5 Day Slack-pack: Southern 100MW
Dates
August 6 - 12: Lush forests, warm weather, and swimming opportunities. This time of the year is usually busy with more people out on trail. Potentially buggy. The average high is in the upper 70s. The average low is in the mid 50s. Heat waves in the 80s/90s are possible.
Itinerary
Terrain/Difficulty Scale: The following Hikes are rated on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the easiest terrain you can find along the Appalachian Trail, such as flat meadows with no elevation change that require little physical effort, and 10 being the most strenuous terrain, such scaling boulder fields and steep ascents with no switchbacks that leave you physically exhausted before the hike is over. Each Hike is a mix of various terrain difficulties, so you will see a range listed at the end of each Hike’s description, indicating both the easiest and most difficult terrain you should expect to cover during that Hike. To truly understand what a 9-10 out of 10 is, you need to have hiked the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the AT in southern Maine, or Katahdin. In our opinion, the AT south of New Hampshire never exceeds an 8 out of 10. In other words, we would rate the most difficult terrain you can find along the AT south of New Hampshire as an 8 out of 10.
Arrival Day: 1:00-2:00 p.m. pick up from Bangor (Airport, hotel, car rental, or bus stop). If you are driving to us, you must check-in at the Hostel by 3:30 p.m. There will be a mandatory 4:00 p.m. meet and greet with trip briefing. 5:15 p.m. shuttle to grocery store for those who need it. 6:30 p.m. group dinner at a local restaurant.
Hike 1: 5:00 a.m. departure for Maine Route 15 trailhead. We stop at Dunkin Doughnuts around 6:10 a.m. Start hiking by 7:30 a.m. Hike 14.3 miles to the north side of Long Pond Stream and take the 0.3 mile side trail to Otter Pond Parking. Pick up is 5:30 p.m. Arrival at Hostel is approximately 7:30 p.m. Minimum average pace is 1.45 miles per hour. Total ascent: 2440 feet | Total descent: 3030 feet | Terrain/Difficulty: 4-6/10
Hike 2: 6:00 a.m. departure for Otter Pond Parking. We stop at Dunkin Doughnuts around 7:10 a.m. Start hiking by 8:30 a.m. Hike the 0.3 mile side trail to the AT. Hike 9.1 miles to the Third Mountain Trail. Follow the Third Mountain Trail 1.4 miles down to Chairback Mountain Road. Pick up is 4:15 p.m. Arrival at Hostel is approximately 5:30 p.m. The 15.8 mile section from Otter Pond Parking to Katahdin Ironworks Road is the most difficult part of the 100 Mile Wilderness and for many it is the most difficult hiking they have ever done, with 30-40% of participants unable to complete it on previous trips. For these reasons, we now split this section in two (Hike 2 & 3). Minimum average pace is 1.40 miles per hour. Total ascent: 2900 feet | Total descent: 2250 feet | Terrain/Difficulty: 4-9/10
Hike 3: 8:00 a.m. departure for Chairback Mountain Road. Start hiking by 9:15 a.m. Hike 1.4 miles up the Third Mountain Trail to the AT. Hike 6.7 miles to Katahdin Ironworks Road. Pick up is 3:00 p.m. Arrival at Hostel is approximately 4:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. shuttle to grocery store for those who need it. Minimum average pace is 1.40 miles per hour. Total ascent: 1840 feet | Total descent: 2310 feet | Terrain/Difficulty: 5-9/10
Hike 4: 6:00 a.m. departure for Katahdin Ironworks Road. Start hiking by 7:15 a.m. Hike 15.2 miles to West Branch Ponds Road. Pick up is 5:15 p.m. Arrival at Hostel is approximately 6:45 p.m. This is another difficult day as we climb up and over White Cap. White cap is where many northbound thru-hikers see Katahdin for the first time. Minimum average pace is 1.48 miles per hour. Total ascent: 4060 feet | Total descent: 3240 feet | Terrain/Difficulty: 4-9/10
Hike 5: 7:00 a.m. departure for West Branch Ponds Road. Start hiking by 8:30 a.m. Hike 13.4 miles to Jo-Mary Road. Pick up is 5:00 p.m. Arrival at Hostel is approximately 5:45 p.m. Moderate terrain for the first half of the day with easier terrain on the second half, as we leave behind the mountainous portion of the 100 Mile Wilderness. Celebratory group dinner. Minimum average pace is 1.58 miles per hour. Total ascent: 1240 feet | Total descent: 2270 feet | Terrain/Difficulty: 3-6/10
Departure Day or Optional Guided Fly Fishing: 9:00 a.m. departure shuttle to Bangor (Airport, hotel, car rental, or bus stop). 10:00 a.m. check out for those who drove themselves. Alternatively, you can stay an extra night and spend today on a guided fly fishing excursion. Our region is home to some of the best landlocked salmon and brook trout fishing in the country. Check out our fly fishing & instruction page for more information. The cost of the fishing excursion can be split amongst the participants that sign up. If you stay for the guided fly fishing excursion, there will be another 9:00 a.m. shuttle to Bangor the following day.
Trip Information
Taking advantage of one of our 5 day slack-packing trips can be 35-45% cheaper than doing a solo unguided slack-pack and 60-70% cheaper than doing a solo guided slack-pack, with many other added benefits.
This trip is designed and overseen by Registered Maine Guide & thru-hiker, Koty, our owner & lead guide. Koty may hike every day of the trip or alternate days with a co-guide. The guide will set the minimum pace and act as a sweep to ensure each participant makes it to the end point on time. The guide can provide on trail support if necessary.
There will be a briefing each morning, on the way to the trailhead, where we will discuss the terrain, highlights, and must see spots for that day’s section.
