Williams Mountain is situated about 15 miles southeast of Jackman in a remote area with the inhospitable name Misery Township. Everything in that area seems to be miserable. Misery Gore, Misery Ridge and Misery Knob are names assigned to nearby locations. Convinced there must be a miserable history behind the names, I did a little […]
seniors
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Exploring waterfalls on the unique Cathance River Trails
Well-known in paddling circles for its Class III–V creeking, the Cathance River in Topsham is one of the more popular and challenging whitewater rivers in Maine. The Cathance River Trails provide a stimulating hiking alternative. The Cathance River Trails are located in the Cathance River Nature Preserve and Head of Tide Park. Developed and managed […]
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: An exciting opening day at Rangeley Lakes Trails Center
We’d been waiting for a couple of weeks for opening day at Rangeley Lakes Trails Center. I wanted to ski and my wife, Nancy, planned to snowshoe. Dec. 9 was the magical day. A phone call confirmed that many of the ski trails were groomed for classic and skate skiing and snowshoe trails packed by […]
Enrollment opens for Midcoast Senior College spring classes
Midcoast Senior College in Brunswick recently announced its lineup of courses for its Spring Term I. These courses for lifelong learners begin the week of Feb. 5 and run through April 7. Courses are four to seven weeks long with a selection of in-person and online classes via Zoom. No grades, no exams — just […]
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Joys of the first day of skiing
I didn’t learn to Nordic ski until I was in my 40s. Busy raising a family, there was insufficient time to learn a new sport until my sons grew older. Thirty years later, I’m no more than a mediocre classic skier. I took a couple of skate skiing lessons in the early 2000s, but in […]
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Hiking the other Pleasant Mountain
Stormy weather negatively impacted our plans for a western Maine mountain hike. My son, Adam, and I intended to climb lofty Number 5 Mountain in a remote wilderness area southwest of Jackman. When we met in West Forks on a gray, foggy morning with a threat of light rain or snow showers, several inches of […]
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: A Camden Hills traverse
One of the finest hikes in the Camden Hills is a traverse of Maiden Cliff and Mount Megunticook. The expedition encompasses three of the most scenic locations in Maine: Maiden Cliff, a towering escarpment on Scenic Trail and Ocean Overlook. I try to arrange a Camden Hills adventure each fall. When I suggested a Maiden […]
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Quest for North Peak
North Peak of Moxie Bald Mountain was a setback for my son, Adam, and me. We had hiked Moxie Bald in early November but failed in an attempt to ascend the elusive North Peak, a summit too far given the limited fall daylight. We were also unsuccessful climbing both peaks last winter due to difficulty […]
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: A climb of elusive Moxie Bald Mountain
Last winter, my son, Adam, and I completed a very stimulating climb of Mosquito Mountain near Moxie Pond in western Maine. From the summit, we enjoyed a spectacular view of Moxie Bald Mountain, a peak that dominates the opposite side of the pond. The wonderful view motivated a planned ascent of the exposed pinnacle later […]
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: A unique hike over Morse Mountain to Seawall Beach
A hike over Morse Mountain to Seawall Beach in Phippsburg is one of the most unique treks in Midcoast Maine. If the outing is extended with a walk on the beach, the journey approximates 5 miles and travels through multiple ecosystems. The area has an interesting history. Daniel Morse settled there in the late 1700s. […]