Boorman - Dec 7, 2015 3:57 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2015
Funny Ridge
Descended via this route from Katahdin and had a blast. Really funny and enjoyed getting a little exposure.
Jkells - Nov 30, 2015 11:04 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2015
Clouded Edge
We were in a cloud about 1,000 ft. before summit and then although we were completely encompassed in a cloud as well as winds ranging from around 7-12 mph we decided to attempt Knife Edge to proceed down Helon-Taylor.
The whole way through until about a 1/3 of the edge left were were completely surrounded by cloud and could only see about 40 or 50 feet in front of you in any direction. As we moved forward a peak would pop up one after another in front of us which just added to the mysteriousness and excitement of it all.
Really enjoyed the technical-type climbing parts as well as the Chimney. An EXTREMELY exhilarating hike, and not too scary or at least not as deathly as the hype has built it up.
captainbuuda - Dec 24, 2012 1:20 pm Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2012
The Beginning of my Southbound A.T. Journey
It turned out to be a beautiful day. The ranger at the Roaring Brook Campground tried to discourage me from this route due to 40 knot winds that were forecast for the Knife Edge Ridge. It had rained the night before and cool Canadian air was pushing out the moisture that day. It was wondrous. The wind was just enough to keep me at attention and keep me cool from the 80 degree temperature. It was an amazing start to the Southbound portion of my flip-flop A.T. thru-hike of 2012 (I chose to end my thru-hike at the summit of the Dragon's Tooth in Virginia). It felt like an epic day. It was certainly an experience that I will never forget! Yaweh yonah.
triyoda - May 7, 2011 1:44 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2008
Beast of the East
Climbing out of the notch made me feel like I was in Colorado. Good times.
mlandau3 - Jan 10, 2011 6:28 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 1975
A Great Way To Hike Katahdin
All of a sudden, we were out of the woods and climbing to the top of Pamola with tall cliffs looming in the distance. And the knife edge was lots of fun without excessive exposure.
jimegan - Sep 20, 2010 3:50 pm Date Climbed: May 27, 2006
Knife Edge/Helon Taylor
Most enjoyable route east of the Mississippi. Went up into the clouds, but they parted somewhat on the return to provide some great views
spencer - Aug 16, 2010 12:45 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2010
Incredible
We were lucky enough to get the very last spot in Roaring Brook (and learned you can make reservations on the BSP site now.) Last year we ended up doing the Marsten Trail instead since we couldn't get in to Roaring Brook (also a very nice hike.)
The Knife Edge is truly spectacular, I would absolutely do it again.
I did this with my brother, though we did not ascend the Helon Taylor trail, but the Dudley Trail instead. This was essentially our second climb of the mountain for the day. It was a lot of fun crossing the Knife Edge to Baxter Peak.
Great day. A bit warm going up Pamola, but a nice bit of wind on the Edge. The Notch wasn't as scary as expected (the ranger scared the bejeezus out of us at Roaring Brook), though by no means easy, and the rest of this trail was AWESOME.
Chinigo - Jul 1, 2010 3:35 pm Date Climbed: Jun 27, 2010
Round trip on both
It was a nice day to climb - sunny with clouds. There were more mosquitos than I expected, all the way up to the tree line.
The downclimb and climb to start the Knife Edge were strenuous (for me, anyway).
BergFlicka - May 26, 2010 3:26 pm Date Climbed: Jul 9, 1995
Beautiful
Really loved my climb.
imzadi - Sep 14, 2009 1:51 pm Date Climbed: Aug 29, 2009
lots of fun
despite my reservations about the knife's edge...it was awesome!!
Helon taylor, however very pretty it is...just goes on and on and on after a long hike up.
JHH60 - Jun 23, 2009 1:34 pm Date Climbed: Sep 30, 1978
First climb in college
Climbed Katahdin via the Knife Edge freshman year in college. Fun!
BlackForrest - May 30, 2009 5:17 pm Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2007
Crossed the Edge in moderate sleet and rain; seemed as if we were the only ones on the ridge- descended Helon Taylor trail
Patrick B - Aug 24, 2008 8:40 am Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2008
No Knife Edge : (
We successfully came up Helon Taylor but my dad and my brother chickened out on Knife Edge so we had to go Down Dudley and up Saddle : (
Sam Page - Apr 20, 2008 11:24 am Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2006
Exhilarating
I forget the exact date. I anxiously crossed the knife-edge in dubious weather and was down to Chimney Pond by 11:00AM.
mountainloverCO - Jun 17, 2007 9:16 am Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2007
Amazing
My first stab at real class 3 terrain, and what fun it was! Used Cathedral Ridge as the ascent route and Knife Edge as the descent. A blast both up an down...my only complain would be the endless slog back down to Roaring Brook on the Helon Taylor trail. My knees were killing me!
Boorman - Dec 7, 2015 3:57 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2015
Funny RidgeDescended via this route from Katahdin and had a blast. Really funny and enjoyed getting a little exposure.
