The Last of 3 Days in Baxter SP / North Brother 7/5/16
Once again as mentioned briefly, I was not planning on hiking Tuesday
the 5th after having done Katahdin the day before. First, I thought I would
be incapable. Second, I wanted to get home fairly early. I was so beat from
doing Katahdin, I conked out a 7 PM. I awoke at 4:30 feeling great. No ill
affects at all from the previous days hike. The wheels started turning. It
was suppose to be another good weather day. Hmmm, I'm here. Good weather.
I can't pass on this. North Brother looked to be a 9ish mile RT with mostly
easy grades. I can do this. So with a quick cup of coffee, and packing up,
I was off to the park. I got there at 5:55 to find the gate already open and
no one in line.

45 minutes later, at the trail-head. Which was only
14 miles away.
I was greeted with this view in the parking area.
Doubletop Mtn.

Then off on the Marston Trail.

Nice gentle grades to start the day.

Hung a left here. It would have been nice to do the counter-clockwise loop but
no time or desire on this day. Marston Tr. all the way.

More easy grades. Loving it!

The trail then passes this, unnamed as far as I can tell, pond.

Now the trail makes it's first significant climb to the plateau at 3200'. But there
seemed to be some relatively new trail work done which made the climb very easy.


Now the last .8 miles.

Which again, started super easy. N. Brother in sight.

But as they say, don't they?

All good things must end. And they did.
First, the trail starts to climb steeply through this extremely eroded area.

After that, which I didn't brother taking pictures of, it is straight up boulder
hopping scrambles. With a dash of erosion thrown in. I was already thinking
this was going to stink descending. But, I muddled through and the end was in site.

And with that, my Baxter portion of the NE67 was done.
Once I'm back to the car that is. 

With great views in all directions.




I didn't stay any longer than it took to do a quick photo shoot. The initial descent was
rough but I was soon on the plateau and easy walking.

A couple on trail last views.


And done.

I got back to the car at 1 PM and was home at 6:35. I made outstanding time.
So this was totally the right call. Great to be peak-bagging again.
Click Pik 4 Pix