By Matthew LaRoche,

Nestled on the northeast shore of Chamberlain Lake is a historic dam that changed the course of water that originally flowed down the Allagash and into the St. John River; this water now flows south down the East Branch of the Penobscot.

In the early years ofMaine’s statehood, the Maine Legislature was strapped for money. The state had millions of acres of public land in northernMainethat was considered “forested wasteland” at that time. The state sold the land to speculators for pennies an acre to balance the budget. One speculator named David Pingree purchased several townships encompassing the headwater lakes of what is now the Allagash Wilderness Waterway (AWW).

Pingree hired an engineer named Eben Coe to survey the property and report back on his findings. What Coe found was a vast wilderness area with great pine resources. The problem was how to get the pine logs to the profitableBangorlumber market. Eben Coe and David Pingree became partners in the business venture and proceeded to explore the possibility of changing the direction of the water flow fromChamberlainLake.

(courtesy of the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands) (Drawing of dam and canoeists)This drawing shows how Lock Dam looked from 1920 through the 1940s.

HenceChamberlainLakeDam was built in 1841, now called Lock Dam, at the natural outlet of the lake, and a second dam was built on the south end ofTelosLake. A short channel, called “Telos Cut,” had to be dug at the Telos Dam site, and with the raising of the waters, the task of changing the flow of water from north to south was accomplished. Allagash pine could now be driven to the lucrative lumber market inBangor!

In the 1850s, Eben Coe redesigned the dam to include a series of locks used to float groups of logs fromEagleLaketoChamberlainLake. From there, they could be driven south to theBangorsaw mills. The lock process was slow and was abandoned in the early 1900s in favor of the steam-powered tramway located at the northeast end ofChamberlainLake.

Bangor Hydroelectric Co. eventually gained control of the dams at Telos and Chamberlain and managed the water resources of the lakes for down-stream power generation. In 1962, they buried the wooden structure, faced the now-earthen dam with wooden timbers for protection from ice movement in the winter and waves in the summer. They also installed a 3-foot diameter, gated culvert to provide water for canoeists traveling toEagleLakeand eventually down theAllagashRiver. In the year 2000, Bangor Hydro donated Lock and Telos dams to the State ofMaine.

In the spring of 2009, it was clear that time had taken its toll, and due to deterioration, some of the wooden facing detached and floated away; ice damage occurred, and the dam was in danger of breeching. A group of concerned citizens formed a nonprofit volunteer organization. The group raised cash and secured donations, including two dump trucks and fuel, for the repair of Lock Dam.

The Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands (BPL) contributed funds from the AWW capital improvement account. BPL personnel and volunteers worked together to implement a plan for repair of the dam using an amended design already on file with BPL. Permits were obtained from LURC and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The winter road to the dam was brushed back and repaired, and as soon as the winter road was frozen enough to support construction equipment, work began on the 248-foot-long earthen dam. The wood facing and sheet metal were removed, large rip-rap topped with smaller ledge was placed on the lake side, and the top was built up to the original height.

Lock Dam is one of several culturally important historical sites in the AWW. It is important to canoeists and sportsmen who use the AWW. It maintains water levels that provide for a deep-water channel between Telos and Chamberlain lakes; water frontage for campsites and Nugent’s sporting camps on Chamberlain Lake; a barrier to non-native fish species should they become established above Allagash Falls; and it enhances the fisheries in the East Branch of the Penobscot drainage.

Lock Dam is a popular camping location for canoeists paddling the famous Allagash Wilderness Waterway. The dam keeper’s house where Milford Kidney and his wife, Maine author Dorothy Boone Kidney, lived for many summers is still used by waterway personnel for overnight accommodations when needed.

Telos and Lock Dams are managed by the AWW for recreational and fisheries management purposes. For information on the AWW please call 207-941-4014, email heidi.j.johnson@maine.gov. or write Bureau of Parks & Lands,106 Hogan Road,Bangor,ME04401.

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**Crystal

GRAY, Maine – Following the recommendations of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Chandler Woodcock, the Crystal Lake Ice Fishing Derby Board of Directors has decided to postpone the Crystal Lake Ice Fishing Derby and Kid’s Derby on Saturday January 28, 2012 to the date of Saturday, February 25, 2012. The event is postponed due to concerns for the public’s safety regarding ice conditions.

The annual Crystal Lake Ice Fishing Derby was expected to attract over 6,000 anglers. Benefits from the derby support Maine military families, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s Hooked On Fishing program, and local community schools.

WHAT

The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands reservation system will be open for Sebago Lake State Park campground reservations only on Feb. 1, and for all state park campgrounds at 9 a.m. Monday, Feb. 6, according to BPL officials.

Online-reservation start days once again are being split, with reservations being taken for the very popular Sebago Lake camp sites only starting on Wednesday, Feb. 1, to reduce wait times.

As of opening reservation day, there will be no fee increase for sites at the state park campgrounds. Fees, however, do vary from campground to campground, with the highest fees for non-residents who want sites with water and electricity hookups.

Campers can make reservations at Maine state campgrounds in four ways:

• Online at www.campwithme.com
• By calling 9 a.m.-4 p.m. business days, in state at 800-332-1501; or out-of-state at 207-624-9950
• By mailing reservations to: Bureau of Parks and Lands, ATTN.: Reservations, 22 SHS, Augusta, ME 04333. Mailed reservation requests must not be postmarked before Feb. 1, 2012.
• By dropping off completed reservation forms, which will be processed during business hours at the Augusta office.

On Wednesday, Feb. 1, Sebago Lake reservations will be accepted for a four-night minimum stay only. This is being done because Sebago tends to average longer stays than other campgrounds.

For more information and complete registration details, as well as a “New for 2012″ tutorial to make an online reservation, go to: http://www.campwithme.com

Welcome to Hirundo Wildlife Refuge. Hirundo is a 2,400 acre nature preserve, spanning Pushaw and Dead Streams, Lac D’Or (lake), vast wetlands, including domed bog and maple and juniper swamps, and mixed hardwood and evergreen forests. Only 10 miles from the University of Maine, Orono Campus, visitors paddle canoes free of charge and watch playful river otters, breeding Wood Ducks, Bald Eagles, and Osprey in the tranquil beauty. While hiking, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing, one might encounter moose, deer, red and gray fox, muskrat, beaver, otter, black bear, bobcat,  fisher, and ermine.

Birdwatchers enjoy such breeding and migrating birds as Virginia Rail, Sora, Yellow Rail, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Goshawk, Northern Harrier, Blackburnian and Nashville Warblers, Common Snipe, Woodcock, Barred Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Waterthrush, Barn, Cliff, and Tree Swallows, and Olive-Sided, Great Crested, Yellow-Bellied, Alder, and Least Flycatchers.

