2026 XXXIII Annual Extreme Trip: – Maine, WAY OUT IN THE WILLIWACKS!
Ex-treme (ek-streme) adj.
1. Most remote in any direction; outermost or farthest 2. Being in or attaining the greatest or highest degree; very intense 3. Extending far beyond the norm 4. Of the greatest severity; drastic
Trip preview:
Where in the world is the Williwacks? Maine! We are heading there to hike the Mt Katahdin, Hamlin Peak Loop & Knife's Edge in Baxter State Park, raft the thrilling Penobscot river, explore Acadia National Park with it's beautiful and challenging trails, take the Monhegan Island ferry from Port Clyde to hike the Monhegan Island Cliff Trail, take a chill day on a lobster boat and watch seals, and have lobster in Bar Harbor, hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and eat Ben and Jerry's ice cream in their home state of Vermont. So come along and you will have joined an elite group and will live your life going forward in a whole new way. Nothing can take these experiences away from you. Come and enjoy the thrills, the revelry, and the camaraderie among a certain kind of unusual people the Extreme Trip breeds – overcomers. You’re invited…GET PREPARED (not optional!!), and Be There…BONZAIII!!!
ITINERARY (subject to change):
Thursday 6/18 – Arrive at 6:30 pm, pack, depart 8 pm from 5838 Shannon Rd, Hartford, WI
Friday 6/19 - 5 pm Arrive Big Moose CG, 5 Fredericka's Way, Millinocket, ME, and setup camp
Saturday 6/20 - MARATHON DAY #1 Hike Mt Katahdin, Hamlin Peak Loop, Knife’s Edge 10.2 mi, 4442' gain, 10-12 hrs (2 teams, max 12 per team)
Sunday 6/21 - MARATHON DAY #2 Raft Penobscot River class IV-V (7 hours, arrive 7:30 am for 8 am start, lunch provided)
Monday 6/22 - Acadia Natl. Park Moose Pt Loop Trail 2.5 mi., Lobster fishing and seal watching
Tuesday 6/23 - Monhegan Island ferry to Monhegan Island Cliff Trail from Pt Clyde; 4 mi, 4hr hike
Wednesday 6/24 - Beehive Loop Trail, Gorham Peak, and Ocean Path 3.5+ hours. 784' gain, technical.
Thursday 6/25 – MARATHON DAY #3 Part 1: Precipice Loop trail, 2.7 miles, 1000' gain, strenuous & technical. Will no do if wet. Part 2: Jordan Pond Path and South Bubble, 3.6 mi, 508' gain loop
Friday 6/26 – Sunrise hike, first light 4:49 am. Cadillac Mtn North Ridge Trail 4.4 mi, 1118' gain; Check out by 10 am; other hike, 2 pm Extreme Lobster Dinner, camp @ Lafayette Place Campground, NH
Saturday 6/27 - Hike on Appalachian Trail in White Mountains until 11 am. Waterbury, VT Ben & Jerry's factory tour, Green Lakes State Park swimming. Depart by 8 pm.
Sunday 6/28 - Arrive home around 3pm. Unload, clean up rental cars and return by 5 pm to MKE.
COST
$750 per person. Note: this trip is partly underwritten. Registration due ASAP, and payment due by May 19, 2026. Note: only 18 registrations accepted. Please make payments to Kirk Bailey, 5838 Shannon Rd., Hartford by cash, or check (or by Paypal: @kirkbailey1, or by Venmo: @Kirk-Bailey-3)
Trip limitations:
Must be at least 14 years old and in good condition to participate. Attendee must not be afraid of water nor heights, a good swimmer, and must be prepared for strenuous physical activity and “carrying their own water”.
What to bring:
Pair of water shoes or sandals for water activities, Under Armor style nylon shirt to wear under wet suit when rafting, broken in hiking boots, shammy or towel, mosquito/black fly & sun protectant, snacks for trip, hot-warm-cool-cold weather clothes, gloves to assist with rock scrambling, rain gear, jacket with hood or sweatshirt for cool nights, swim suit (one piece for ladies, please) and travel towel, travel games, bible, wide brim hat, sleeping bag for cold weather & a blanket, air mattress or sleeping pad, water bottle, energy bars, day pack with 3L water pouch, sports mouth guard (for cliff jumping), flash light with new batteries, cooling towel for hikes, beret from past extreme trips, spending money ($50), camera (opt)., canned oxygen (opt).
Things that will be provided: Chaperones, recreational equipment (rafts/wet suits/water boots), passes/tickets, camping fees, first aid kits, food, food prep/storage gear, tents, transportation.
