A log cabin in the woods, a beautiful pond out front, big mountains everywhere you look, trails leading off in every direction. A good group of people, tons of food, and coolers full of cold beverages. And three glorious days to enjoy it all.

Yep. That's the painful experience I had to endure last weekend at Kidney Pond in Baxter State Park.

It was hard, very hard, but I managed.

Days we spent off hiking. Some to the heights of Katahdin and Hamlin Peak and Knife Edge, some to the surrounding ponds and streams and waterfalls. Some to North Brother, others up Doubletop.

It was fantastic weather for mountain and woods walking: clear blue skies and warm temps. The mosquitoes and flies liked it too, but no matter.

Evenings... On the porch of the cabin with appetizers and cold ones in hand, talking about our hikes and laughing it up. A refreshing and cleansing swim in the pond. A delightful paddle in canoe or kayak with the magnificence of Katahdin reflecting on the calm water. Scrumptious dinners of burgers and chicken and chili.

I'd never stayed at Kidney Pond as a guest, only as a member of a trail crew, so this was a real treat. There surely was no real work to be done on this trip. Other than getting in lots of great hiking and paddling, turning lots of pages of a good book, sitting about on the porch and doing not much of anything, and making sure I got to the bottom of my cooler and not letting any of those beers go bad.

It was all too much fun and the weekend flew by. I hope to be back up there real soon...

Kidney Pond Camps, Baxter. Squaw's Bosom and Doubletop Mountain in the background.

Cabin on Kidney Pond, Baxter.

The gang hanging out on the porch at Happy Hour.

Late afternoon on Katahdin from Kidney Pond.

Evening glow on Katahdin from the canoe on Kidney Pond.

Sunset over Kidney Pond. Sentinel Mountain is to the right.

A friendly campground visitor.

Nancy chatting with Bill, who has been visiting Baxter for 80 years!

Logging some time on the AT.

Doubletop from the outlet of Tracy Pond.

The old Toll Dam on Nesowadnehunk Stream. Mt. OJI in the distance.

On the spruce-scented trail to Grassy Pond.