Great Blue Heron. Photo by Gary Kramer, USFWS

Hirundo is the Latin word for swallow. Scores of tree swallow nest boxes attract flocks, breeding in the Spring. Hirundo Wildlife Refuge was founded by Oliver Larouche from his parents’ 3 acre camp in 1965, expanding to its present 2,400-acre size. In 1983 Oliver and his wife  June Larouche deeded the Hirundo land to the University of Maine cementing a long-term collaboration. Hirundo is a living laboratory, where much past research and scientific studies continue.

The public is welcomed to visit Hirundo Wildlife Refuge 7 days a week 9 AM to dusk. Please sign the log book available  at Gate 1,  Gate 2 ,  Gate 3 or Gate 6.

There are no charges, admission fees, or membership, but donations are strongly encouraged. The public should call ahead for canoes. There is a clearly marked,seven mile trail system on 300 acres. Trail maps are available at Gates 1, 2, 3 or 6, and may be downloaded on the maps pages.

Buds, Twigs and Trees – February 19, 2012

Spend Sunday afternoon with Steve Sader, Professor of  Forest Resources at University of Maine,  learning how to identify deciduous trees and shrubs in winter. Hand lenses and magnifying glasses helpful.

Deciduous leaves are scarce in winter, except on beech and sometimes oaks, and bark of young trees can be misleading. Not so buds and leaf scars.  Bud shapes, the number of bud scales, bud arrangement, leaf scares and twigs are features used to key out native and no-native trees and shrubs. Hirundo’s varied forests (wetland, mixed, upland) offers ample opportunity for practice.

Buds are the adaptation strategy of tree and shrubs to maximize food production and flower & seed development during the short active growing period in our northern climate. Buds, pre-formed the previous summer, hold miniature leaves or flowers, or both, depending on species. The trees and shrubs share the same quandary as Maine’s tourist industry. Spring is late, summer short and just like the tourist industry the woody plant has to replenish its depleted resources from the past winter, flower (prosper), produce seed (increase in size) AND make new buds for the next season (put up money) in just a few month!

Lucky for us, buds come in different shapes and sizes, with or without coverings (the bud scale) and are arranged opposite or alternate along the twigs. Some buds are shamelessly naked, as in the Wayfaring Tree (a non-native) and set on gray hairy twigs, with triangular leaf scar beneath.

Flower Bud Wayfaring Tree

Triangular leaf scar with 3 bundle scars

The willow wards off temperature fluctuation with one bud scale, the Red Osier dogwood with two, and the familiar silver maple, among other trees, uses several.

Willow bud

If two species occupy similar habitat, are alike in twig colour and have the same bud arrangement, as it is true for the Red maple and Red osier dogwood, the number of bud scales might just be the right aid for
further identification.

How do buds know when to burst open, to expose leaves to sunlight and flowers to pollination?

Ask Steve on February 19th, 2012 at 1pm.

See you then!

Winter Ecology Series 2012

Hirundo Wildlife Refuge is pleased to announce its Winter Ecology Series of free, family-oriented walks, lasting 1.5 hours.
Beginning on Sunday, January 8 you will learn how to ‘Identify Animal Signs’, hone your skills in ‘Winter Tree Identification’ (February 19) and listen to the calls of Barred or Screech Owl during the ‘Owl Walk’ (March 7). Our heated shelter, at Lac D’Or will be open 1/2 hour prior to the beginning of the walk.

Currently we suggest you bring snowshoes, if available, or reserve them with us by calling 207 944 9259.

Intersecting

Meet at the Parker Reed shelter in the Hirundo Wildlife Refuge. Take Gate 1 and follow the dirt road for ~1/2 mile to the Pine Tree parking lot. The shelter is further on the left. Reservations and cancellations requested, call 207-944-9259. Event is free and open to all ages. Suggested donations are $4 for adults, school-aged children are free.

Willow bud

Come and join wildlife ecologist Bucky Owen, on January 8, as he snowshoes along a section  of  Hirundo’s seven-mile trail system, speaks about the seasonal animal and plant adaptation, and looks for animal tracks.

On February 19,  practice Tree Identification in winter, using twigs and other clues, when you examine Hirundo’s varied forest communities with Steven Sader, from the School of Forest Resource at University of Maine.

Mark your calendar for the Winter Ecology series third outing on March 7. Paul Markson introduces you to animal’s nighttime activities at Hirundo during his Owl Walk.

Directions

FROM THE SOUTH

Take the I-95 N. Take the ME-43 exit 197 to Old Town/Hudson. Go 0.3 mi to the end of the off ramp. At the stop sign, turn left onto Rt. 43 (Hudson Rd). Go west 5.2 mi and look for the large red signs on your right (north side of Rt. 43). Gate 1 leads to the Wabanaki Interpretive Nature Trail and the Shelter at Lac D’Or. Gate 2 leads to parking and multiple walking trails. Gate 3 has parking for the canoe trails.

FROM THE NORTH

Take I-95 S.Take the ME-43 exit 197 to Old Town/Hudson. Go 0.3 mi. Turn right at Hudson Rd. Go 0.3 mi to the end of the off ramp. At the stop sign, turn right onto Rt. 43 (Hudson Rd). Go west 5.2 mi and look for the large red signs on your right (north side of Rt. 43). Gate 1 leads to the Wabanaki Interpretive Nature Trail and the Shelter at Lac D’Or. Gate 2 leads to parking and multiple walking trails. Gate 3 has parking for the canoe trails.

View larger map

WHAT: Winter Family Fun Day

The date of the Winter Family Fun Day atCobscookBayState Parkhas been changed in anticipation of more snow for all the planned activities. Please make appropriate changes in your event calendar.

Winter Family Fun Day activities include: Cross-country skiing, sliding, snowshoeing, ice skating, snowmobile tote rides, birdhouse building, and nature walks. The event fee is $1.50 for adults, ages 12-64; kids and seniors, free. A hot lunch is included.

Event sponsors include: Hannaford, L.L.Bean, Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, Poland Spring Water, Wicked Joe Coffee,MaineWinterSportsCenter, and Kittery Trading Post as major sponsors. Local sponsors include Moosehorn Wildlife Refuge andWashingtonCountyCommunity College. Numerous community volunteers also are participating to make sure the winter events take place.

For more information, call the park at (207) 726-4412 or go to: www.parksandlands.com

The buoys can be hazardous, particularly to snowmobilers who use Maine’s frozen lakes and ponds. Although the buoys have reflective tape on them, when they are frozen in, they may be difficult to see, according to George Powell, BPL’s Boating Facilities Division director, under the Maine Department of Conservation.

“As the lakes freeze up, the buoys have a tendency to lean over to one side and become frozen into the lake at odd angles,” Powell warned. “Typically, a little snow cover will bury the buoys, and they are not seen and do not pose any threat to lake users. However, when we have winters where there is little or no snow, the buoys will often be sticking up out of the ice.”

