Spring in Maine is a wet hiking season. Maine is blessed with many lakes, streams and rivers to start with. Add to that the seasonal snow melt and flooded and wet trails are not uncommon.
Last week's hike (which I didn't blog) was so wet in fact that 3/4 way up the mountain we were forced to turn back around because the kids' feet, which had been soaked for at least an hour, were uncomfortably chilly. So this week we scrounged through the adventure and clothing cash envelopes as well as asked the kids for a contribution of their own money and ordered Sealskinz socks.
We all wear gaitors to help keep snow out of our shoes.
The socks worked to keep the kids' feet dry but this week's hike wasn't as wet to begin with so they weren't tested to their full capacity. But I'm sure someday they will be.
This week's trail up Blueberry Mountain in Brickett Place, ME was surprisingly free of snow and slush. We did cross several streams but nothing like the brook we walked through for nearly a mile last week at Tumbledown. At one point the trail became a stream but we were able to walk along the edge to stay dry.
Not only that but while we were unloading from the car and gearing up we saw a moose! Our 2nd ever sighting of the Maine icon in the 8 years we've lived here. We were all pretty excited even though it was 1/4 mile or so down the road from us.
This hike was full of beautiful scenery in addition to the moose. On a small scale there was the gorgeous trail ice melting and forming icicles and small cathedrals (as I call them) coming up from the ground. There was also the lovely vista of Baldpate Ridge from the blueberry bush covered ledge. On our way down the Stone House trail section we visited Rattlesnake pool, one of the most spectacular parts of this relatively easy hike (4 miles round trip, 1,150 feet elevation).
It was a beautiful sunny and brisk day to enjoy the waters of spring, with comfortably warm feet. What a wonderful day in the woods.
Comments
Wet feet are better than
Wet feet are better than black flies to me!
More moose will show up eventually. Once my Dad and I stumbled on about 20 all gathered in a pond at the base of a trail we hiked (maybe he remembers where...). When we were all very little our parents took us to Moosehead Lake to see a moose, and although we didn't see any up there, when we returned to town the newspaper had a photo of a huge moose hanging out in our neighbors yard not far from downtown!
boots
Not exactly minimal footwear, but we found great rubber boots at our local kids' consignment store. My kids wear them almost everyday and are even wanting to hike in them (whether they need them or not). Since I take their old clothes to resell and earn credit, the boots didn't cost us anything. And they are only a couple dollars anyway. I'm kind of enamored with that find right now ;)
Beautiful photos! You are further into spring than we are (in Montana).
moose better thatn rattlesnakes
Nice clear shots, as crisp as the day's temperature. The pool color reminds me of the glacial runoff we saw while living in Alberta. Just as long as there aren't any rattlers in it :)
moose!
Oh, how neat that you saw a moose! I have wanted to see one for years - it's almost a family joke now...we even had a moose that was hanging out on one of the xc ski trails that I skied a couple times a week - I think every single person that skied down that trail saw it but me! I did see the tracks, but no moose! I did however, almost step on a rattlesnake while hiking in Arizona, more than once! I'd prefer to see a moose.
Love the family feet shot! :)
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[...] weekend before this heavy rain started we hiked at a sweet little spot that has a rushing stream called Rattlesnake Brook. This time of year it's flowing fast and [...]
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