Mount Katahdin is not only the final ascent at the end of the Appalachian trail, it’s a formidable climb all on its own. It takes preparation for a successful summit and one of the most important pieces of a successful summit is what you pack.
You can hike to the top and back in one day but you need to ensure you are prepared in the rare occasion a descent becomes impossible due to a turn in the weather.
As I mentioned in my own ascent up Katahdin, we met two hikers descending early in the morning because they became trapped at the summit when the weather took an unexpected turn.
So, make sure you know what to pack to summit Mount Katahdin.
Backpack
Having the right sized pack depending on your needs is key. If you are staying overnight in a hotel before making the final drive into Baxter State Park, then you might not need a 45+ liter pack.
If, however, you decide to camp out at the base of the mountain so you can get an early start, you are going to need a bigger pack. This is my recommendation, we left at around 4 AM to start our ascent in order to have enough time to summit and get back.
My favorite full-sized pack is by Dueter. It has adjustable straps so that it sits at the right height on your back and hips. There are multiple functional pockets for easy access to important gear, such as the smaller pocket on the hip strap. Here I keep my map and a utility knife and some small snacks.
There is also a place to hold your hiking poles and an inside pocket on the top flap for valuables, such as keys and your ID.
If you don’t plan to spend the night at the base of the mountain, a smaller daypack will suffice. Both Dueter and Osprey are excellent choices with their abundance of pockets and comfortable design.
Food
Make sure you have high protein, high energy foods on hand. Things like peanut butter, trail mix (my personal favorite), energy bars, and jerky (another big favorite of mine).
This isn’t a multi-day trek, so I would try to avoid things that need cooking or take up a ton of space. A couple pre-made sandwiches and some easy snacks should suffice.
Water
Having enough water is the single most important thing to have on hand. If you have a camel-back, pre-fill it before leaving and bring a water bottle or two as well.
I recommend taking one of those water bottles a LifeStraw or using CrazyCap, so you can easily fill up with water along the way if needed. Both filters out parasites, viruses, bacteria and other particulates through a specialized, built in filter. And the best part is there is no wait time before you can drink.
Have at least 2 liters of water with you, you lose a surprising amount of fluids while hiking up this formidable mountain.
First Aid
Anything can happen while you’re hiking, even to the most seasoned hiker. So, being prepared can turn a bad situation into a better one.
You can purchase small first aid kits from various stores, but having a few key essentials can make all the difference.
- Band-Aids of various sizes
- Triple antibiotic ointment
- Pain relief medication, such as Tylenol
- Elastic bandage wraps for sprains and strains
Other small items to consider include bug spray, sunscreen and lip balm with sunscreen. When you ascend above the tree line there is nothing to protect you from the harshness of the sun. This can quickly and surprisingly lead to severe sunburn and painful lips with blistering.
Clothing
The weather up there can literally change on a dime and if you are start in the pre-dawn hours of the morning you will want to have a few layers. Having both pants and shorts as well as a sweater and windbreaker that is also waterproof are your basics.
If you are trying to keep your pack fairly light, this will be enough. There is a balance, you don’t want to over pack because you need to lug that pack up the mountain and back and too little could spell disaster.
Shoes
Every good hiker knows you need good footwear to attempt a challenge like this. So, feel free to gloss over this part. This is for you flip flop wearers out there. For those people who attempt to summit mountains, Katahdin or otherwise, like you are taking a short stroll in the park.
Having good, supportive footwear that is waterproof is going to make the trek that much easier. There is no reason to make this harder than it already is.
There are lots of options out there from trail runners to hiking boots that hug your ankles, find what works best for you. For me, its all about the trail runners, they are light, comfortable and mine are waterproof.
Trust me, it matters.
Trekking poles
Not everyone uses hiking poles but for me they keep my hands from swelling and they save my knees. I am all about my high trek endurance poles, they are adjustable and sturdy.
They can help hoist you up over tricky sections and safely clamber down steep terrain, so why not bring them along? If you have collapsible ones, then you can put them in one of the outside pockets of your pack so they are ready when you are.
Navigation and electronics
There are two things I would suggest having, one that is not 100% necessary because the trail is so well marked. A GPS. I have a Garmin that I can wear on my wrist that tells me all the stats from my speed, to my miles/hour, to my route.
You can set it to a point on the trail if you need to head into the woods to relieve yourself and then it will navigate you back to that point so you don’t get lost. I used it constantly on the Presidential Traverse.
Your phone is another thing you may want to consider bringing, just for emergencies. I know everyone’s phone is like an extension of their arm these days so this is probably a no-brainer for most. But it is also in the event there is an emergency.
Honestly, I am not sure how the signal is there because I didn’t have a phone when I hiked Katahdin (I know, shocker) but bring it in case.
Concluding thoughts
Katahdin may seem like a daunting mountain, and it can be, but if you are prepared and have been monitoring the weather you are going to enjoy this special place.
Reaching the summit is one of the most fulfilling feelings of accomplishment and I wish that success for everyone.
