Tales of a Wannabe Nomad
// December 23rd, 2009 // No Comments » // SNAPSHOT
From my friends at the Maine Island Trail Association, a holiday card slideshow. I can’t wait to buy a kayak and a membership, and get to camp out on these amazing islands!
// November 12th, 2009 // No Comments » // VIDEO
Here’s a heart pounding POV (point-of-view) video shot for National Geographic using theV.I.O. POV.1.5 video camera. Take a look at how high those rapids are! The best part is when the cameraman rolls his kayak and everything goes black. So cool!
// November 10th, 2009 // No Comments » // TRIP REPORT
Chris Cavs at the Presumpscot River Preserve.
Big cities always have something to hide. And when you think of the secrets of a big city, you usually imagine them to be bad secrets. But when it comes to Portland – Maine’s largest city – those secrets are more like hidden treasures. Not many people know about them, but those who do are among a very special group. And so it is with Portland Trails, a network of multi-use trails all tucked away within the borders of Maine’s metropolis. My friend Bryan and I count ourselves among the special group of outdoors enthusiasts who know about these trails. And one day last week, we set out to find some of Portland’s amazing treasures.
We set out from my apartment in downtown Portland at around ten in the morning, plugged some coordinates into my compadre’s GPS unit, and headed toward the Presumpscot River Sanctuary. Most of the Portland Trails trailheads lie at the end of dead-end residential streets, most times only marked with a small but colorful sign. We really didn’t need the GPS, as the directions are fairly simple, but to be safe, we used it anyway. Plus, we’re geeks, and we like techy gadgets. The Presumpscot River Sanctuary trails feature a canoe and kayak portage around Presumpscot Falls, a short section of rapids that breaks the relative tranquility of the surrounding river. I assume that due to this portage, a small parking area was built at the trailhead.
Walking less than a quarter of a mile, we came upon a break in the treeline. The glistening water drew us closer as we headed to a T-junction in the trail. We took a right down the trail that follows the beautiful Presumpscot River, stopping every few hundred yards at small outcroppings or breaks in the foliage to admire the view over the river. The trails are well used, but they’re also well maintained and obviously well loved. Man-made staircases lead down some of the steeper sections of the river bank to the water below, where I could imagine sitting for hours casting a line.
As Bryan and I walked further downstream, we happened upon signs for the river’s portage, where kayakers and canoeists can hop out of the river before they inadvertently shoot down what looks to be class 3 or 4 rapids. You can’t really see or hear Presumpscot Falls until you’re nearly on top of them. A slight bend in the river combined with a short uphill keeps the falls out of sight for much of the hike. But when you do finally happen upon them, the roar of the crashing water and sight of foaming curls makes for an intense and exciting experience.
Stomping down a quick downhill nearby, I noticed an interpretive sign posted by the Portland Trails organization. Apparently in the 1700s, early settlers to the area had built a dam just downstream from the falls in order to capture some of the power of the river. Mills were built, and the falls were covered by the high waterline. Later, what was known as the Smelt Hill Dam was turned into a hydroelectric facility that helped power the nearby community. Flooding and storm damage eventually shut down the facility, and in 2006, the State of Maine deconstructed the dam, finally revealing Presumpscot Falls after more than 260 years.
We spent a few minutes exploring the area around the falls, and just past them, you come to the end of the Portland Trails owned land. You can head onto private property beyond, but beware because at that point, you’re trespassing and that information is posted. A few hundred feet past the end of the trail is the recovered land where the Smelt Hill Dam used to reside. I don’t recommend you go down there, but if you do, be prepared to talk to unhappy landowners. I, for one, am prone to exploring reclaimed and/or abandoned areas, so take that as you will.
After spending a good amount of time at the falls, we headed back upstream and hiked past the approach trail we had taken to the river walk. The trail winds its way NorthWest following the contour of the river. At several points we noticed small offshoot trails, marked “Loop,” which take you up into the woods and back down to the trail. We continued our hike over a few trail bridges and made our way towards the area where Interstate 95 passes over the trail. We stopped at a tree whose boughs overhang the river. The tree is perfect for a tree swing, and I’m sure that’s exactly what hangs there during the summer months. As the mid-Autumn daylight began to fade, Bryan and I took one last look at the beautiful Presumpscot River, then set off for the trailhead. It was time for a late lunch.
The entire Presumpscot River Sanctuary trail system only covers approximately 2.5 miles overall, but it feels like an oasis in the middle of the brick and concrete of Portland and its suburbs. The main attraction is, of course, the river itself, but the rest of the sanctuary offers a richness of flora and fauna that will make you forget that you’re still within Portland’s borders. Spend a few hours wandering the trails, staring at the rapids, or dropping a fishing line into the river. It’s a great local refuge from the busy-ness of city life.
For more info on the Presumpscot River Sanctuary, or to learn about the rest of the Portland Trails system, visit www.trails.org.
