All these years in Maine and I'd never camped at Mount Blue State Park or climbed Mount Blue. That just had to change. And it did this past weekend.

The park is a gem--with friendly staff, secluded campsites, hot showers (big bonus!), a long stretch of sandy beach, a huge grassy field to lounge about and play on, a crystal clear lake for swimming and paddling, a gorgeous panorama of mountain views, plenty of roads and trails for hiking and biking, blah blah blah...

If you haven't yet visited here, you've gotta go. Don't wait like I did!

Mount Blue State Park has nearly everything you could want in the outdoor recreation department! Photo by Carey Kish

I met up my good buddy Pete and his young daughter early Saturday afternoon and we quickly settled into a homey, wooded campsite.

Then we were off on our mountain bikes exploring the paved and dirt roads and trails that weave through the park. The lakeshore was beautiful, but with the blustery winds and whitecaps, few swimmers were out. And it didn't look good for paddling. But the views across the water were fabulous.

The shapely cone of Mount Blue rises above Lake Webb.
Photo by Carey Kish

The park's roads and trails are great for biking.
Photo by Carey Kish

A happy camper at Site #44.
Photo by Carey Kish

Back at camp we relaxed a bit, threw back a cold one, and prepped for an early dinner. And that was when I locked my keys in the van...

&%#$@X*+!!!!!!

Mildly upset with the stupidity at doing such a thing many miles from nowhere I began to look for a good sized rock that would help me regain entry into the vehicle. But alas, common sense took hold, and we trundled over to the ranger station and got a call through to AAA.

An hour and a half and several beers later, voila! The AAA guy roars into the campground, "Masters of Disaster" painted on the side of his tow truck. In a flash he had the jimmy down the window and pop, the door was open. And then he was gone. All in about a minute.

Life now back to normal we cooked up hot dogs over the campfire and had fresh veggies for dinnah. Yumster!

We hiked off the dinner calories on the Swett Brook Trail, a winding forest path that loops around the campground for several delightful miles.

After a quick run down to Lake Webb for sunset we plunked ourselves down for good in front of a roaring blaze. A fine, fine day!

The Swett Brook Trail is a fun two-mile jaunt that circles around the campground.
Photo by Carey Kish

Evening sky over Lake Webb with Mount Blue in the distance.
Photo by Carey Kish

Cozying up to the evening campfire.
Photo by Carey Kish

On Sunday the three of us rode bikes down to the Nature Center for a look-see around. It's worth a visit with lots of good info and interesting displays on the natural history of the park.

Pete and daughter headed off on bikes from there, while I drove over to the other side of the park intent on hiking Mount Blue.

The view from the picnic area at Center Hill was worth the entire trip! Go and see for yourself. By expending no more effort than getting out of your car you can see for miles... to Byron Notch, the steep cliffs of Tumbledown, the humps of Little and Big Jackson Mountains and much more. Wow!

The spectacular view from the Center Hill picnic area. That's Byron Notch, Tumbledown and the Jacksons in the distance.
Photo by Carey Kish

Indian paintbrushes provide a splash of summer color.
Photo by Carey Kish

The half-mile nature loop trail leads right from the parking lots and takes you through deep forest, past bogs and out to numerous viewpoints. Grab a brochure before you head off and follow along with the numbered exhibits and gain a thorough understanding of the natural and human history of the area. Tremendous!

Hikers enjoy the view from the Center Hill Nature Trail.
Photo by Carey Kish

A few miles farther along, at road's end, is the trailhead for Mount Blue.

The trail is straightforward going at a pretty steady grade, with precious few easy sections to catch your breath. But it's a fairly quick 1.6 miles and a little over an hour to the top of the peak.