The division currently places and maintains 2,113 buoys on 32 lakes located all over Maine to assist watercraft operators in avoiding hazards to navigation during the summer season, Powell said. The division leaves the buoys in place year round on these water bodies.

“Because the division’s Navigational Aids Program consists of just two crews, installing the markers in the spring and removing them in the fall would be a challenging if not impossible task,” Powell said. “While a few buoys are lost due to ice action, the cost of replacing ice damaged buoys is minimal compared to the time and expense associated with installing and removing them.”

Powell said the division has been working with the Maine Snowmobile Association to spread the word about the buoys.

“We have asked local snowmobile clubs to post signs at the popular access locations advising winter lake users to be cautious when operating on the lake due to the installed markers,” Powell said. “Winter lake users are cautioned to use extreme care when operating snowmobiles and other vehicles on lakes marked with buoys.”

Lake users are reminded it is their responsibility to operate any recreational vehicle in a reasonable and prudent manner for the conditions. Intentionally damaging a waterway marker placed by the Maine Department of Conservation is a punishable offense and carries with it a fine.

Following is a list of lakes where buoys are left in place year round:

Androscoggin Lake, Wayne Brandy Pond, Naples China Lake, China Cobbosseecontee Lake,Monmouth

Damariscotta Lake, Jefferson Eagle Lake, Eagle Lake Gardiner Lake, E. Machias (including Second Lake) Great Moose Lake, Hartland Great Pond, Belgrade Green Lake, Ellsworth Hadley Lake, E. Machias Horn Pond, Acton Kezar Lake, Lovell Lake Cathance, Cooper Lake Winnecook (a.k.a. Unity Pond), Unity Lake St. George, Liberty

Long Lake, Naples

Long Lake, St. Agatha

Long Pond, Belgrade

Little Sebago Lake, Windham

Maranacook Lake, Winthrop

Messalonskee lake, Belgrade

Moosehead Lake, Greenville

Mooselookmeguntic Lake, Oquossoc

Pushaw Lake, Orono

Rangeley Lake, Rangeley

Sebago Lake, Casco

Sebec Lake, Dover-Foxcroft

Songo River, Casco

Tacoma Lakes, Litchfield

Toddy Pond, Orland

Webb Lake, Weld

For more information about the Boating Facilities Division, go to: http://www.maine.gov/doc/parks/programs/boating/index.html

See state-owned and state-sponsored boating facilities on Google Earth at http://www.maine.gov/doc/parks/programs/boating/googlemaps.html

Five fun, affordable day-long events will be held in January and February at some of Maine’s most beautiful outdoor locales as a way to encourage kids and families to explore what the state has to offer in the wintertime.

Two major ice-fishing derbies will be held, as will three winter fun days during which families can try out such activities as cross-country skiing, sliding, snow shoeing and dog sled rides.

“This is our fourth year offering our winter ‘Take It Outside’ events, and they are becoming increasingly popular,” said Will Harris, director of the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL), under the Maine Department of Conservation. “There’s nothing better to break up cabin fever than a fun day outside, and we know that lots of children and families look forward to these special events.”

“Take It Outside” is an initiative first begun in 2008 and carried on by BPL to encourage Maine families to get outdoors for recreation, relaxation and health. In the past four years, BPL has held numerous events during each season at Maine state parks and historic sites. Last year, about 4,000 visitors enjoyed six separate winter events. Equipment is provided to allow families to try out various activities.

The events are sponsored by a number of Maine businesses and organizations, with Hannaford, L.L.Bean, Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, Poland Spring Water, Wicked Joe Coffee, Maine Winter Sports Center, and Kittery Trading Post as major sponsors. Numerous community volunteers also take part to make sure the winter events take place.

“Our sponsors and volunteers continue to help us make these Winter Family Fun Days happen,” Harris said. “We are very grateful for all their support, and we couldn’t offer these activities without them. They truly show how much they care about Maine state parks.”

This year’s series again starts with the very popular Youth Ice Fishing Derby on Sunday, Jan. 15, at Lake St. George State Park, now in its fourth year. More than 600 people attended last year’s event, and more than 100 children registered for the derby. The derby is a great time for children and families to get outside and learn how to ice fish, as all equipment is provided, according to Park Manager Leland Griffin.

“It’s a growing community event, and people really look forward to it,” Griffin said. “I’ve already had phone calls about it.”

Griffin predicted that “we’ll have plenty of ice” on the lake for the derby. He said he himself already has been ice fishing on Lake St. George and ‘we caught eight brook trout and four salmon.” As it has been in previous years, the lake will be stocked with brook trout before the derby, the park manager said.

A complete list of winter events, activities and sponsors follows:

• 
  Youth Ice Fishing Derby, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 15, Lake St. George State Park, Liberty; learn how to ice fish, all equipment, including bait, provided, all registered children receive prizes; dog sled rides if there is snow, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., $3 donation; other sponsors include Corner Restaurant, Peavey’s General Store, Liberty Sports, B&B Septic, Mountain Valley Sports, Toby’s, Hilltop Store, Morrill Store, B&M Market, Belfast Variety, Liberty Graphics, Art’s Old Man Birdhouses, Dead River Oil, Odd Fellows, Mason, VFW, The Outdoor Sportsman, 10-4 Store, Hussey’s General Store, and Jerry Robbins; hot lunch included, warming hut available; $1.50 for adults and youth, ages 12-64; all others free; for more information, call (207) 589-4255.
• 
  Winter Family Fun Day, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 21, Cobscook Bay State Park, Edmunds Township; Cross-country skiing, sliding, snowshoeing, ice skating, snowmobile tote rides, birdhouse building, and nature walks; other sponsors include Moosehorn Wildlife Refuge and Washington County Community College; hot lunch included; $1.50 for adults, ages 12-64; kids and seniors free; for more information, call (207) 726-4412.
• 
  Winter Family Fun Day, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 4, Mount Blue State Park, Weld; Ice skating on the most beautiful outdoor rink in Maine; cross country skiing, snowshoeing, sliding, hay rides, nature interpretive walks, bonfires, warming hut; other sponsors include Northern Lights, Hearth & Sports, Franklin Savings Bank, Weld General Store and Skoolhouse Variety; hot lunch included; $1.50 for adults and youth, ages 12-64; all others free; for more information, call (207) 585-2261.
• 
  Kids Ice Fishing Derby, 8 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Feb. 18, Range Ponds State Park, Poland Spring; Part of the Sebago Lake Rotary Derbyfest and Statewide Derby. Free ice fishing equipment for the first 500 youngsters who register, compliments of Kittery Trading Post. Windham Rotary volunteers are providing organizational support. For more information on the event and registration, go to: http://www.icefishingderby.com/
• Winter Family Fun Day, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 25, Aroostook State Park, Presque Isle; Cross country skiing, sliding, snowshoeing, ice skating, snowmobile tote rides, guided nature interpretive walks; other sponsors include Graves Super Market, Katahdin Trust Co., Haines Manufacturing Inc., Cary Medical Center, Northern Maine Development Commission, TD Bank, Maine National Guard; hot lunch included; $1.50 for adults, ages 12-64; kids and seniors free; for more information, call (207) 768-8341.

