Dates

July 19 - 29: Lush forests, warm weather, and swimming opportunities. This time of the year is usually busy with more people out on trail. Potentially buggy. The average high is in the upper 70s. The average low is in the mid 50s. Heat waves in the 80s/90s are possible.

September 20 - 30: Fall foliage, fewer bugs, and cool temperatures. This time of the year is usually quieter with fewer people on trail. The average high is in the upper 60s. The average low is in the mid 40s. Cold snaps bringing freezing temperatures are possible.

Itinerary

Arrival Day: 1:00-2:00 p.m. pick up from Bangor (Airport, hotel, car rental, or bus stop). If you are driving to us, you must check-in at the Hostel by 3:30 p.m. There will be a mandatory 4:00 p.m. meet and greet with trip briefing. 5:15 p.m. shuttle to grocery store for those who need it. 6:30 p.m. group dinner at a local restaurant.

Hike 1: 5:00 a.m. departure for Maine Route 15 trailhead. Start hiking by 7:00 a.m. Hike 14.3 miles to Otter Pond Trail and take the 0.3 mile side trail to Otter Pond Parking. Pick up is 5:15 p.m. Arrival at Hostel is approximately 7:15 p.m. Moderate terrain. Minimum average pace is 1.45 miles per hour.

Hike 2: 5:00 a.m. departure for Otter Pond Parking. Start hiking by 7:00 a.m. Hike the 0.3 mile Otter Pond Trail to AT. Hike 15.8 miles to Katahdin Ironworks Road. Pick up is 6:30 p.m. Arrival at Hostel is approximately 7:30 p.m. For many, this is the most difficult day of the 100 Mile Wilderness due to the rugged terrain over the Chairback range. Minimum average pace is 1.40 miles per hour.

Hike 3: 6:00 a.m. departure for Katahdin Ironworks Road. Start hiking by 7:15 a.m. Hike 14.8 miles to West Branch Ponds Road. Pick up is 5:15 p.m. Arrival at Hostel is approximately 6:30 p.m. This is another difficult day as you climb up and over White Cap. White cap is where many northbound thru-hikers see Katahdin for the first time. Minimum average pace is 1.48 miles per hour.

Hike 4: 6:00 a.m. departure for West Branch Ponds Road. Start hiking by 7:15 a.m. Hike 14.0 miles to Jo-Mary Road. Pick up is 4:15 p.m. Arrival at Hostel is approximately 5:00 p.m. Moderate terrain for the first half of the day with easier terrain on the second half of the day. Minimum average pace is 1.55 miles per hour. 6:00 p.m. shuttle to grocery store for those who need it.

Hike 5: 6:00 a.m. departure for Jo-Mary Road. Start hiking by 7:00 a.m. Hike 15.0 miles to Nahmakanta Stream Road. Pick up is 4:30 p.m. Arrival at Hostel is approximately 5:45 p.m. Overall, this is one of the easier days as far as terrain goes. Swimming opportunities. Minimum average pace is 1.58 miles per hour.

Hike 6: 7:00 a.m. departure for Nahmakanta Stream Road. Start hiking by 8:30 a.m. Hike 8.4 miles to Pollywog Stream on Wadleigh Pond Road. Pick up is 2:30 p.m. Arrival at Hostel is approximately 4:00 p.m. This is the shortest day of the trip with some moderate hiking. Minimum average pace is 1.40 miles per hour. 5:00 p.m. shuttle to grocery store for those who need it.

Hike 7: 6:00 a.m. departure for Pollywog Stream on Wadleigh Pond Road. Start hiking by 7:30 a.m. Hike 17.5 miles to Abol Bridge. Pick up is 6:00 p.m. Arrival at Hostel is approximately 6:45 p.m. This is the longest hiking day of the trip. The terrain is moderate. Minimum average pace is 1.67 miles per hour.

Hike 8: 7:00 a.m. departure for Abol Bridge. Start hiking by 8:00 a.m. Hike 9.9 miles to Katahdin Stream Campground. Pick up is 2:30 p.m. Arrival at Hostel is approximately 4:00 p.m. This is the easiest hiking day of the trip. The terrain is on the easier side. Many highlights and the opportunity to canoe/kayak on Daicey Pond. Minimum average pace is 1.53 miles per hour. 5:00 p.m. shuttle to grocery store for those who need it.

Hike 9: 5:30 a.m. departure for Katahdin Stream Campground. Start hiking by 7:00 a.m. Climb 5.2 miles to Baxter Peak. Descend 4+ miles to Abol Campground. Pick up is 5:00 p.m. Arrival at Hostel is approximately 6:00 p.m. This is the toughest climb of the trip. You will scale boulders, rocks, and roots as you climb your way to the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Minimum average pace is 0.92 miles per hour. Celebratory group dinner.

Departure Day: 9:00 a.m. departure shuttle to Bangor (Airport, hotel, car rental, or bus stop). 10:00 a.m. check out for those who drove themselves.

If the Katahdin day needs to be adjusted due to a poor weather forecast, we will rearrange the Hike order.

Trip Information

Taking advantage of one of our 9 day slack-packing trips can be 35-45% cheaper than doing a solo unguided slack-pack and 60-70% cheaper than doing a solo guided slack-pack, with many other added benefits.

We provide a registered Maine guide on this trip. The guide will set the minimum pace and act as a sweep to ensure each participant makes it to the end point on time. The guide can provide on trail support as needed.

There will be a briefing each morning, on the way to the trailhead, where we will discuss the terrain, highlights, and must see spots for that day’s section.