John Therrian of Jay enjoys the vista from the summit of Mount Blue.
Photo by Carey Kish

A small open field with wildflowers adorns the 3,109 foot summit as does the metal framework of the old fire tower. There are five vista points, four on top and one just below. Check 'em all out--the views are wonderful: The entire range of Saddleback, Abraham, Spaulding and Sugarloaf; The Presidentials, the Carters, the Mahoosucs; closer in are Bald Mountain and Saddleback Wind.

All good. The whole damn trip to Mount Blue: So, so good. My kinda weekend.

You been to Mount Blue State Park?

All too often in today's turbulent political climate, good news--any good news--from the federal government flies under the radar screen, under-reported or unreported.

Take the fact of 76,150 acres of newly designated wilderness in New England.

I hadn't heard about it. You?

It wasn't until I saw it in the most recent adition of Appalachia, the AMCs bi-annual journal of mountaineering and conservation.

Yep, last December 1st President Bush signed into law the New England Wilderness Act of 2006 (NEWA) creating 34,500 acres of Wilderness (yes, that's Wilderness with a capital W, serious business when the feds get involved) in the White Mountain National Forest, and 41,650 acres in the Green Mountain National Forest.

Whoa! That's awesome.

New England has 76,150 acres of newly designated wilderness. Who knew???
Photo by Huw Evans

Here's some specifics for reference.

In the WMNF in NH and Maine:

* Sandwich Range: 10,800 acres were added to the existing 25,000 acres in four separate units: Guinea Pond-2,823 acres, Waterville Valley-4,038 acres, Hedgehog-2,766 acres, and Ferncroft-1,144 acres.

* Wild River: The law creates a brand new wilderness area of 23,700 acres in the magnificent valley vetween the Carter-Moriah and Baldface-Royce Ranges (a very familiar stomping ground for this hiker)

In the GMNF in Vermont:

* Glastenbury: A new 22,425 acre wilderness area was created, encompassing the 3,748 summit of Glastenbury Mountain (right on the Long Trail-what a view!) and the largest area of unbroken forest in southern Vermont.

* Joseph Battell: A new 12,333 acre area protecting the ridgeline between Brandon Gap and Middlebury Gap (also on the Long Trail and a fantastic stretch of walking).

* Lye Brook: 2,338 acres added

* Breadloaf: 3,757 acres added

* Peru Peak and Big Branch: 799 acres added

The new and additional Wilderness areas will be managed by the US Forest Service under the direction of the 1964 Wilderness Act, "where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain."

It also means the eventual loss of our good friends the Blue Brook, Spruce Brook and Perkins Notch shelters, as USFS Wilderness policy discourages man-made structures. But that will be aways off yet.

Good news about our New England outdoors. News you might never have heard amid the din of crap mucking up the airwaves.

No go on out and shoot your television, and then go hiking...

Have a good weekend!

It's been a long time since I've been up Boothbay Harbor way. Even longer since I've allowed myself to get caught in summer weekend traffic on Route 1 as it squeezes through Wiscasset.

But last Saturday it was totally worthwhile, and an adventure I so recommend if you're looking for yet another spot with great hiking and quiet trails.

You'll certainly find both on the diverse and scenic paths of the Boothbay Region Land Trust, which has at least 16 distinct preserves of varying acreage on the Boothbay peninsula.

After a few miles of "navigational difficulties," during which I actually did stop and ask where the "monument" was (everything seems to be waymarked from it), I found the Oven's Mouth Preserve.

The 146-acre preserve comprises the tips of two peninsulas on the Oven's Mouth River connected by a footbridge. I struck out to the west through the forest and along a salt marsh, intent on the complete 5-mile loop tracing the preserve's outer edges.

Boothbay Region Land Trust trail marker.
Photo by Carey Kish

Hiking along the Oven's Mouth River, Edgecomb.
Photo by Carey Kish

It was terrific walking! At the river docks occasionally jutted from the shore, cottages tucked into the thick trees above. Several lobster boats plied the quick waters, eddying out occasionally to check pots.