For more information about Maine state parks, go to: www.parksandlands.com

AUGUSTA, Maine – Maine’s participation this weekend in the nationwide “First Day Hikes” initiative was very successful, despite the freezing New Year’s Eve rain in northern Maine that affected one planned hike, according to Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) officials.

More than 235 people took part in four “First Day Hikes” held on New Year’s Day, Sunday, Jan. 1, at four different state parks, and one park manager reported that more than 500 people visited his ocean-front park that day. Admission was free on Sunday at all Maine state parks.

So successful was the statewide event that Maine’s First Day Hikes are planned to be held again next year and are well on their way to become a New Year’s Day tradition, said Will Harris, BPL director, under the Maine Department of Conservation.

“My New Year’s wish is that this becomes a part of everyone’s New Year tradition, that everyone gets out and enjoys Maine,” Harris said.

Maine state parks joined the America’s State Parks nationwide initiative among all 50 states to offer “First Day Hikes” as way for individuals and families to connect with great outdoor fun and to create special, holiday memories. The Jan. 1 hikes marked the first time all U.S. state park systems worked together to sponsor the event.

Public response to the event was very positive, according to BPL staff. “Thank you so much for the FIRST DAY HIKES!!” emailed one participant. “My husband and I hiked the Casco Bay trail at Wolfe’s Neck. We were surrounded by families, friendly dogs, and delighted visitors. We appreciate your effort.”

BPL held four unique, guided hikes at four different parks around Maine. In general, participation was excellent, with the exception of a small turn-out at Aroostook State Park – Maine’s First State Park – in Presque Isle.

A freezing rain on New Year’s Eve “coated everything, and the roads were not the best to drive on,” Park Manager Scott Thompson reported. “Ice storm conditions made everything beautifully icy.” Park staff spent an hour sanding the parking lot before the event, he said.

Nonetheless, 10 hardy souls braved the elements and took a 1-mile walk in the Aroostook County park. Thompson and Ranger Alan Cleaves showed off the park’s new bird feeding stations and nesting boxes. The park is the site of an annual springtime birding festival.

At Cobscook Bay State Park in Edmunds Township, 27 hikers explored the beautiful, Down East coastal park, reported Park Manager Matt McGuire.

“We had many participants travel more than one hour to attend the event, and for many it was their first time to this park,” McGuire said.

At Popham Beach State Park in Phippsburg, one of Maine’s most popular state parks, more than 100 participants enjoyed the excellent weather and exploring the beach and dunes in a 2-mile beach walk. Visitors also could view a display of aerial beach photographs of Popham Beach, known for its dynamic topography.

“The event was very well received, and if we were not limited by the tide, we could have done a second hike,” Park Manager Brian Murray reported.

Park Manager Andy Hutchinson at Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park in Freeport said that more than 100 hikers took part in the afternoon walk, while at least 20 visitors checked out the nature displays. More than 500 visitors in total enjoyed the park, known for its coastal trails and annual osprey residents.

“The response was great, and people were very enthused about the First Day Hikes and want to see it continue,” Hutchinson reported. “We had many first time visitors to the park and on our nature programs, raising awareness of our parks and winter events.

“Some folks mentioned that they had been on the hike at Popham Beach and liked it so much that they came to ours at Wolfe’s Neck Woods,” he said.

For more information about Maine state parks, go to: www.parksandlands.com

For more information about America’s State Parks, go to: http://www.americasstateparks.org/

With one (1) .jpg

Cutline: (courtesy of Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands)

First Day hikers at Popham Beach State Park in Phippsburg get ready to hit the beach on Sunday, Jan. 1, for the first-ever “First Day Hike,” part of a nationwide project to hold hikes at state parks around the U.S. on New Year’s Day.

Starting at the benches at the end of the second parking lot, one-hour-long guided programs may include a walk, short talks, and other activities.  No reservations are needed except for group use.

The programs are free with park admission. Admission is $1 for ages 5-11, $3 for Maine residents ages 12-64; $4.50 for non residents ages 12 – 64; $1.50 for non residents 65 and older; admission is free for those under 5 and Maine residents 65 and older.  For more information or to arrange for group visits, please call 865-4465.

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Northeast Guide Service wishes you and your family a safe, healthy and prosperous New Year!  We hope to see you in 2012.  Until then…take care.

Best of the Best-

“Save the Date” Event Weekends:

Whitewater Kick-Off & Moose Mainea

• May 26 & 27

Kennebec Whitewater Rafting Turbine Test

(Huge Whitewater)

• June 16
• July 9
• September 8
• September 22

Class V Canada Falls Kick-Off

• July 7 & our 4th of July Fireworks Party

Canada Falls Big Whitewater Release

• July 28

Seboomook Whitewater Rafting Play All Day

• Sept. 1 & our Labor Day Weekend BBQ

Event weekends are maximum the outdoor excitement with 3 Whitewater Rafting trips available for the ultimate experience!  These dates are highly sought after and book fast.  Make your reservation early to experience the best trips of the 2012 season!

northeastguideservice.com
142 Moosehead Lake Rd.
Greenville, Maine

888-484-3317

Christmas gift certificates still available – emailed to your stocking by Dec. 24!

Call our friendly elves at 888-484-3317 to give the gift of outdoor adventure this year!

Happy Holidays from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife!

2012 Licenses Now Available!

The 2012 sporting seasons are upon us, and the 2012 hunting and fishing licenses are available online NOW.

To purchase your 2012 licenses go to https://www.informe.org/moses/

The Department’s online licensing system gives you the convenience of purchasing from home, camp or office and the ability to print out multiple copies of your licenses when you need them.

All proceeds from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses stay at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. We are grateful for your continued support of the important programs of the Department.

Buying a license is an easy and effective way to support Maine’s fish and wildlife management efforts.

And this time of year, a license is the perfect gift for the sports enthusiast in your life!

We hope you will also visit our website to learn more about the work of the Department – www.mefishwildlife.com

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY WINTER IN MAINE’S GREAT OUTDOORS!

Best wishes,

Your Friends at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

www.mefishwildlife.com

(207) 287-8000

Registration for the campgrounds will take place:

• 8 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Chamberlain Bridge ranger station.

The 48 camp sites available at Chamberlain Bridgeand Kellogg Brook will be allotted on a first-come, first-served basis until the campground capacity is reached.

“These unique winter campsites offer extraordinary access to some great winter ice fishing,” Matthew LaRoche, AWW superintendent, said. “We have visitors who return year after year to enjoy the beauty, camaraderie and winter sport that this part of Maine offers.”

LaRoche anticipates renting out most of the 48 available campsites by noon on the first day of registration. To be sure of getting a site, the AWW superintendent suggests that campers arrive at Chamberlain Bridge before 8 a.m. on Dec. 10.

