Christmas at Chimney Pond

There are many perks to being the fiance of a Baxter State Park Enforcement Ranger, and it turns out that this past Christmas holiday - one of them was taking a turn covering the Back-country Ranger position at Chimney Pond.  Mike had told me around Thanksgiving that it looked like he would be assigned to cover the time just before and just after the Christmas holiday, and with a 3.3 mile hike up and back - we figured why not just stay the extra day there over the holiday?

It was our first Christmas together, and it was almost like something out of a romance novel to be able to spend it in the middle of a 250,000 acre state park without another soul around for miles.  We arrived at Chimney Pond on December 22nd, and we would stay at the Ranger Station there through until December 27th.  There was far less snow on the trail than is typical for this time of year, and the trip up passed quickly.  This was a good thing given that we were planning on making another trip down the following day to pick up more supplies ("supplies" meaning "food" - we are both fat kids at heart).  We arrived at the Ranger Station a little later in the day and quickly set about the process of unpacking, getting a fire going in the wood stove, and just making ourselves at home.  It was a quiet night, of course, and that was exactly what we both needed.

Arriving at Chimney Pond

Chimney Pond and Mt Katahdin

 The following morning we got a bit of a late start to hike down to Roaring Brook and pick up the last of our supplies.  By the time we stopped to have lunch at Roaring Brook and hiked back up to Chimney Pond, it was approaching darkness.  It was worth it, though, to be able to have more than just backpacking food while we were there.

Christmas Eve started with a trip up to Pamola Caves.  Our original plan had been for Mike to teach me  bit about ice climbing while we were there, but the weather took a strange turn around Christmas this year.  We had temperatures in the mid-50s at Chimney Pond, and the breeze off the mountain actually felt warmer.  That's unheard of at that time of year!  By the time we would leave to go home, there wouldn't be much ice left that was good for climbing.  The trip to Pamola Caves was fun, though.  Mike gave me a few basic pointers when it came to being on the mountain in winter, and neither of us had ever been to Pamola Caves before.  Honestly, I just enjoyed being outside on the mountain with Mike.  It never seems to matter what exactly has gotten us out into the woods - just that we were there and there together.

Mike at Pamola Caves

View from the trail to Pamola Caves

Christmas Day was more of the same.  Waking up to a winter morning at Chimney Pond with no one else around - I cannot really explain what it is like to someone who has never been there.  Everything is quiet and peaceful.  The air is crisp and clean.  Maybe it's Chimney Pond, maybe it's Ranger Mike - but of all the Christmas holidays that I have spent with friends and family, none has felt more like home than this Christmas.

Celebrating Christmas

Collecting water for the Ranger camp.

Skies over Katahdin

 It was difficult to pack up when it was time to go home.  As much as a part of me was ready for the luxuries such as running water, a hot shower, and a glass of wine - part of me didn't want the holiday to end.  When you are at Chimney Pond, it's as if the rest of the world doesn't exist.  All of your troubles are so far away that it's easy to get lost in the contentment of a simple life.   But like all things, our time at Chimney had to come to an end.  We made the hike back down to Roaring Brook, and it was an odd feeling to get into the truck and drive somewhere rather than hike.  It wasn't long before we were back at the house in Millinocket, but I think a piece of my heart will forever be at Chimney Pond.

Ziggy - Chimney Pond Trail