I crossed the long bridge onto the eastern peninsula and soon after came upon a harbor seal playfully floating along, snorting. I sat down on a bench (one of several placed throughout at scenic spots) and watched and enjoyed.

Circling around I recrossed the bridge and headed up the rugged inside edge of the western peninsula. As I climbed, three scenic vistas, one after another, opened up to my left revealing a long look down the salt marsh below.

Foot bridge connecting the east and west peninsulas of the Oven's Mouth Preserve.
Photo by Carey Kish

Salt marsh view, Oven's Mouth Preserve.
Photo by Carey Kish

Next stop was the Gregory Hiking Trail, which I found with less difficulty.

Photo by Carey Kish

It's a one-mile loop trail that hugs the Back River. There's numerous places to break out onto the shore and explore among the rocks and seaweed. I loved poking around the old boat washed up on the rocks mid-way along, it's wooden hull now weathered gray.

Along the East River, Gregory Hiking Trail, Boothbay.
Photo by Carey Kish

Old boat beached on the East River, Gregory Hiking Trail.
Photo by Carey Kish

The day's final hike was to Penny Lake. There's a wide ADA trail that cuts through the preserve and enables the less physically able to get out enjoy nature.

Walking the trail to Penny Lake, Boothbay Harbor.
Photo by Carey Kish

I walked the length of the trail and back, then looped around again on the preserve's narrow footpaths. The bridge crossing the creek that drains what's left of Penny Lake is a lovely spot, as is the bench placed in the high field. Facing west, it's a perfect place to watch the sun go down. Something to consider on another visit.

View over Penny Lake, Penny Lake Preserve.
Photo by Carey Kish

Wholly satisfied with the day's walking (thanks Boothbay Region Land Trust!) I trundled into Boothbay Harbor and played tourist, walking the streets amid the shops and gawking at the beautiful harbor. That is, until the Pier 1 Pub caught my eye. A couple of slices of pretty damn good pizza and a couple of cold pints of Fisherman's Brew and all was definitely well with this hiker's world.

Evening in Boothbay Harbor.
Photo by Carey Kish

Check out the trails of the Boothbay region. Make a day of it. You'll absolutely love it! And do let me know how it goes...

Have you already discovered the sweet trails around Boothbay? Which ones?

I wonder just what the naysayers will accept?

The Natural Resources Council of Maine and Maine Audubon have denounced the latest Plum Creek development plan for the Moosehead Lake region as still too big and including "too much development in natural areas and sensitive wildlife habitats."

Surprise, surprise.

Actually, that the NRCM is still kicking up its heels doesn't surprise me. But Maine Audubon's continued opposition does.

So I must ask you both: what exactly will you support?

How many house lots? How big the resorts? Spell it out for me and everyone else.

Or are you just plain anti? Anti-timber harvesting. Anti-development. Anti-Plum Creek.

Because if you are, well, what to do? There's no where to go from that position. No room to maneuver.

Plum Creek has put its facts and figures out there (again) for all to see.

Will your organizations do that? If not, why not? What will you accept?

Now to you my dear Trail Head friends: We talked about the revised Plum Creek plan here nearly two months ago.

Have you read up on it? Given it more thought? Figured out where you stand?

I'm done thinking it over. It's time to support this plan.

That's right. I've decided... in favor of it. Solidly.

The Plum Creek plan will help create a nearly continuous swath of conservation lands from Baxter State Park west to Canada. Isn't that a good thing?
Thumb's up by Carey Kish

Why?

Just look at the map.

I see a continuous swath of conservation lands from Baxter State Park all the way to the Canadian border, ringing Moosehead Lake (with the exception of the town of Greenville).

Yes, that's right.

Baxter State Park to the Katahdin Forest Project lands to the Nahmakanta Reserve to the Roach Ponds acquisition to the AMC Katahdin Iron Works property to Plum Creek conservation framework and conservation easement lands to the West Branch Project lands.

I don't know how many tens of thousands of acres this massive conglomeration of conservation efforts--of which Plum Creek plays a key role--totals, but it's huge.