Most people in decent hiking shape are able to maintain an average of 1.5 - 2.0 miles per hour. If you are a faster hiker, you will have time to relax at view points, lean-tos, and bodies of water. If you are a slower hiker, you will need to focus on the main goal, hiking. Maintaining a 2 mile per hour pace would allot you up to 2 hours of non-hiking time per day, to enjoy your surroundings on trail.

Lodging & shuttle service is provided through Appalachian Trail Hostel & Outfitters.

Shuttle service is insured and licensed with the state of Maine.

Shared accommodations means you will share a private room with one other participant. If you book with a friend, family member, or partner you will share a private room, with either a queen bed or two twin beds, with the person you signed up with. If you book by yourself, you will share a private room, that has two twin beds, with another participant. All other spaces are communal.

Private accommodations means you will have a private room all to yourself. This may be a queen or twin bed. All other spaces are communal.

The private room area and family suite will be zoned off and made private specifically for this group. There are two kitchens, two bathrooms with showers, two reading porches, a deck, and a living room with a tv for use.

You can cook your own meals in the communal kitchens. One kitchen has a gas stove, toaster oven, microwave, and refrigerator. The other kitchen has an electric skillet, electric pot, microwave, toaster oven, and refrigerator. There are also a few restaurants within a 2-5 minute walk, as well as delivery options.

While meals are not offered at the Hostel, the Outfitters has drinks, snacks, and frozen meals for purchase.

A coin-operated washer & dryer is located on-site. Change and house-made detergent are supplied by the Outfitters.

Linens, pillows, comforters, towels, shampoo, conditioner, loaner clothes, and coffee are included with your stay.

Please refer to Rooms & Rates for more details.

Included: all transportation mentioned in the itinerary, accommodations for ten nights, two dinners, gate fees for 100 Mile Wilderness, Katahdin Trailhead reservation, our fees, and guide fees. Prices are in USD.

Not included: any transportation not mentioned in the itinerary, any accommodations other than your ten nights at our Hostel, trip insurance, meals (except for the two dinners mentioned in the itinerary), snacks, and optional gratuity for the shuttle drivers, hostel staff, and guide.

Slack-pack with shared accommodations: $1,750 plus $31.50 for 9% Maine lodging tax

Slack-pack with private accommodations: $2,000 plus $54 for 9% Maine lodging tax

The deposit is 25% of your trip cost and is required at booking. The deposit is included in the total trip price.

The remaining 75% is due 90 days prior to the start of your trip. This is to ensure you are committed to the trip.

We can accommodate up to ten participants. While we expect each trip to fill up, it should be noted that we do require a minimum of five participants on this trip. If less than five participants have registered by the due date, those who have booked this trip will have the option to either cover the additional costs so that the trip may proceed or cancel their trip and receive a refund, minus processing fees.

Cancellation Policy:

• Domestic (US) - Cancellation fee

• 90+ days - 50% of deposit

• 60-89 days - 100% of deposit

• 30-59 days - 50% of total trip cost

• 29 days or less - 100% of total trip cost

Please understand that a slack-packing trip takes time and advance notice to plan and execute. Please understand that we may turn away other customers in order to hold your reservation. Our policy is not meant to be punitive, however, we plan far in advance to make these trips a possibility. At the time of the due date, funds may have already been used in preparation for your upcoming trip. For this reason, we strictly adhere to our cancellation policy. We strongly suggest that you purchase travel insurance to help cover any unforeseen circumstance that may lead to you canceling after the due date.

To qualify for refunds, you must notify us in writing, by email, to info@katahdinadventureco.com.

In the event we need to cancel a trip due to unforeseen circumstances, partial or full refunds will be made, depending on how much of the trip has been completed.

Katahdin Adventure Company (Appalachian Trail Hostel & Outfitters LLC) reserves the right to alter or cancel trips and determine refund amounts at its sole discretion.

While we do provide a guide, this is not a fully guided trip. The guide will remain behind the group. There will not be a guide leading you through the wilderness. We want each participant to have the ability to hike on their own throughout the day. However, there will be certain points during each Hike where all participants are required to regroup with the guide, such as major stream fordings. If you prefer to not hike alone, you can hang back and hike with the guide.

All participants must be self reliant and capable of covering the distance each day in the allotted time. Each participant should carry all necessary supplies and gear. Each participant is responsible for their own safety and well being. The guide is there to provide information & on-trail assistance, act as a pace setter & group sweep, and administer first aid if needed. There is a list of essential items the guide requires you have with you each day. We will send the list and relevant information at booking.

The Maine Wilderness contains some of the most rugged terrain on the Appalachian Trail. You need to be experienced and in good hiking shape to complete this trip. This is not a beginner trip. You need to begin training at least three months prior to the start of your trip and be able to hike consecutive 15-20 miles days on moderate to difficult terrain. You will receive training recommendations after booking your trip.

If you are unable to keep pace and finish on time, you may be cut from the more strenuous days of the trip in the interest of the other participants. There will be no refunds if you are cut for being unable to keep pace.

Hike 1 is a moderate day that sets expectations for the rest of the trip. Hike 2 & Hike 3 are two of the most strenuous days along the entire 2200 mile Appalachian Trail. If you are unable to finish Hike 1 on time, or if the guide feels there is cause for concern, you will not be allowed to participate in Hike 2 or Hike 3.

The guide can rearrange the order of Hike 2-9 as needed, to better accommodate all participants, but our goal is to complete the trip as a continuous northbound hike.

Weather on the Appalachian Trail is unpredictable. A common saying for thru-hikers is “no rain, no pain, no Maine.” It will be no different on this epic adventure! Rain, shine, sleet, or snow the trip must go on! Each participant is responsible for their own safety and should carry necessary outerwear and supplies. Thunderstorms or hazardous conditions may lead to delays, alterations, or Hike cancellations. We do not give refunds for weather related events.