To view more images from the trip to Presumpscot River Preserve, Go HERE!
// October 12th, 2009 // 3 Comments » // Feature
Everyone has one. Whether you write it down, type it, or store it deep in the bowels of your mind, it’s always there, lurking. The List. All the places you want to go, the sights you want to see, the experiences you want to have. Generally, I’m not a fan of The List, because it just makes me depressed looking at how many things I haven’t crossed off it yet. But today, I’m feeling good. Today, I’m feeling that if I put the list out there, I can make it real, and then I can conquer it. Watch out The List. I’m on to you.
I’m sure there are many places to visit that I’m just not thinking about. What would you add to The List? Leave a comment below!
// September 1st, 2009 // 4 Comments » // Uncategorized
Now that the cooler temperatures of fall are making their presence known, it’s time to start planning a short fall trip. I have a few ideas of adventures I want to pursue, but I’m not sure which one to do. Being the indecisive tool that I am, I’m leaving it up to you, my dear and friendly reader. Bearing in mind a horrifying economy and a car that barely runs, I’m restricting my travels to northern New England this year. But hey, there’s a lot to do here! Let’s take a look at the options:
[polldaddy poll=1941957]
// August 25th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // TRIP REPORT
L.L. Bean is well known for it’s preppy clothes, camping supplies, and the “Bean Boot.” What most people don’t know is that many of the retail stores offer the Outdoor Discovery School, where adventuresome people can take a few hours – or a few days – to learn a fun and exciting outdoor activity. Since I’ve been dying to get into a kayak this summer, I decided to partake in one of L.L. Bean’s Walk-On Adventures, offered at the Freeport, Maine flagship store.
I made the 20 minute trek from Portland to Freeport with my friend Bryan, where we were lucky to fill in the last two spots on the 12:00 P.M. kayak adventure. The $15 trips fill up fast and early, and they don’t accept advance reservations, so you should get there early to sign up. Trips run everyday from June through September, and then run on a less frequent schedule until mid-October. When noon rolled around, an L.L. Bean guide herded us into a small bus, and we were on our way to Wolf Neck Woods State Park where we would gear up and head out to the Harraseeket River.
Showing professionalism and courtesy, the guides – Paul and Moe – introduced themselves and went over some safety rules and the process for getting into the kayaks. After some group introductions, we were fitted with paddles, PFDs (Personal Floatation Devices; a.k.a, life vests), and watershoes. A short hike through a small pasture led us to a grass outcropping where Paul went over proper paddling technique while Moe readied the kayaks. A few minutes later, we were on the dock climbing into the slim, colorful plastic boats. With everyone in the water, we shoved off and began our trek.
Hugging the coastline, we paddled through a high tide – the Harraseeket is a tidal river – and calm waters. Though a storm threatened in the skies, the sun managed to stay out for most of the trip giving us beautiful vistas the whole way. Mary and David, a couple from Boston, sat in a yellow tandem, Mary in front and David playing the part of sternman. Though David had some previous kayaking experience, novice Mary was a bit apprehensive from the start, and had apparently been a bit nervous the day before when stormy weather called off their first trip. Today, though she still didn’t have her sea legs and her nerves were a bit shaky, she climbed willingly enough into the kayak. A few nervous yelps and some splashing later, Mary was laughing with delight and paddling as hard as she could, David doing all he could to keep up with her. Kayaking, even for beginners, is truly addicting.
As we made our way downriver, a high pitched chirp pulled our attention to the treeline. A large brown Osprey thrashed from its perch about 100 yards in front of us and soared over our heads as we approached. Though it’s never guaranteed, wildlife is usually a part of these tours, and Bald Eagles have been known to frequent the area from time to time. Though we didn’t see any eagles this time, the Ospreys provided a great – albeit short – step into the wilderness.
After what seemed like an entirely too short hour of paddling, Paul and Moe rounded up the new paddlers and shepherded us back to the dock. Twenty minutes later, our little group was back at the L.L. Bean barn, doffing our PFDs and watershoes and sharing knowing looks as the next group of kayakers gathered their gear. Smiles were plenty when we stepped back on the bus, but everyone was quiet. Though I’m sure the group was simply tired out from paddling the placid waters, I like to think we were all contemplating when we’d be able to make our next kayak adventure a reality.
PROS:
- Inexpensive
- All equipment provided
- Knowledgeable, friendly guides
CONS:
- Too little time on water
- Dependent on weather conditions
More Information:
- Walk-on Adventures include kayaking, archery, clay shooting, and fly casting
- Hours and Adventures offered may vary by location
- Outdoor Discovery School offers Walk-ons, Weekend Adventures, and Family Outings
*Disclosure: I am a seasonal employee at L.L. Bean in Freeport. I enjoy my job there, and I think that L.L. Bean is a good company. However, I try to remain as unbiased as possible in anything I write about the company and its products. Honesty is the best policy.
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