Camp sites are available for a rental fee of $50 per month, plus 7-percent meal and lodging tax. Eight sites are reserved in the parking lot for transient use at the regular camping fee of $4 per person per night forMaineresidents and $8 for nonresidents. The water access campsites on the lakes are available for use in the winter as well as summer; the same fees apply to these sites.

The AWW provides: public drinking water, vault toilets, and snow plowing at the Chamberlain Bridge and Kellogg Brook winter campgrounds. A groomed snowmobile trail is marked from the parking lot to the south end of Chamberlain Lake and to Round Pond/Telos lakes.

For more information on Mainestate parks, go to: http://www.parksandlands.com

For more information on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, call (207) 695-3721, Ext. 4, or (207) 941-4014 .

Or contact:
Allagash Wilderness Waterway
c/o Bureau of Parks and Lands
Northern Region Headquarters
106 Hogan Road
Bangor,ME04401

Freeport:

Calendar Entries for December 4 to December 18

December

12/4 Steamer Dig – Learn about the life and times of the soft-shell clam.  Then try your hand at digging this delicacy of the deep mud with park volunteer Sanford Metayer.  (Bring mud sneakers or high boots and clam hoe or spading fork.)  *Special starting time of 12:30 p.m. at benches by second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting.  Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport.  865-4465

12/11  Mammals of Maine – Add to your knowledge and appreciation of the ways in which the park’s mammals survive winter.  2:00 p.m. at benches by second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting.  Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport.  865-4465

12/18  Winter Birds at Wolfe’s Neck – Discover the needs and adaptations of the park’s birds and the ways in which people can help birds around their homes survive winter. 2:00 p.m. at benches by second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting.  Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport.  865-4465

Maine Department of Conservation/Bureau of Parks and Lands

Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park
426 Wolf Neck Road Phone/FAX: 865-4465
Freeport, Maine 04032

www.parksandlands.com

Mainestate park passes, both vehicle and individual passes, are popular, convenient and very affordable gifts to give to family and friends. Because they are good all season long, they offer lots of opportunities for day-use fun and adventure in some ofMaine’s most beautiful places.

“Mainestate park passes are easy to get and easy to give, and best of all, they offer all kinds of outdoor experiences that can become special memories,” said Will Harris, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) director.

And a unique phenomenon is taking place in terms of gift purchases, according to Charlene Daniels, BPL reservation supervisor who oversees park pass sales.

“Traditionally, once families get a park pass, they want it again,” Daniels said. “I see them coming back again and again. People really appreciate aMainestate park pass, because it’s a year-long gift.”

The Maine Department of Conservation (MDOC) also reminds gift-givers of the department’s publications, five books, including “Forest Trees of Maine” by the Maine Forest Service, and “A Guide to the Geology of Baxter State Parkand Katahdin,” available through the Maine Geological Survey.

So far this year, more than 2.3 million people have visitedMaine’s 48 state parks and historic sites, and more park passes have been sold in the past two years than in the history of the 76-year-old park system, Daniels said. More than 11,200 passes have been sold each year, she said.

2012Mainestate park passes already are on sale, and “they’re right up to par” so far in sales, Daniels said.

BPL offers two types of seasonal passes for day use at all of Maine’s state parks and historic sites: a vehicle park pass, costing $70, that permits entrance to all occupants of a 1-ton/17-passenger vehicle; and an individual park pass, costing $35, that allows access only to the pass holder.

The seasonal passes allow unlimited day use atMainestate parks and historic sites, but don’t apply toBaxter State Park, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, Penobscot River Corridor, Penobscot Narrows Observatory,MaineWildlifePark,PeacockBeachorScarboroughBeach.

BPL offers four different ways to buy park passes, the reservations supervisor said, but the two easiest ways for Christmas gifts are to buy the passes on line through BPL’s updated and secure online system and to call the BPL reservation supervisor at 207-287-2209 . The other methods are to buy park passes at staffed state parks and with the check-off on theMaine tax form.

There are a number of advantages to purchasingMainestate park passes on line, Daniels pointed out. Park passes can be purchased easily, conveniently and securely at any time of day and during any season, using a credit card. The payment service is secured through the use of the CyberTrust-certified Maine.gov payment engine. There is a seven-day processing period, so there is still plenty of time to make a holiday gift purchase, Daniels said.

Beginning Feb. 1 through Sept. 7, 2012, customers can contact the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands ReservationsCallCenter, call: In Maine, 800-332-1501 ; Outside of Maine: (207) 624-9950 ; TTY: 1-888-577-6690

For the online park pass system, go to: http://www.mainestateparkpass.com

MDOC continues to offer its unique publications showcasing Maine. The Maine Geological Survey’s latest book, “A Guide to the Geology of Baxter State Parkand Katahdin,” by Douglas W. Rankin and Dabney W. Caldwell, includes new information about BaxterState Parkbased on the latest understanding of plate tectonics and continental glaciation. The book costs $10, and ordering instructions can be found on line at:http://www.maine.gov/doc/nrimc/mgs/baxter.htm

“Natural Landscapes of Maine: A Guide to Natural Communities and Ecosystems,” by Susan Gawler and Andrew Cutko, is published by the Natural Areas Program, describes the wide variety of Maine’s landscape, dividing it into 104 natural communities. The landscape book is on holiday special until Jan. 15 and costs $15, including sales tax, shipping, and handling. Ordering information can be found at: http://www.maine.gov/doc/nrimc/mnap/

A top-seller on Mainenon-fiction book lists is “Forest Trees of Maine: Centennial Edition,” a spiral-bound, backpack-friendly guide to Maine’s 78 tree species. The book is $15 including tax and mailing. More information is available at: http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/pubs/ftm/ftm_centennial.html

Other publications from the MDOC include:

· Your Maine Lands: Reflections of a Maine Guide by Tom Hanrahan – available for $12, including tax and shipping; a unique collection of essays on the lands owned by the people ofMaine.

· Maine’s Fossil Record: The Paleozoic by Lisa Churchill-Dickson – available for: Hardcover, $40 plus $2 sales tax; or soft cover, $30 plus $1.50 sales tax, includes shipping; a comprehensive treatise and reference onMaine’s bedrock fossils.

· Northrunner: The Allagash Wilderness Waterway — available for $16.50, including tax and shipping; a professionally done DVD that tells the story and history of the AWW.

For more information about Mainestate parks and historic sites, go to: http://www.parksandlands.com

For more information, go to: http://www.maine.gov/doc

Russell Scott

By Matthew LaRoche, Superintendent
Allagash Wilderness Waterway

Russell Scott, who is retiring at the end of December, comes from a long line of dedicated park employees. His grandfather, Helon Taylor, was hand-picked by Gov. Percival Baxter as the first supervisor ofBaxterState Park. His father was Myrle Scott, who managed several parks and is a past supervisor of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway.