Huge spaces for all to enjoy for a wide variety outdoor pursuits. Hike, bike, bird watch, fish, hunt, ride your snowmobile, canoe and kayak and boat, watch moose, ski downhill, ski cross-country, sit on your porch and take in the view.

There are trade-offs, of course.

There will be development at Lily Bay, Big Moose Mountain and Rockwood. More people in the area, more jobs, a bit more hustle and bustle than there is now. But an economic uptick in a region sorely in need of it. Are not the people there deserving of a better life, more employment opportunities, a bigger paycheck?

Will there be problems? Yes, but managing for growth is a far different thing than reacting to it.

And there will continue to be timber harvesting on Plum Creek lands. Trees will die. And help to feed the families of loggers and truckers and sawmill owners and on down the food chain. But fortunately through the miracle of nature, trees are a renewable resource and will grow back for the next cycle.

So there you have it. My two cents.

On Plum Creek, I'm in. Big thumb's up.

How about you all? What do you say? Thoughts?

Think you know Portland's trails?

Maybe you do, maybe you don't.

There's one sure way to find out if you're catching all the great hiking spots in the fabulous Portland Trails network...

Logo courtesy of Portland Trails

Get in on the Portland Trails Discovery Treks for 2007, a series of guided walks highlighting well-known and little-known natural gems in the area.

Discovery Treks begin at 5:30 PM on selected Friday evenings throughout the summer and early autumn.

Tonight's featured walk is the "Fore River Sanctuary Dog Walk." Friendly canine pals are welcome. Meet at the Rowe Avenue entrance to the Fore River Sanctuary, off outer Brighton Avenue.

The next scheduled trek is Friday, July 6th: "The Remains of the Cumberland and Oxford Canal."

All Discovery treks are free and open to the public. Advance registration is requested, so please call Portland Trails at 775-2411 to reserve your spot for fun and discovery on the trail.

It's been a long wait and an awful lot of work by many, many hardworking trail advocates and trail groups, but the end--or the beginning as the case may be--is finally in sight.

The western portion of the Grafton Loop Trail will officially open at the end of this month. The 21 miles of new trail will complete the "loop" on a magnificent 42-mile hiking and backpacking circuit.

The western side will take hikers from Route 26 up the open ledges and alpine summit of Sunday River Whitecap before striking northward over Stowe and Bald Mountains. It will then connect with the Appalachian Trail on Old Speck.

The route will no doubt quickly become on of the premier backcountry treks in Maine, allowing hikers a variety of opportunities ranging from day hikes to 4-5 days of backpacking for those wishing to tackle the entire loop.

Brilliant! Thanks to all who helped make this dream a reality!

I, for one, can't wait to get my boots on the trail on the new piece of the Grafton Loop Trail and check it out.

What about you? Gonna pack the pack and give GLT west side a try this summer?

Hiking the east side of the Grafton Loop Trail, July 2005. The west side finally opens June 30th.
Photo courtesy Carey Kish

Start the weekend off right with a mountain bike ride tomorrow morning on the trails of South Portland.

The ride, the first Tour de Trails ride of the season, will be led by my good friends at the Bicycle Coaltion of Maine.

The riding starts at 10AM from Hinckley Park on Highland Ave. It's a beginner/intermediate ride that'll go for a couple of hours and cover about 10 miles or so of fun terrain.

Maybe see you there, or at one the next BCM Tour de Trails rides this summer...

That, my dear Trail Head amigos, is the $64,000 question of the day.

What is this hubbub all about you ask?

Trail Head sleuth John M, connoisseur of all things cold and frosty, uncovered an interesting bit of news that could alter life on the trail as we know it forever...

Powdered alcohol!

"Top it up with water and you have a bubbly, lime-colored and -flavored drink with just 3 percent alcohol content."

Voila!

