The Incredible Story of the First Recorded Climb of Maine’s Mount Katahdin

Most people reading this probably already know the answer to Maine’s tallest mountain question. It’s the legendary Mount Katahdin, towering 5,269 feet above the state. And if you count its neighboring spur, Hamlin Peak, Katahdin actually claims Maine’s two highest summits. Not that it's bragging or anything.

Every year, thousands of Mainers, experienced climbers, and Appalachian Trail hikers make the trek to the top. I still vividly remember my first climb back in the early 1990s when I was just a kid. Standing on that mountain for the first time was nothing short of unforgettable.

How Difficult is it to Climb Mount Katahdin?

The climb to the summit is no joke. The trails are difficult—some are just downright nasty, like the nightmare-inducing and appropriately named Knife Edge. There are all types of terrain, ever-changing weather patterns, metal rungs and steps, and hikers with varying skill levels. It's a smorgasbord of potential pitfalls that truly test you both mentally and physically.

This is what it's like to climb it today. So just imagine what it was like for the first surveyors who trekked up Katahdin more than 200 years ago.

When was the First Summit of Mount Katahdin?

Let me start this history lesson with a disclaimer: while the belief is that the first official climb of Mount Katahdin took place in the early 1800s, there is a strong likelihood—honestly, near certainty—that Native Americans had summited the mountain long before then. The last thing I want to do is erase that history, so it's important to include this note.

However, according to the Appalachian Mountain Club, the Penobscot Tribe viewed the summit as the home of evil spirits. Specifically, they believed it was the dwelling place of the spirit Pamola, who would kill and devour anyone who attempted to summit the mountain.

But when the surveyors arrived, they ignored the warnings and got to work. According to the Appalachian Mountain Club, Mount Katahdin quickly became a peak that demanded to be conquered.

In the summer of 1804, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts—yes, Maine didn’t exist yet—commissioned a surveying expedition to the Northeast. The man chosen for the job was Charles Turner Jr., and he made his way to Katahdin with 10 men and two Native American guides.

According to the Appalachian Mountain Club, Turner was determined to summit Katahdin. However, his two Native American guides refused to make the climb because of their belief in the evil spirits said to inhabit the summit. That didn’t stop Turner and his 10-man team, though, and they began ascending the mountain via what is now known as the Hunt Trail.

The first official recorded non-Native American summit came on August 13, 1804, when Turner and his crew reached the top. However, the surveying itself didn’t go particularly well, considering Turner estimated Katahdin to be 13,000 feet high. Only around 8,000 feet off!

Turner Jr. and his crew proved the mighty mountain could be tamed, and enthusiasts have been conquering it ever since that fateful day.

You can read more about the early hiking history of Katahdin on the Appalachian Mountain Club website. There’s some fascinating information there, including details about a summit attempt by Henry David Thoreau not long after Turner’s climb.