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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
Vaughan Woods: When You Don’t Need the Summit to Earn the View
Vaughan Woods: When You Don’t Need the Summit to Earn the View You don’t always need to climb a mountain to earn a view. Sometimes, you just need tall pines, good light, and the sound of water moving over stone. Sometimes, you need a trail that won’t leave you limping back to the Jeep, wondering […]
Cutler Coast: My First Real Trail Since the Hardware Install
I decided to head up to Downeast Maine this weekend. A solid two-hour and forty-five-minute drive from home. Long enough to question the decision. Not long enough to turn around. I took Route 1 north, which, if you’ve never driven it, is one of the better stretches of road in this state. Old buildings. Ocean […]