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 explore Acadia National Park with it's beautiful and challenging trails, hike the Mt Katahdin & Hamlin Peak Loop 6-8 hours in Baxter State Park, take the Monhegan Island ferry from Port Clyde to hike the Monhegan Island Cliff Trail, raft the thrilling whitewater river, take a chill day on a lobster boat 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):
Friday 6/19 – Pick up trailer, leave for Colorado no later than 10 am from 5838 Shannon Rd, Hartford, WI
Saturday 6/20 - Arrive early morning in the White Mountains of New Hampshire near Concord, NH. Hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail, then depart for Baxter State Park and setup camp.
Sunday 6/21 - Hike Mt Katahdin & Hamlin Peak Loop 6-8 hours in Baxter State Park
Monday 6/22 - Rafting day - Kennebec River class III-IV (4-6 hours, min. age 10, 9am start, lunch) - Penobscot River class IV-V (5-7 hours, min. age 14, 7:30am start, lunch & snack)
Tuesday 6/23 - Drive to Acadia National Park, setup camp, and begin two days of hiking the trails of the national park
Wednesday 6/24 - Continue hiking different trails in Acadia National Park
Thursday 6/25 - Take the Monhegan Island ferry from Port Clyde to hike the Monhegan Island Cliff Trail
Friday 6/26 - Take a lobster boat out of Bar Harbor, get souvenirs, and have a Lobster Extreme dinner
Saturday 6/27 - Depart for home, and take the Ben and Jerry's factory tour in Waterbury, Vermont (and get samples), camp near Meadville, PA (western Pennsylvania)
Sunday 6/28 - depart for home arriving early evening
COST
$~750 per person. Note: this trip is partly underwritten. Registration is due by December 15, 2025 (in order to make national park reservations), and payment is due by May 19, 2026. Note: only 19 registrations will be accepted. Please make payments to Kirk Bailey, 5838 Shannon Rd., Hartford, WI 53027 by cash, or check (or by Paypal: @kirkbailey1, or by Venmo: @Kirk-Bailey-3)
Trip limitations:
Must be at least 12 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 poncho, 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 explore Acadia National Park with it's beautiful and challenging trails, hike the Mt Katahdin & Hamlin Peak Loop 6-8 hours in Baxter State Park, take the Monhegan Island ferry from Port Clyde to hike the Monhegan Island Cliff Trail, raft the thrilling whitewater river, take a chill day on a lobster boat 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):
Friday 6/19 – Pick up trailer, leave for Colorado no later than 10 am from 5838 Shannon Rd, Hartford, WI
Saturday 6/20 - Arrive early morning in the White Mountains of New Hampshire near Concord, NH. Hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail, then depart for Baxter State Park and setup camp.
Sunday 6/21 - Hike Mt Katahdin & Hamlin Peak Loop 6-8 hours in Baxter State Park
Monday 6/22 - Rafting day - Kennebec River class III-IV (4-6 hours, min. age 10, 9am start, lunch) - Penobscot River class IV-V (5-7 hours, min. age 14, 7:30am start, lunch & snack)
Tuesday 6/23 - Drive to Acadia National Park, setup camp, and begin two days of hiking the trails of the national park
Wednesday 6/24 - Continue hiking different trails in Acadia National Park
Thursday 6/25 - Take the Monhegan Island ferry from Port Clyde to hike the Monhegan Island Cliff Trail
Friday 6/26 - Take a lobster boat out of Bar Harbor, get souvenirs, and have a Lobster Extreme dinner
Saturday 6/27 - Depart for home, and take the Ben and Jerry's factory tour in Waterbury, Vermont (and get samples), camp near Meadville, PA (western Pennsylvania)
Sunday 6/28 - depart for home arriving early evening
COST
$~750 per person. Note: this trip is partly underwritten. Registration is due by December 15, 2025 (in order to make national park reservations), and payment is due by May 19, 2026. Note: only 19 registrations will be accepted. Please make payments to Kirk Bailey, 5838 Shannon Rd., Hartford, WI 53027 by cash, or check (or by Paypal: @kirkbailey1, or by Venmo: @Kirk-Bailey-3)
Trip limitations:
Must be at least 12 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 poncho, 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.