Russell grew up in state parks, wonderful places like Baxter,LilyBay, andMt.Blue. It was only natural for him to start work as a part-time employee atMt.BlueState Parkin 1969. After graduating from high school, he signed on for a four-year hitch with Uncle Sam in the U.S. Air Force. He spent a few years working at Bass Shoe before returning to the park system for a career that will end with 31 years of state service.

Russell has held many different positions within the park system but will be remembered by most of us as maintenance coordinator for the Allagash Wilderness Waterway (AWW) and the Penobscot River Corridor andLilyBayand Peaks-Kenny state parks. As maintenance coordinator, he is in charge of most major repair projects at these parks. Russell and his counterparts in the northern region would oftentimes get together and come to the Allagash to install a new roof on a ranger station, jack up a camp, or install a solar system at one of our facilities.

When something breaks up on the waterway and it needs more than a minor repair, someone will shout out: “Russ’ll fix-it!”

Fixing boats, outboard motors, and snowmobiles became Russell’s specialty by necessity. Hauling a boat and motor out to town from the Allagash is expensive and time consuming.

Before we would haul a boat out, we usually get Russell to take a look at it. Most of the time, he would fix the problem without needing to take it out for repair. This has saved the park system thousands of dollars over the last few years.

A few winters ago, Russell and I were given the task of going up to the top ofAllagashMountainto take down the solar panels and remove the batteries from the site. It sounds easy enough, but things can — and did — go wrong on this particular adventure.

We leftGreenvilleearly in the morning headed forAllagashLake. We drove snowmobiles to the camp, built a fire, had lunch, and started up the trail by snowmobile. We got within a couple hundred yards of the summit and snowshoed the rest of the way up. All went well during the dismantling process, and we soon had the tow sled loaded with four very large batteries, four solar panels, and our tools.

Before we headed down the mountain, I tied a rope to the bumper of my snowmobile to help hold back the heavily laden tow sled. Well, once we got started down the mountain, it became very obvious that we were out of control.

As we gained speed, I thought to myself “Holy crap! I wish I hadn’t tied that rope on my bumper.” I was getting hauled down that hill faster and faster, and I couldn’t do anything about it.

Russell was driving the snowmobile hitched to the tow sled, and he was having the ride of his life down the side ofAllagashMountain. Just as it seemed that our ride was going to end in a terrible crash, I saw Russell lay his sled down on its side. He came to a stop just before the trail took another steep decline. My sled came to a stop a few feet from the back of the tow sled. That was close!

After the adrenalin rush dissipated, we came to our senses and unloaded half the batteries. This made for two rather uneventful trips up and down the mountain with the batteries and other equipment.

We spent the night atAllagashLakein a nice, toasty-warm ranger camp, playing cribbage. Project completed!

Russell says that he has been blessed with great supervisors, co-workers, and mentors over his career. When he heads off on a trip to the Allagash or some other distant place to fix something, his wife, Cynthia, jokes: “Are you going off to spend the week with your other family?”

That’s how it is with the people who live and work at Maine State Parks.

In his retirement, Russell plans to help his wife with her home-based business called Fresh Air Dogs. Russell and Cynthia both love dogs, and Russell will continue teaching dog obedience classes part-time. He also will continue fixing things from his home in Dover-Foxcroft.

Russell promised me, however, that he would come up to the AWW and volunteer when he feels the need to get away for a few days.

Thank you, Russell, for a job well done!

Rex Turner photo: Hikers on snowy mountain trail) Winter hikers ascend Hamlin Peak, Mount Katahdin, at Baxter State Park.

By Rex Turner, Outdoor Recreation Planner
Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands

Humility is part of thankfulness. To say “thank you” is to acknowledge that you need others to survive in what can be a challenging world.  Perhaps this is why I have a special place in my heart for the late fall season and the time of Thanksgiving, when we turn our thoughts to appreciating what we have been given.

In addition to being a time of pumpkin pie, turkey and gravy, and deer hunting, the late fall is a season when the winds turn cold and ice makes its way back into our world, whether as a heavy coating on dying grass blades or a skim on calm waters.  The cold, and all the harshness it brings, is, like thankfulness, intertwined with humility.  Nature has a way of clarifying who is in charge when the skies grow gray, the mercury plummets, and a chill sinks into your bones. Nowhere is this clearer than in the wild, exposed places.

It’s no surprise that mountain tops, exposed shores, and expansive bogs have a great capacity to humble you, especially when the summer gives way to its less-welcoming neighbors, fall and winter. These places may be stunningly beautiful, but they also are rough places for both visitors and residents alike.

As a visitor to places such as the alpine ridge atop Mount Abraham, the coastal headlands at Quoddy Head State Park, one of the many islands on the Maine Island Trail, or the remote Number Five Bog adjacent to the Moose River Bow canoe trip, you can experience that you are part of an amazing world, but that the world is not here just to make you comfy and warm.  For “permanent residents,” like the stunted mountain spruce able to grow small limbs only to the leeward side of their stems, or tough-leafed bog plants making due in acidic soils separated completely from nutrients and groundwater,  these places are challenges that deter the vast majority of their fellow plants, let alone animals.

I feel very fortunate, very thankful, to have the opportunity to visit these wild places. They help sustain me spiritually. And though I’ve had this thankfulness for a long time, one recent event put a new spin on all I have to be thankful for.

I was contacted by the Maine Island Trail Association (MITA), a group I work with rather regularly on trail management, regarding a man who they had discovered was on a trail island and was well beyond the stay limit. MITA and my bureau, the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, had both winterized all their boats. With no quick means of accessing the man, who reportedly had stated he intended to stay on the island indefinitely, I turned to the Maine Marine Patrol.

With great professionalism, the Marine Patrol quickly assisted and determined that the man was a homeless veteran with few resources or family to help him out.  With some quick phone calls and scurrying, we seemed to find some assistance for the man as the Marine Patrol delivered him back to the mainland.

While I never met that homeless veteran, the small incident keeps cycling in my consciousness.  I’ve slept on rocks; I’ve had icicles hanging from my eyebrows; I’ve heard trees groaning and creaking at night as the sub-zero cold settles in; I’ve waded through deep, dank bogs till my feet wrinkled as if I had soaked too long in a bathtub.

Every time, though, it has been my choice or perhaps part of a day’s work.  I’m typically dressed in Gore-Tex or other technical fabrics, and I tend to have good gear – after all, this is my recreational passion. Never do I recall being cold, hungry, tired, or in danger because I did not have the resources to feed and clothe myself.  I say that not to boast or disparage those less fortunate, but to give thanks.

