Difficulty: Easy. The 1.1-mile loop trail is wide and travels up and down a hill for a total change in elevation of just over 100 feet. The surface of the trail is fairly smooth forest floor, much of it covered in grass. How to get there: From I-95 Exit 174 for Newburgh, drive South on […]
In recent years, I’ve given slideshow presentations and talks throughout Maine about my outdoor adventures, and more specifically, the many hikes I’ve been on for this blog. I usually end these talks by opening it up for the audience to ask me questions, and as one might expect, there are a few questions that pop […]
Difficulty: Easy. The preserve trails travel over a fairly smooth forest floor and altogether total about 1.5 miles. Expect a gradual uphill climb from the shore to the parking area on both loop trails. How to get there: From the intersection of Route 1 and Route 186 in Gouldsboro, take Route 186 (South Gouldsboro Road) […]
For an upcoming presentation I’m giving at a local school about outdoor writing, I decided to create a slideshow of wildlife photos, just to make things a bit more interesting for the children. After all, who doesn’t enjoy looking at photos of swimming moose, baby bears and soaring eagles? And as I dug through about […]
Difficulty: Easy to strenuous, depending on which trails you ski and how far you go. Altogether, the trails total over 15 miles. The Long Logan Loop, which is located near the visitor center, is hilly and more challenging, while the trails leading to the warming huts are easier, with just a few small hills. Parallel […]
Difficulty: Moderate. The 1-mile North Ridge Trail on Champlain Mountain is fairly gradual climb with just a few steep sections and staircases. The trail does not feature ladders and requires no hand-over-foot climbing. If you park at the parking area near the trailhead, the out and back hike is 2 miles. In the winter, the […]
Difficulty: Easy. The 0.9-mile hike is over mostly even terrain with a few small hills, exposed tree roots and rocks. Footbridges have been constructed over the soggiest sections of trail. How to get there: From downtown Belfast, drive west on Main Street and turn right onto Waldo Avenue. Drive 1.5 miles, then turn right onto […]
Zipping down a chute of ice at 40 mph while clinging to a simple wooden sled sounds a bit crazy, but that’s precisely what hundreds of people do each February at the US National Toboggan Championships in Camden, Maine. And for several years now, I’ve been one of those people, screaming my heart out and […]
There’s this phenomenon I’ve heard talked about among outdoorsy folks, that out in the wilderness, food tastes better. During a mountain hike or an ocean paddle, even the simplest fare can be enjoyable and nourishing. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put a little extra thought and effort into what you pack to eat – […]
As we laced up our skates at the edge of Green Lake on Saturday, the cold numbing our bare fingers, I thought, “We’re crazy.” “What?” my husband Derek said, shouldering our backpack of emergency gear and snacks. “Oh,” I said, realizing I had voiced by opinion out loud. “We’re just kind of crazy to be […]
