SOUTH TURNER

South Turner Mountain is a special one to me. It happened to be the first mountain in Baxter State Park that I ever hiked and long before I ever considered hiking them all. It was also in some ways an ‘accidental’ hike. I was working on my previous book and enjoying some time with son Josh (16) and daughter Shannon (3). We had decided to drive up in the Park and go to Sandy Stream in the hope of seeing a moose. Sandy Stream was often a good place to find one and it was only a short hike from the parking area at Sandy Stream Campground.

Josh was eager for a hike. He loved the outdoors and earlier in the day had talked about wanting to hike Katahdin. Shannon loved the short hike to Sandy Pond and sure enough there were two moose grazing there. We had fun finding different spots around the pond to get a little closer to them. Josh was still wanting to hike.

“How about we hike South Turner, Dad?”

“What about Shannon?” I replied.

“I’ll carry her if she doesn’t want to walk”

“I want to go. I can walk. I’m a hiker girl” chimed in Shannon. We’d been telling her what a great ‘hiker girl’ she was on the short hike from the car park to the pond.

“OK,” I responded. “Here is the deal. We’ll hike a little way up the trail but if Shannon gets tired we turn around”

“We’ll make it, Dad!” says Josh.

“Yes, Dad, we’ll make it!” echoed Shannon.

The first part of the trail was fairly easy. There were some rocks but the going was relatively flat. When we started to ascend we came to the first boulder area. Josh was excited. With a little bit of help Shannon negotiated it well and so far did not want to be carried. It was only when the trail started to ascend more steeply that she asked for a ride. Josh willingly obliged and we even picked up the pace with him shouldering his little sibling. We continued to ascend with Shannon sometimes wanting to walk and sometimes wanting a carry. I carried for a while but knew it wasn’t something I wanted to do a lot. A 40 pound pack is one thing but a squirmy 40 pound three year old is another. But Josh was committed and didn’t seem to mind whenever Shannon wanted a ride.

Eventually we hit the tree line. This is when the fun began. The weather had been fine but there were low clouds hanging over most of the Park. We were now approaching them. They thin broken misty clouds that came and went. At times they obscured the summit but at other times we could see fairly well. I had to make a judgement call and be the parent regardless of what my fellow hikers said. Should we go back or press on. I paused to consider while we stopped for a drink. There were other hikers on the trail and its seemed like forward visibility was good enough to at least see the next blaze and the trail was well marked. The weather however was not the only factor. The last half mile of our climb was over big boulders and I mean BIG. Shannon had to be passed from one to another at times and when she was carried Josh needed to take extra care to not fall and hurt her and himself. I only had to caution him once and he became very focused. Again I decided it was OK to press on. We didn’t have far to go and there is that adrenaline rush that comes when approaching the summit of any mountain. Shannon, however, was starting to lose it. She didn’t like the clouds that from time to time blew in and surrounded us. She got very scared but then once the cloud was gone she would be fine. We were almost there so I cheered her on and told her that soon we’d be at the top and then we’d come back down to where there weren’t any clouds. Luckily, at that moment we also saw another family with two small children. Josh pointed them out and this gave Shannon a little more courage. We pressed on up the last few boulders and arrived at the top. What a treat to pause and look at the view which every so often revealed itself as the swirling mists separated. We hugged together for a few moments and celebrated our first peak together, then it was time to go.

Coming down was no easier then going up for the first part of the descent. We had to tread carefully and now some of the rocks had become wet from the passing mist. Shannon was tired and wanting more and more to be carried. Josh did most of it. I helped out from time to time. Looking at Josh carrying Shannon in front of me brought home to me how much he had matured. Not long ago he was Shannon’s size, Now he was becoming a strong young man. I admired his strength, his tenacity, and his willingness to make something happen if it meant carrying a bigger load. By now we were down on the easier going but still had a mile or more to go. I asked Josh how he was doing and although I could see he was beginning to slow a little, he claimed he was fine. I took over again for a while but for me now Shannon was a heavy load. My legs were getting tired from the descent – always much harder on my knees than going up. Josh took over for the remainder and we were in high spirits as we approached Sandy Stream and our truck in the car park. As we got ready to drive off, I noticed Josh’s legs. They were quivering. We both noticed and looked at each other and laughed. Shannon laughed too and declared…”See, aren’t I a good hiker girl?”