Like most people nowadays, I see those who I assume do not have a home.  I see those who make me wonder if they get enough to eat. It took this man on an island inMaine, however, to give me pause when I visit the wonderful wild places I seek. I’m quite sure the next time I feel the bite of ice particles blowing horizontally across a ridge top or feel the wet cold of the Atlantic spraying off rocky headlands, I will remember that I choose to face the cold and wet. I give thanks for that choice.  I cherish the opportunity to be humbled by nature, but I now better appreciate that not all people have such a luxury.

I really hesitate to preach – and I hope I’m not – but it seems to me this is yet another reason for folks to venture forth into wild nature, whether in your backyard or a huge piece of conservation land, and to appreciate not only the wildness but also your ability to return with your memories to a warm home and a hot meal.  Not all share this opportunity.

Roxanne Quimby has offered to donate 70,000 acres she currently owns located along the East Branch of the Penobscot River to the National Park Service for a new national park and another 70,000 acres to the State of Maine for permanent public access for traditional recreation uses.  She has also offered to donate a $20 million endowment and to help raise an additional $20 million endowment to help manage the park.

Medway, Oct. 5, 2011 – The leaders of the National Park Regional Citizen Evaluation Committee (NPCC), started by residents of Medway, announced today that 16 groups have recently declared their support for a feasibility study for a National Park along the East Branch of the Penobscot River. Everyone agrees that a feasibility study will provide useful information to the citizens of the Katahdin Region and the people ofMaineas they consider options for the future.  They all agree that their support is simply for the feasibility study, and does not mean that they have reached a position yet about the merits of the proposed national park.

“We are excited that support for the National Park feasibility study is growing so quickly,” said George McLaughlin of Medway, Co-Chair of the NPCC.  “A feasibility study would provide information that will helpMaineresidents determine whether a national park is a good idea or not. Many folks in the region believe that a national park would help diversify and build our lagging economy.”

“With the recent successful sale of the Millinocket and East Millinocket mills and the restart of some paper mill jobs in our area, now is a perfect time to be exploring all the options for the future of the region’s economy,” said Bruce Cox, Co-Chair of the NPCC and one of the Union Presidents of the paper mills. “We’ve seen a steady decline in the number of jobs in the papermaking industry, and I firmly believe that it is our responsibility to understand the feasibility of creating a national park that could diversify our economy and create additional jobs, in addition to continued mill jobs.”

“We are pleased that both local and statewide groups see the value of a feasibility study,” said McLaughlin. Groups that have recently endorsed the feasibility study include:

Katahdin Area Chamber of Commerce                           Katahdin Area Rotary Club

Town ofMedwaySchool Board                                        Town ofMedway Selectman

The Citizens of the Town ofMedway                               Friends ofBaxterState Park

Millinocket Downtown Revitalization Committee           Sierra Club

EnvironmentMaine                                                              Jo Mary Snowmobile Club

Natural Resources Council ofMaine                                 West Branch Choppers (Loggers)

Gerald Pelletier, Inc./Pelletier Brothers                            East Branch Sno-Rovers

Twin Pines Snowmobile Club                                                Ebeemee Snowmobile Club

“Together these groups represent thousands and thousands ofMainecitizens from the local area and from all parts of the state,” says Cox.  “The feasibility study is something that Mainers across the state are excited about.  We hope that our federal Senators and Representatives, and the Governor will support it too.”

“We are pleased to join business owners, residents, and organizations from the Katahdin region and acrossMainein calling for a national park feasibility study,” says Lisa Pohlmann, executive director of the Natural Resources Council of Maine.  “We agree that such a study would help answer significant questions that have been raised about the proposed national park.”

“We support a feasibility study because we see the potential for improved recreation opportunities both for those who love to snowmobile and those who love to fish, hike and camp in the North Woods,” said Rick Levasseur, a longtime business owner in the Medway, Millinocket region, and President of the Jo Mary Riders snowmobile club. “Often, of course, it’s the same people who like to snowmobile and go ice fishing in the winter, and to camp, hike and fish in the summer.”

“I used to be a member of a ban Roxanne Quimby group, today I am not!!” said Brian Wiley, Vice President of the East Branch Sno-Rovers and past President of the Maine Snowmobile Association.  “The reason I am now a supporter is because I attended several of Roxanne’s and snowmobile club meetings where she has had a chance to introduce her vision for a National Park inNorthern Maine.  I finally got the facts behind her tremendous offer and made an informed decision on supporting a feasibility study for a National Park. I encourage everyone to get the facts and then sign the NPCC petition supporting a feasibility study for a National Park,” said Wiley.

“As the owners of North Light Gallery and both Mainenatives, we strongly support the need for a feasibility study on the 70,000 acres Roxanne Quimby has so generously offered for a national park.  We have worked hard since our arrival here to help this region succeed, investing our time and money.  There is enormous potential for diversity in this region’s future, which could support industry and tourism in a way we have not even dreamed, and it is imperative to investigate any avenue that could realize that potential,” say Marsha Donahue and Robert Wayne Curlew, owners of North Light Gallery, Millinocket, Maine.

NPCC will be conducting a Public Meeting in East Millinocket,Maineon October 20, 2011 at theSchenckHigh Schoolbeginning at 7:00 PM.  Roxanne Quimby will be attending the meeting to take part in the presentation and answer questions.  Also, Bob McIntosh, Retired Senior National Park Service Official, will attend the meeting to answer questions.

Roxanne Quimby has offered to donate 70,000 acres she currently owns located along the East Branch of the Penobscot River to the National Park Service for a new national park and another 70,000 acres to the State ofMainefor permanent public access for traditional recreation uses.  She has also offered to donate a $20 million endowment and to help raise an additional $20 million endowment to help manage the park.

There are two types of feasibility studies that the National Park Service could undertake.  A Reconnaissance Study is a preliminary resource assessment that can be ordered by the Secretary of the Interior.  It generally takes a few months and can cost up to $25,000.

A Special Resources Study is a more detailed study and can take several years and costs much more.  It looks at the national significance, the suitability, and the feasibility of the area as a national park.  Both studies can consider multiple alternative administrative designations (e.g. other federal designations such as national preserve, national wildlife refuge, or national recreation area, non-profit ownership, state ownership, continued private ownership, etc.) if they conclude that the area is not suitable for a national park.  The majority of studies do not result in a recommendation for the creation of a national park.

The National Park Regional Citizen Evaluation Committee (NPCC) is a group of residents from the Katahdin Region and throughout the State ofMainewho have joined together to support a feasibility study for a National Park along the East Branch of thePenobscot River.  Their campaign headquarters office is in Medway.

George W. McLaughlin
1685 Medway Rd
Medway,Maine04460

Office-207-746-9681
Cell-207-447-0570
Fax-207-746-3435

email-george@pioneercable.net

BPL, under the Maine Department of Conservation, has scheduled the unique events – including hikes, a river paddle and a trail ride – to highlight the fall landscape features of Maine’s special places. The first event, a hike at Peaks-Kenny State Park in Dover-Foxcroft, will take place Saturday, Oct. 1.