OK, let's state upfront in the strongest terms that the idea of selling such a product to minors, as the article mentions, is a dumb and dangerous idea, one which should never happen.

That said, the product is potential winner with the lightweight backpacker crowd ever concerned about pack weight.

Yep, no more tearing the labels off tea bags and sawing the handle off your toothbrush and other ounce-saving measures just so you can afford to tote a Nalgene bottle of cocktails along on your next hike.

Brilliant!

So now one must naturally ask, can the perfection of dehydrated beer be far behind?

I think, and hope, not.

Imagine...

It's the end of a hot, sweaty day on the trail. Camp is set up. You want to kick back and relax in the wilderness. You go to the stream and fill your canteen with cold mountain water. Then you tear open a packet of dehydrated Gritty's Pale Ale, mix it in, and what do you have...

Backpacker's nirvana!

TGIF my friends. Make it a good weekend!

You can. And do it legally...

If you go to the Traveler's Club to see Yarmouth resident Bill Yeo's program on his epic 2006 mountaineeering expedition to the Himalayas that landed his climbing partner on top of 29,000 foot Mount Everest.

Yarmouth climber Bill Yeo on Mount Everest in 2006.
Photo courtesy Bill Yeo

It's guaranteed to be a great show with tales of high adventure and stunning photography to boot. I can say this because I saw Bill's Everest show awhile back at another venue and it was awesome. I know you'll enjoy it!

Better get there early, though, 'cause this is going to be one packed house for sure.

The Traveler's Club meets tonight at 7PM at the Gilsland Farm Audubon Center off Route 1 in Falmouth. It's free and open to the public.

Think Disneyland on a smaller scale. With happy-faced park workers dressed in snappy forest green polo shirts, chinos and gum-soled Bean boots. And possible attractions like the kayak sluice run, the fly fishing river, the duck hunting gallery. Maybe backpack and camp in a virtual wilderness. Or climb a scale model of Mount Katahdin. Then go shopping and sleep in a swank hotel and dine on martinis and lobsters.

Who knows?

But it may all come to be if outdoor retail giant and Maine icon L.L. Bean has it's way on a 700-acre piece of land it owns off I-295 in Freeport.

Yep. An L.L. Bean theme park, complete with outdoor adventures, a golf course, hotels and restaurants. Family-friendly, of course.

All right here in our own backyard. And soon, as Bean is apparently "on a fast track to make the project happen."

Hmmm.

Wonder if that has anything to do with major competitor Cabela's and it's planned mega development in Scarborough?

Think I'll don my 3-D glasses and watch it all play out...

What's your take on a L.L. Bean theme park?

What makes our trails so important to all of us?

I know what they mean to me personally. No doubt you have your own reasons why trails are near and dear to your heart.

Tomorrow is National Trails Day, a good opportunity to get outdoors with other like-minded folks around Maine and across the U.S. to celebrate our trails--all of our trails.

Image courtesy of the American Hiking Society

“It’s a day to bring all trail users together; an all-encompassing human-powered day to hike, paddle, bike, ride a horse; to dedicate, improve and build trails,” Ivan Levin, Trails Program Manager for the American Hiking Society, the national sponsor of National Trails Day, told me in a recent conversation.

There are more than 200,000 miles of trails in the U.S. providing access to our natural surroundings, according to Levin. Trails allow people to not only get out and explore and recreate outdoors, but to reap enormous physical and mental health benefits while doing so.

“Now in its 15th year, National Trails Day has grown from 50 events in 1993 to more than 1,200 nationwide in 2007,” Levin said. “It’s become a national environmental awareness event.”

Saturday, June 2nd--tomorrow--is National Trails Day... a good day to get outside and celebrate!
Photo by Carey Kish

Indeed it has. So get on out there tomorrow and show your support for Maine trails, lend a hand, and have some fun with your outdoor friends, new and old.

Check the American Hiking Society website for all the NTD '07 events happening in Maine--there are 22 listed--tomorrow.