Katahdin Iron Works

July 26 and 27: We spent a night primitive camping near Katahdin Iron Works and Gulf Hagas! It's located about 60 miles northwest of Orono (in 'The county'). We camped in the Ki Jo Mary Wilderness Area ( acres in size!). When we arrived, they nice old woman manning one of 2 dirt roads entering the wilderness area, picked out a great site for us away from everything. Turns out, it was perched on a beautiful cliff overlooking a waterfall! We couldn't see or hear anyone in any direction.

As soon as we got settled, we went for a 6 mile hike around Gulf Hagas. Gulf Hagas is part of the appalachian trail corridor. The trails follow the rim of a 400 foot gorge with many beautiful waterfalls, it's known as the "Grand Canyon of the East." Also within this area is The Hermitage, a national landmark. The hermitage is 35 acres of some of Maine's oldest white pine trees. In order to even get to the hike we had to make our way across two rivers on fallen logs, navigate paths along deep ravines, and walk along wooden boards over marshes. And we rarely passed other hikers. We kept seeing bear and moose skat, and even freshly broken branches along the trail that must have been from moose passing through, but we never saw the real thing! Which we should probably be very relieved about since we were all alone out there with nothing but some water and cameras. The hike was absolutely beautiful!


We got back to the campsite in time to explore the river that was below our site. And although it was freeeeeeeezing and the sun was going down, we took a late afternoon dip (of the skinny variety). It was so amazing being so totally alone out in complete wilderness. I've never experienced anything like it, and I must say it's one of my best Maine experiences to date. I loved laughing with Kurt as we both dared eachother to go under the water first...

Then we spent the night eating hot dogs and smores, and laughing and talking by the fire. The next morning we took our time packing up camp and stopped to explore the remnants of the old iron furnace that used to function from 1843 to 1890. It's hard to imagine smoke pouring from the kiln and all of the sights and sounds that go with iron working in the middle of the wilderness. This picture is one of the old furnaces and us having fun with the timer.

On our way home, we stopped in the town of Milo. Milo is the only recognizable 'town' on the entire 2 + hour drive back to Orono. And we stopped at 'The restaurant.' I guess when towns are that small you can just call yourself 'the restaurant' and people know what you're talking about. It was a small diner of sorts and we had a wonderful lunch and took some VERY sweet desserts to go!

All in all, it was a wonderful weekend. And we vow to go back. I feel like for the first time I've seen what true 'wilderness' is.....and I'm officially hooked to the pure, simple, joy of it all.