Because of the popularity of past fall events, BPL staff have scheduled even more outings this year than in previous years to meet public interest.

“We hope to see as many people as possible join us for viewing the fall foliage across the state,” Will Harris, BPL director, said. “This is a great time of year for the whole family to get out and enjoy some of the best of what Maine has to offer.

“Come out and join us!” Harris said. “The colors are great!”

“Our fall foliage events provide a great opportunity for families and fall foliage connoisseurs to revel in the fiery colors of autumn and learn about Maine’s forests, all the while enjoying exercise within the fresh air and beauty of Maine’s parks and lands,” Jocelyn Hubbell, BPL interpretive specialist, said. “Through these guided events, led by Maine foresters and park staff, participants will learn first hand about the triggers of foliage change, forest types and heath, and tree identification.”

The Fall Foliage events are co-sponsored by the: Androscoggin Land Trust: Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance; Sunrise Trail Coalition; Maine Forest Service; and the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.

Led by Maine foresters and park rangers, the guided events consist of hikes, a paddle on the Androscoggin River, and a trail trip for ATVs and bikes on the Down East Sunrise Trail, which is owned by the Maine Department of Transportation and operated by BPL. The hikes range in skill level from easy and wheel-chair accessible, such as the Oct. 23 hike at Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, to moderate and last about one to three hours.

Participants not only will be able to enjoy the great outdoors, but they also can learn something about what causes this beautiful time of year to take place, Hubbell said. The events also focus on the special features of the locations, such as the Wade Kavanaugh outdoor picnic-table sculptures at Peaks-Kenny and the spectacular views from Mount Battie at Camden Hills State Park.

“Autumn in Maine is one of the best times of year,” Hubbell said. “Fiery forest colors, cool dry days, and crisp nights make for great outdoor activities and perfect sleeping nights. Our guided fall foliage events provide a great way for both first-time and seasoned visitors to explore a park for the first time or learn more about an old favorite.”

New this year is the addition of the fall foliage trail ride on Oct 22 along the Down East Sunrise Trail, organized with the help of the Sunrise Trail Coalition. Leaving from two different locations at two different times, ATV-ers will take an easy, 56-mile round trip and bikers will take a fun, 18-mile round trip on one of the best and most scenic multi-use trails in Maine. Riders need to bring their own ATVs or bicycles.

Complete information, including full descriptions and downloadable flyers with photos, is available through the “Featured Event” link at www.parksandlands.com Skill levels and mileages are listed so participants can be sure to find an event that is suitable for them and family members.

All participants should bring a camera, binoculars, snack, lunch and water. Park entry fees will apply for park events.

For more information about Maine state parks, lands and historic sites, go to: www.parksandlands.com

For more information about Maine fall foliage, go to: www.mainefoliage.com

A young camper admires the view from the dock on Fourth Debsconeag Lake.

My daughter is about to turn 21 … months. As a father, then, I’m not worrying about her bar-hopping but rather hopping off the bed. It’s a time when her language is exploding along with her ambition and bravery. I’m also learning that our family outdoor activities are pretty much shaped by her. Camping is a perfect example.

This summer, busy schedules kept our family camping to a minimum, and day trips ruled. A Labor Day weekend trip toFourthDebsconeagLake, however, proved memorable and illustrative of the kinds of fun awaiting young families on the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands’ various properties.

In this case, we stayed at Chewonki’s Debsconeag Lake Wilderness Camps, which is on land leased from the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) at theNahmakantaPublicReservedLand. This former sporting camp now is operated as a girls’ camp. When camp is not in session, the camp is managed by Chewonki for public stays. Cabins and more contemporary yurts are available. We tried out a yurt.

To reach our yurt, we traveled from Kokadjo to Nahmakanta, which is located within the “100-Mile Wilderness” region ofAppalachian Trailfame, though our vehicle gave us access to within about a mile of the camps. From there, it was a pleasant paddle to bring ourselves and our gear to the camps.

The yurt was round, canvas-walled, and wood-floored. A door somewhat shorter than my height (as I was reminded a few times) led into the circular abode, complete with sets of bunk beds, a futon, and several dressers. A clear, round cap sat atop the roof, which rose up like a circus tent towards a single point.

As it turned out, the roughly 25-foot-wide yurt was a great feature for our young child and hersixth-grade cousin. Unlike being in a confined tent, my daughter could run and play inside, and with several powerful thunderstorms passing through, the cover and space was ideal. At night, we lay under the clear dome and watched as lightning arced across the clear portal, brightly illuminating the branched silhouettes of the spruce limbs looming above.

The massive thunderstorms that rolled through brought home the feeling of an elemental experience. Likewise, the craggy ledges above the far side of the camps across a serene cove spoke of things sturdy and almost timeless. Hours of clearing skies followed the storms, and mists rose like ancient fire smoke from the small valleys running in several directions fromFourthDebsconeagLake.

One of those gentle notches across the lake leads to a portage trail toThirdDebsconeagLake. We listened as loons wailed during our paddle to this historic link between two of the eight Debsconeag water bodies. Along the portage trail, we listened to a lively stream and witnessed an abundance of various mushroom species, which intrigued my daughter immensely and kept us on our toes ensuring they did not make their way into her mouth.

The combination of mists, mushrooms, the portage trail, and the loons was just the type of atmosphere in which I hoped to surround my daughter and her cousin. This is the timeless, unspoken and indescribable essence I wanted to share with my family on this particular weekend.

Chewonki’s Debsconeag Lakes Wilderness Camps is not the only place to find accommodations on stunning Maine Public Reserved Lands. In fact, it’s not the only leased set of camps in theNahmakantaPublicReservedLandunit. Nahmakanta Lake Camps is another private accommodation at Nahmakanta, though it technically is on National Park Service land sandwiched within the Nahmakanta unit at the north end of scenicNahmakantaLake. Both provide access to fishing, trails, paddling, and other outdoor activities associated with remote, scenic woods and waters.

Elsewhere on BPL properties, other sporting camps provide rustic comfort and access to great outdoor resources. While not a full list, a few bear mentioning here. Red River Camps, located on leased land inAroostookCounty’s 21,871-acreDeboulliePublicReservedLandunit, provides access to wonderful hiking and fishing outside the doors of this traditional sporting camp.

Two sporting camps can be visited within the Allagash Wilderness Waterway.  Nugent’s Camps on the eastern shore ofChamberlainLakeand Jalbert’s Camps further north on Round Pond both provide lodging alternatives to the Allagash Wilderness Waterway’s typical tenting experience.

Whether for adults or families, tent camping is a great way to get out and enjoy Maine’s outdoors. It’s nice to have options, though, and camps open to the public provide a lodging alternative at several of Maine’s Public Reserved Lands and along the Allagash Wilderness Waterway. They are great places to stay and are especially attractive if you have a massive thunderstorm, a wound-up little kid, or both.  Learn more about Mainestate parks and public lands at www.parksandlands.com