Book excerpt: An updated guide to one of the East Coast's most popular hiking venues. "After more than two decades of hiking," writes Cloe Chunn, "I am even more in love with this place." "This place" is northern Maine, a magnificent and largely unspoiled stretch of landscape encompassing Baxter State Park, the Rangeley Lakes, Aroostook County, and much more. Chunn leads hikers up Maine's highest and most scenic peaksMounts Katahdin, Kineo, Traveler, and Doubletopfrom gentle grades to vertiginious scrambling along the Knife's Edge. She leads you to waterfalls, remote ponds, lookout towers, swimming holes, and incomparable vistas. Hikes in this revised third edition range in length from 2 hours to 5 days, and provide something for hikers of all abilities. Each hike description includes a topographical map and information on mileage, rise, and terrain. Along the way Chunn provides information on the geology, wildlife, and history of each trail. And she places special emphasis on family hikinghow to choose the best trails for kids, and how to make the trip appealing to hikers of every age. 40 black and white photographs 51 maps Index