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

If the stars align, I'm gonna have one hell of a finish, and a great peak to finish on!

Thanks for the report!

Well may the force be with you. Actually, just watch the weather and pick your day.

Great report Joe. But you forgot to do Fort, so now you're going to have to go back so you can finish your 100 highest list. I know what you're going to say: "I'm not doing that list". But we all know you better than that.

OK, so I won't say never on the NEHH. But I skipped S. Brother and Coe too. So
I'll have to go back anyway.

I was going to say "I need to go here" however. I'd end up going on a day hike up there with Derek next week . great pics as always by the way. Too bad about those clouds though. Those views are junk

Well, hopefully you'd be able to talk him out of that.

I've already done this one as a day hike! Forecast was totally blown and it ended up being cloudy with no views so I'm happy to go back. Baxter definitely deserved a couple days (and nights under the stars if that's ones thing) if time allows. And speaking of stars, they don't have to align by dumb luck, they always align, you just have to be patient enough to wait for it.