near Kathmandu! Oops, my bad!