With the overnight rain the trail was still damp and muddy in places and in one spot in the mud was a paw print of a black bear. After the hike I checked into my cabin at Shin Pond Village (Map 51) which will serve as base camp for the next few days. After dinner the breeze had died down so it was time for a quick kayak around Upper Shin Pond. Along the way there were a number ducks and three loons. There is also a nice view of Mount Chase off to the east.

Tuesday, September 1
Day two in the park is spent in the Upper and Lower South Branch Ponds Area. Though small in size these two ponds are a real treat to kayak. With the Traveler Range on one side and South Branch Mountain on the other you get the feeling you are in some type of an inland fjord. In the upper pond through a gap in the mountains is a nice view off to Katahdin. There is a lot of beaver activity in the area and you can see how in some places the trees along the ponds banks have been thinned out. You can even see their logging roads they use to skid and haul their logs to the pond. After lunch it’s time for a short hike up the Ledges Trail. From here you can really see how this area looks like a fjord . Next up is a other short walk into South Branch Falls. Here South Branch Stream dips and rolls through a series of small falls, chutes and flumes.

Wednesday, September 2
Day three in the park is again spent in the South Branch Ponds Area. What’s up for today is a seven mile loop hike up and over the North and South Peaks of South Branch Mountain. The trail is steep in spots but also has a few level areas to catch your breath. There are no views from the North Peak but a open ledge just a short ways before the summit offers up views off to the Traveler Range and down to Upper South Branch Pond.

As the trail dips into the saddle between the two peaks there are a lot of moose droppings. There are even moose droppings at the top of South Peak at 2,585 feet. South Peak is wide open and offers grand views. From here the trail drops down through a boulder field and then into a high alpine meadow dotted with spruce and fur trees and where white and yellow wild flowers are in bloom. Back at the cabin the sun is setting as day slowly turns to night. The full moon is rising over Mount Chase and the sounds of loons can be heard rising up from Shin Pond. The perfect ending to the perfect day.

Thursday, September 3
Well it’s time to start thinking about heading home. I head south towards Millinocket and the southern section of Baxter Park. It’s been a few years since I last kayaked Lower Togue Pond and it was high time I do it again. Of all the ponds I have ever kayaked this is my favorite. The view of Katahdin from this pond is just breathtaking.