Baxter State Park - Abol Stream, Foss and Knowlton, Lost Pond, Daicey Pond, and Grassy Pond Trails and Park Tote Road
Imagine having 209,000 acres of wilderness to yourself and that's the experience I had yesterday while visiting Baxter State Park. Baxter began the transition to winter season this week, closing Katahdin trailheads, restricting hours and, starting today, closing most of the park's roads (Google Maps had incorrectly shown that the Togue Pond Gate was closed). Today was also the start of deer hunting season in Maine (the parts of the park accessible by car today were those open to hunting). When I arrived at the Togue Pond Gatehouse a little after 9, the ranger advised me only two people had entered the park that morning. I parked at the Abol Picnic Area and hiked a 15 mile loop consisting of 9 miles of trails and 6 miles on the closed Park Tote Road. I encountered only one person during my almost seven hours in the park - an employee driving on the closed Tote Road. I started out hiking the Abol Pond Trail but slipped into a stream after stepping on an ice-covered rock