Beech Hill Preserve: A Short Walk, a Big View
I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve walked up Beech Hill in Rockport. You’d think by now I’d have gotten tired of it, especially considering there’s an actual hill involved and I’ve already had enough work done on my hip to qualify for a decent warranty. But I keep going back. I’ve been up […]
A Hip Explorer’s Guide to the Schoodic Peninsula
There’s another side of Acadia. No Cadillac Mountain, no Jordan Pond House, and considerably fewer cars crawling toward the same handful of famous places. Instead, the road winds through small coastal towns before slipping into the woods, where pull-offs lead toward rocky shoreline and eventually the Atlantic crashing against Schoodic Point. This is the Schoodic […]
Head of Tide Preserve: More Than a Walk in the Woods
I wasn’t looking for an adventure that morning. I just wanted to get outside. No sunrise chase. No long drive across Maine. Nothing that required an entire day or my hip and me having a serious discussion about our recent life choices. Retta was up for a walk, I’d been looking at nearby trails, and […]
Piper Stream Preserve: Sometimes the Walk Is Enough
I wasn’t looking for a mountain. I wasn’t looking for a waterfall, a lighthouse, or anything else that was going to require getting up at some ungodly hour and driving halfway across Maine. I just wanted to walk in the woods. Preferably somewhere that wasn’t going to make my hip file a formal complaint. That’s […]
Three Stops Worth Making on a Fall Drive Through Western Maine
I didn’t have some grand plan to photograph Western Maine. It was fall, the foliage was near peak, and I wanted to scout a couple of places I’d been thinking about. And, if I’m being completely truthful, I mostly wanted to get the hell out of the house. So Retta and I pointed the Jeep […]
What Remains on Elephant Mountain
Explorer’s Notes 📍 Location: Elephant Mountain, near Greenville, Maine🚙 Getting There: The pavement eventually gives way to logging roads. The route is well marked, but expect rocks, washouts, and little to no cell service once you get into the woods.🥾 Trail: Short and easy. Wreckage begins almost immediately and continues along the trail.⏱️ Time to […]
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I take a photograph I really like. I spend entirely too much time editing it, probably make three versions that nobody but me could tell apart, finally decide I’m happy with it, and post it to Facebook. Then, apparently, my next responsibility as a grown adult is to refresh Facebook every few minutes to see […]
The Cellar Beneath the Trees
FOUND IN MAINE A series by The Hip Explorer Explorer’s Notes 📍 Location: Sears Island, Searsport, Maine 🚶 How I Found It: A 1.74-mile loop through the Monarch Sanctuary, along the Homestead Trail, and back by way of the shoreline. ⏱️ Time to Explore: About one hour 📷 Best For: Easy hiking, wildlife, photography, and […]
Monroe Falls: A Short Walk That Pays Off
Some trails make you earn it. Monroe Falls just asks that you show up. Quick Facts Location: Monroe, MaineDistance: 0.1 miles (yeah, really)Difficulty: Moderate—only because of the climb down to the stream. Roots and wet rocks could trip someone up.Time Needed: 30 to 60 minutesBest Time to Visit: Spring, when the water’s high from snowmelt. […]
Hibernation Season: Where I’ve Been and Why
I owe you an explanation for the radio silence. Or maybe I don’t. But I’ll give you one anyway. The Bear Theory I’m pretty sure I’m part bear. Not in the cool way—no claws, no strength, no intimidating presence. Just the hibernation part. When winter rolls in and the cold settles into my bones, my […]