Tag Archives: Hiking

Happy Leap Year

Posted on February 29, 2016 | Leave a comment

 

February 29th. Leap Year. I had no idea this year was a Leap Year. I don’t tend to follow that kind of thing. I’m so out of the loop when it comes to that, that at first, when I saw February 29th on my calendar, I actually thought it was a misprint! [^_^] I fail.

 

Happy Leap Year, and Happy Birthday to all the Leap Year babies out there!

 

Anyway, I went hiking a while ago, as I tend to do, and on one of the trails, there’s a bog area. The bog was still covered in a layer of ice even though a majority of the snow in my portion of Maine is already gone. I kept hearing these funny sounds radiating from under the ice. I can’t even describe the sound, it was so strange. But, it’s not the first time I’ve heard it. I’m assuming it was the result of a beaver family moving around and calling to each other under the ice since there was a beaver den on the far side of the bog. Sadly, I didn’t see any of them. I’ve never been able to catch a photo of a beaver in the wild (or, anywhere for that matter). It’s on my photograph bucket list along with several other animals (a moose being one of them).

 

But, I did manage to take a kind of artsy photo of a group of branches from a downed tree sticking up from the ice. The way the sun was shining and with the coloring of the ice and branches, it looks like the photo was taken in black and white, but it wasn’t.

 

 

 

Sticks in the Ice

 

 

 

 

Until next time…

 

[^_^]

 

~A.M.

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Posted in Hiking, Nature, Photography

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Unexpected Trail Guide

Posted on February 1, 2016 | Leave a comment

 

 

Recently, yesterday in fact, I went hiking with my parents on yet another new trail network.  The Eagle Hill Trails in Steuben, Maine.  Well, I can’t attest to how new the trail itself was, it was just new to me since I never knew of its existence until this past weekend.

 

 

Anyway, it was a two mile network of trails winding through woods, blueberry fields, and along the coast.  The trails are part of a campus called Eagle Hill Institute and I was thoroughly impressed with how well they were marked.  I’ve hiked some poorly marked trails and this puts the trails I previously thought were marked well to shame.

 

 

Upon arriving, we were greeted by the director of the institute, George.  He provided us with a trail map and pointed us in the direction of the trailhead.  This is where it got super funny.

 

 

As we were heading toward the trailhead, a white dog that had to have been part Husky (I adore Huskies), came around the side of a shed, tail wagging.  George introduced us to 15 year old Bonnie.  I figured the introduction would have ended with a pat on her head from me and my parents and a sniff or two from Bonnie, but she decided she was going to lead us along the first portion of the trail.

 

 

I never had a trail guide before, let alone a canine guide.  It was hilarious.  She would run ahead a few steps, stop, turn, and bark at us to follow.

 

 

 

Bonnie the Trail Guide

 

 

Sadly, Bonnie didn’t stay with us throughout our entire hike.  It was either the fact that we didn’t take the path she wanted us to take, or she got bored with me stopping to take pictures every once in a while.  She ended up turning back and leaving us to fend for ourselves.  But, we met up with her again when we got back to our car.  She circled us, sniffing, and wanting attention, then she stood in front of our car, not wanting us to leave.  Silly dog.  [^_^]

 

 

 

Bonnie

 

 

 

Overall, it was a pretty nice little hike and I’m sure I’ll be returning to these trails come warmer weather.  Hopefully Bonnie will still be there to greet me.

 

 

 

Eagle Hill Institute Trails - Border Trail

 

 

 

 

Until next time…

 

 

[^_^]

 

~A.M.

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Posted in Animals, Hiking, Nature, Photography

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What A Difference…

Posted on January 4, 2016 | Leave a comment

 

…Ten days makes.

Not too long ago, on Christmas Day, there was no snow to be found in my little corner of Maine and the temperature was in the 50s.  Unheard of since I can remember.

Today, there’s at least five inches of snow on the ground and it’s in the 30s.  The wind chill makes it seem more like single digits, though.  It would be bearable if not for the damn wind.

In spite of the wind, I tried going hiking a few days ago, like I did on Christmas Day and it was a completely different experience.  Instead of nice weather where I didn’t need a jacket like on Christmas Day, this past excursion had me bundled in several layers with a hood, a hat, gloves, the works, and I was still freezing.

Regardless, I pressed on, my trusty camera at the ready.  You wouldn’t believe how many deer tracks I found in the snow.

Roque Bluffs Trail

Until next time…

[^_^]

~A.M.

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New Tradition?

Posted on December 28, 2015 | 2 comments

 
With recent events, my family wasn’t really feeling the “Christmas vibe” this year. We exchanged a few gifts on Christmas eve, as we always do, but on Christmas day, we were shocked by the weather. In my little corner of Maine, it was bright sun and temperatures in the 50s. Even the breeze was warm. It felt more like the end of spring, beginning of summer than Christmas Day.

 
So, my parents and I decided to take advantage of the weather and get out into the fresh air, perhaps starting a new tradition in the process.

 
We went hiking at Quoddy Head State Park, one of my favorite hiking spots. The road there was pretty much deserted with stores closed for Christmas and pretty much everyone else at home observing whatever traditions they observe on this holiday. We did meet two couples on the trails at Quoddy, wished them a Merry Christmas, and went on to enjoy our hike.

 
It seemed strange. Christmas day with no snow whatsoever, and the temperature in the upper 50s.

 
Weather permitting, we just might try to do this every year, hence starting a new tradition.

 
Here’s a photo I took during my Christmas hike. Enjoy…

 

 

 

Quoddy Head Light, Christmas 2015

 

 

 
I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, Yule, or whatever it is you celebrate at this time of the year.

 
As this is the last Monday in 2015, I wish you all a Happy New Year.

 

 

 
Until next time…

 
[^_^]

 
~A.M.

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Posted in Hiking, Life, Lighthouses, Photography

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Hunting Season Sucks

Posted on November 16, 2015 | 3 comments

Since we’re well into hunting season (I’m not a hunter, nor am I a supporter of sport hunting), it’s not really safe for me to go hiking at most of my favorite spots.  For some reason, hunting is allowed in my local state park and within 300 feet of the trails I hike.  So, instead of risking being shot in order to hike my favorite local trails (sometimes even wearing blaze orange from head to toe won’t help you), I’ll either have to be patient and wait out hunting season or go somewhere where hunting is prohibited.  The latter will be difficult as I mentioned.  There’s even a wildlife sanctuary where I tend to hike that allows hunting at this time of year.  How backwards is that?  Hunting in a wildlife sanctuary?  Not much of a “sanctuary” then, is it?

Anyway, to appease my readers looking for new photographs each week, I’ll leave you folks with a shot I took a while ago at Screw Auger Falls.  Enjoy.

Screw Auger Falls in Autumn

Until next time…

[-_-]

~A.M.

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