My last winter trip into Baxter State Park three years ago was a disappointment for me. Suffering with arthritic hips, I was in constant pain when pulling a gear-laden sled and both attempts to summit Mount Katahdin were turned back by hazardous weather. Since the trip to and from Chimney Pond requires hauling a sled […]
“Where the mountains meet the sea” is an oft-quoted phrase attributed to poet Edna St. Vincent Millay to describe the Camden Hills. One of the most scenic areas in Maine, the Camden Hills provide some of the most exceptional winter hiking and phenomenal ocean vistas found anywhere in the state. Approximately fifty miles of hiking […]
Distinctive Mount Jackson is located on the southwestern end of the Presidential Range in the New Hampshire White Mountains, New England’s most consequential mountaineering environment. Situated between less illustrious Mounts Pierce and Webster, I suspect most people assume Mount Jackson is named for the seventh president, Andrew Jackson. To quote one of the most intelligent […]
Sunday River Whitecap is one of the most unique mountain hikes in Maine. Rugged terrain, phenomenal views, and a barren alpine summit provide a remarkable winter mountaineering experience. Located on the northeastern end of the Mahoosuc Range in far western Maine, climbing the 3,337 foot peak entails about 2,100 feet of elevation gain while negotiating […]
Situated in western Maine’s Carrabassett Valley, the Bigelow Mountain Range is one of the state’s premier mountaineering venues. Paralleling the south shore of consequential Flagstaff Lake, Bigelow has six significant peaks. The Appalachian Trail traverses much of the range seductively lending itself to some excellent backpacking options. Bigelow Mountain has the distinction of possessing three […]
It was a beautiful late fall day on my drive to the mountainous community of Weld in western Maine. The forecast was sunny with seasonal temperatures and light winds. My rosy weather prediction had helped convince retired New Hampshire friends Laurie Wunder and Tom Meredith to join me for a hike on Little Jackson Mountain. […]
When I announced a Penobscot Paddle and Chowder Society mountain hike on either Mount Chocorua or South Moat Mountain in New Hampshire, my friends Shweta and Ryan Galway immediately agreed to join me. Frequent outdoor companions and young enough to be my daughter and son; they’re testament to the fact that not all my friends […]
When I heard there was a hiking trail to the summit of Lobster Mountain, I resolved to return to remote Lobster Lake for a climb. The pristine body of water with an impressive shoreline is located northeast of Moosehead Lake in northern Maine. Letting your imagination soar, it’s shaped something like an asymmetrical lobster. Both […]
Moose hunt permit holders Brent Elwell and Carl Dubois were up well before dawn on opening day of the 2020 moose hunt. Four of us were located at remote Priestly Camp on the St. John River in far northern Maine. Committed to hunting by canoe, they departed for Shields Branch and Big Black River, an […]
When my friend Brent Elwell invited me to join his moose hunt, I immediately accepted. Only a small percentage of applicants win the moose hunt lottery each year. A lifelong Mainer, I’d never participated in a moose hunt and at my age it might be my last chance. Permit holder Brent had assembled a stellar […]