Ex-treme (ek-streme) adj.
1. Most remote in any direction; outermost or farthest 2. Being in or attaining the greatest or highest degree; very intense 3. Extending far beyond the norm 4. Of the greatest severity; drastic
Trip preview:
Where in the world is the Williwacks? Maine! We are heading there to hike the Mt Katahdin, Hamlin Peak Loop & Knife's Edge in Baxter State Park, raft the thrilling Penobscot river, explore Acadia National Park with it's beautiful and challenging trails, take the Monhegan Island ferry from Port Clyde to hike the Monhegan Island Cliff Trail, take a chill day on a lobster boat and watch seals, and have lobster in Bar Harbor, hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and eat Ben and Jerry's ice cream in their home state of Vermont. So come along and you will have joined an elite group and will live your life going forward in a whole new way. Nothing can take these experiences away from you. Come and enjoy the thrills, the revelry, and the camaraderie among a certain kind of unusual people the Extreme Trip breeds – overcomers. You’re invited…GET PREPARED (not optional!!), and Be There…BONZAIII!!!
ITINERARY (subject to change):
Thursday 6/18 – Arrive at 6:30 pm, pack, depart 8 pm from 5838 Shannon Rd, Hartford, WI
Friday 6/19 - 5 pm Arrive Big Moose CG, 5 Fredericka's Way, Millinocket, ME, and setup camp
Saturday 6/20 - MARATHON DAY #1 Hike Mt Katahdin, Hamlin Peak Loop, Knife’s Edge 10.2 mi, 4442' gain, 10-12 hrs (2 teams, max 12 per team)
Sunday 6/21 - MARATHON DAY #2 Raft Penobscot River class IV-V (7 hours, arrive 7:30 am for 8 am start, lunch provided)
Monday 6/22 - Acadia Natl. Park Moose Pt Loop Trail 2.5 mi., Lobster fishing and seal watching
Tuesday 6/23 - Monhegan Island ferry to Monhegan Island Cliff Trail from Pt Clyde; 4 mi, 4hr hike
Wednesday 6/24 - Beehive Loop Trail, Gorham Peak, and Ocean Path 3.5+ hours. 784' gain, technical.
Thursday 6/25 – MARATHON DAY #3 Part 1: Precipice Loop trail, 2.7 miles, 1000' gain, strenuous & technical. Will no do if wet. Part 2: Jordan Pond Path and South Bubble, 3.6 mi, 508' gain loop
Friday 6/26 – Sunrise hike, first light 4:49 am. Cadillac Mtn North Ridge Trail 4.4 mi, 1118' gain; Check out by 10 am; other hike, 2 pm Extreme Lobster Dinner, camp @ Lafayette Place Campground, NH
Saturday 6/27 - Hike on Appalachian Trail in White Mountains until 11 am. Waterbury, VT Ben & Jerry's factory tour, Green Lakes State Park swimming. Depart by 8 pm.
Sunday 6/28 - Arrive home around 3pm. Unload, clean up rental cars and return by 5 pm to MKE.
COST
$750 per person. Note: this trip is partly underwritten. Registration due ASAP, and payment due by May 19, 2026. Note: only 18 registrations accepted. Please make payments to Kirk Bailey, 5838 Shannon Rd., Hartford by cash, or check (or by Paypal: @kirkbailey1, or by Venmo: @Kirk-Bailey-3)
Trip limitations:
Must be at least 14 years old and in good condition to participate. Attendee must not be afraid of water nor heights, a good swimmer, and must be prepared for strenuous physical activity and “carrying their own water”.
What to bring:
Pair of water shoes or sandals for water activities, Under Armor style nylon shirt to wear under wet suit when rafting, broken in hiking boots, shammy or towel, mosquito/black fly & sun protectant, snacks for trip, hot-warm-cool-cold weather clothes, gloves to assist with rock scrambling, rain gear, jacket with hood or sweatshirt for cool nights, swim suit (one piece for ladies, please) and travel towel, travel games, bible, wide brim hat, sleeping bag for cold weather & a blanket, air mattress or sleeping pad, water bottle, energy bars, day pack with 3L water pouch, sports mouth guard (for cliff jumping), flash light with new batteries, cooling towel for hikes, beret from past extreme trips, spending money ($50), camera (opt)., canned oxygen (opt).
Things that will be provided: Chaperones, recreational equipment (rafts/wet suits/water boots), passes/tickets, camping fees, first aid kits, food, food prep/storage gear, tents, transportation.