Jkells - Nov 30, 2015 11:04 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2015
Clouded EdgeWe were in a cloud about 1,000 ft. before summit and then although we were completely encompassed in a cloud as well as winds ranging from around 7-12 mph we decided to attempt Knife Edge to proceed down Helon-Taylor.
The whole way through until about a 1/3 of the edge left were were completely surrounded by cloud and could only see about 40 or 50 feet in front of you in any direction. As we moved forward a peak would pop up one after another in front of us which just added to the mysteriousness and excitement of it all.
Really enjoyed the technical-type climbing parts as well as the Chimney. An EXTREMELY exhilarating hike, and not too scary or at least not as deathly as the hype has built it up.
captainbuuda - Dec 24, 2012 1:20 pm Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2012
The Beginning of my Southbound A.T. JourneyIt turned out to be a beautiful day. The ranger at the Roaring Brook Campground tried to discourage me from this route due to 40 knot winds that were forecast for the Knife Edge Ridge. It had rained the night before and cool Canadian air was pushing out the moisture that day. It was wondrous. The wind was just enough to keep me at attention and keep me cool from the 80 degree temperature. It was an amazing start to the Southbound portion of my flip-flop A.T. thru-hike of 2012 (I chose to end my thru-hike at the summit of the Dragon's Tooth in Virginia). It felt like an epic day. It was certainly an experience that I will never forget! Yaweh yonah.
triyoda - May 7, 2011 1:44 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2008
Beast of the EastClimbing out of the notch made me feel like I was in Colorado. Good times.
mlandau3 - Jan 10, 2011 6:28 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 1975
A Great Way To Hike KatahdinAll of a sudden, we were out of the woods and climbing to the top of Pamola with tall cliffs looming in the distance. And the knife edge was lots of fun without excessive exposure.
jimegan - Sep 20, 2010 3:50 pm Date Climbed: May 27, 2006
Knife Edge/Helon TaylorMost enjoyable route east of the Mississippi. Went up into the clouds, but they parted somewhat on the return to provide some great views
TMF - Aug 26, 2010 10:55 pm
Descent routeDescent from summit
spencer - Aug 16, 2010 12:45 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2010
IncredibleWe were lucky enough to get the very last spot in Roaring Brook (and learned you can make reservations on the BSP site now.) Last year we ended up doing the Marsten Trail instead since we couldn't get in to Roaring Brook (also a very nice hike.)
The Knife Edge is truly spectacular, I would absolutely do it again.
chocodove - Jul 29, 2010 8:36 pm Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2010
BeautifulReally great experience. Was slightly worried about the Pamola/Chimney notch after reading some things, but was actually not too bad at all.
tioga - Jul 28, 2010 12:28 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2008
Fun!I did this with my brother, though we did not ascend the Helon Taylor trail, but the Dudley Trail instead. This was essentially our second climb of the mountain for the day. It was a lot of fun crossing the Knife Edge to Baxter Peak.
jcoalter - Jul 24, 2010 5:14 pm Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2010
Great DayGreat day. A bit warm going up Pamola, but a nice bit of wind on the Edge. The Notch wasn't as scary as expected (the ranger scared the bejeezus out of us at Roaring Brook), though by no means easy, and the rest of this trail was AWESOME.
Chinigo - Jul 1, 2010 3:35 pm Date Climbed: Jun 27, 2010
Round trip on bothIt was a nice day to climb - sunny with clouds. There were more mosquitos than I expected, all the way up to the tree line.
The downclimb and climb to start the Knife Edge were strenuous (for me, anyway).
BergFlicka - May 26, 2010 3:26 pm Date Climbed: Jul 9, 1995
BeautifulReally loved my climb.
imzadi - Sep 14, 2009 1:51 pm Date Climbed: Aug 29, 2009
lots of fundespite my reservations about the knife's edge...it was awesome!!
Helon taylor, however very pretty it is...just goes on and on and on after a long hike up.
JHH60 - Jun 23, 2009 1:34 pm Date Climbed: Sep 30, 1978
First climb in collegeClimbed Katahdin via the Knife Edge freshman year in college. Fun!
BlackForrest - May 30, 2009 5:17 pm Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2007
Loop up the Cathedral and over Knife RidgeNice hike - but the flis ate us coming down.
TMF - Mar 2, 2009 10:40 am
StormyCrossed the Edge in moderate sleet and rain; seemed as if we were the only ones on the ridge- descended Helon Taylor trail
Patrick B - Aug 24, 2008 8:40 am Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2008
No Knife Edge : (We successfully came up Helon Taylor but my dad and my brother chickened out on Knife Edge so we had to go Down Dudley and up Saddle : (
Sam Page - Apr 20, 2008 11:24 am Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2006
ExhilaratingI forget the exact date. I anxiously crossed the knife-edge in dubious weather and was down to Chimney Pond by 11:00AM.
mountainloverCO - Jun 17, 2007 9:16 am Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2007
AmazingMy first stab at real class 3 terrain, and what fun it was! Used Cathedral Ridge as the ascent route and Knife Edge as the descent. A blast both up an down...my only complain would be the endless slog back down to Roaring Brook on the Helon Taylor trail. My knees were killing me!