Most people in decent hiking shape are able to maintain an average of 1.5 - 2.0 miles per hour. If you are a faster hiker, you will have time to relax at view points, lean-tos, and bodies of water. If you are a slower hiker, you will need to focus on the main goal, hiking. Maintaining a 2 mile per hour pace would allot you up to 2 hours of non-hiking time per day, to enjoy your surroundings on trail.
Lodging & Shuttles
Lodging & shuttle service is provided through Appalachian Trail Hostel & Outfitters.
Shuttle service is insured and licensed with the state of Maine.
Shared accommodations means you will share a private room with one other participant. If you book with a friend, family member, or partner you will share a private room, with either a queen bed or two twin beds, with the person you signed up with. If you book by yourself, you must select the private accommodations option. All other spaces are communal.
Private accommodations means you will have a private room all to yourself. This may be a queen or twin bed. All other spaces are communal.
The family suite will be zoned off specifically for this group, to provide a private gathering/eating space for trip participants. There are two kitchens, two bathrooms with showers, two reading porches, a deck, and a living room with a tv for use.
You can cook your own meals in the communal kitchens. One kitchen has a gas stove, toaster oven, microwave, and refrigerator. The other kitchen has an electric skillet, electric pot, microwave, toaster oven, and refrigerator. There are also a few restaurants within a 2-5 minute walk, as well as delivery options.
While meals are not offered at the Hostel, the Outfitters has drinks, snacks, and frozen meals for purchase.
A coin-operated washer & dryer is located on-site. Change and house-made detergent are supplied by the Outfitters.
Linens, pillows, comforters, towels, shampoo, conditioner, loaner clothes, and coffee are included with your stay.
Please refer to Rooms & Rates for more details.
Pricing
Included: all transportation mentioned in the itinerary, accommodations for six nights, two dinners, gate fees for 100 Mile Wilderness, our fees, and guide fees. Prices are in USD.
Not included: any transportation not mentioned in the itinerary, any accommodations other than your six nights at the Hostel, trip insurance, meals (except for the two dinners mentioned in the itinerary), snacks, and optional gratuity for the shuttle drivers, hostel staff, and guide.
Slack-pack with shared accommodations: $1,340 plus $21.60 for 9% Maine lodging tax
Slack-pack with private accommodations: $1,460 plus $32.40 for 9% Maine lodging tax
Booking & Cancellation Policy
The deposit is 25% of your trip cost and is required at booking. The deposit is included in the total trip price.
The remaining 75% is due 90 days prior to the start of your trip. This is to ensure you are committed to the trip.
We can accommodate up to eight participants. While we expect this trip to fill up, it should be noted that we do require a minimum of four participants on this trip. If less than four participants have registered by the due date, those who have booked this trip will have the option to either cover the additional costs so that the trip may proceed or cancel their trip and receive a refund, minus processing fees.
Cancellation Policy:
Domestic (US) - Cancellation fee
90+ days - 50% of deposit
60-89 days - 100% of deposit
30-59 days - 50% of total trip cost
29 days or less - 100% of total trip cost
Please understand that a slack-packing trip takes time and advance notice to plan and execute. Please understand that we may turn away other customers in order to hold your reservation. Our policy is not meant to be punitive, however, we plan far in advance to make these trips a possibility. At the time of the due date, funds have already been used in preparation for your upcoming trip. For this reason, we strictly adhere to our cancellation policy. We strongly suggest that you purchase travel insurance to help cover any unforeseen circumstance that may lead to you canceling after the due date.
To qualify for refunds, you must notify us in writing, by email, to info@katahdinadventureco.com.
In the event we need to cancel a trip due to unforeseen circumstances, partial or full refunds will be made, depending on how much of the trip has been completed.
Katahdin Adventure Company (Appalachian Trail Hostel & Outfitters LLC) reserves the right to alter or cancel trips and determine refund amounts at its sole discretion.
Disclaimer
While we do provide a guide, this is not a fully guided trip. The guide will remain behind the group. There will not be a guide leading you through the wilderness. We want each participant to have the ability to hike on their own throughout the day. However, there will be certain points during each Hike where all participants are required to regroup, such as major stream fordings.
All participants must be self reliant and capable of covering the distance each day in the allotted time. Each participant should carry all necessary supplies and gear. Each participant is responsible for their own safety and well being. The guide is there to provide information & on-trail assistance, act as a pace setter & group sweep, and administer first aid if needed. There is a list of essential items the guide requires you have with you each day. We will send the list and relevant information at booking.
The Maine Wilderness contains some of the most rugged terrain on the Appalachian Trail. You need to be experienced and in good hiking shape to complete this trip. This is not a beginner trip. You need to begin training at least two months prior to the start of your trip and be able to hike consecutive 15+ miles days on moderate to advanced terrain. You will receive training recommendations after booking your trip.
If you are unable to keep pace and finish on time, you may be cut from the more strenuous days of the trip in the interest of the other participants. There will be no refunds if you are cut for being unable to keep pace.
The guide can rearrange the order of Hike 1-5 as needed, to better accommodate all participants, but our goal is to complete the trip as a continuous northbound hike.
Weather on the Appalachian Trail is unpredictable. A common saying for thru-hikers is “no rain, no pain, no Maine.” It will be no different on this epic adventure! Rain, shine, sleet, or snow the trip must go on! Each participant is responsible for their own safety and should carry necessary outerwear and supplies. Thunderstorms or hazardous conditions may lead to delays, alterations, or Hike cancellations. We do not give refunds for weather related events.
Get in touch.
If you are interested in participating in our trip, please reach out to us. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have and help you register.
August 6 - 12: Full - Fill out the form to join our waitlist for 2026 trip release.