Upcoming Events!

Hey everyone! Spring is in the air, and summer's fast approaching. That means we'll be doing some updates and getting this blog active again! I've got some new gear on the way (all ultralight), so I'll be testing it out and doing some reviews; of course testing also means a new trip or two!

Here's what we'll be doing next:

• Survival bracelet workshop (yes I'll teach you how to make them!).
  
• Jon boat fishing on Long Island, NY.
• Beach camping on Long Island, NY.
• Gear reviews.
  
• Historical hiking in East Hampton, NY.

Hope to see you all on the trails!

Cedar Point County Park

This trip took us to Cedar Point County Park in East Hampton, NY. After a short drive from the village filled with hills and what would be considered decent woods for the Hamptons, we arrived at the entrance to the park with a quaint log cabin. Despite being located in a region famous for its mansions and private estates, this public park and campground's 607 acres offered a great deal of solitude.

Hidden on the bay side of the town, its hiking and biking trails were peaceful, even with 190 individual campsites and 5 group areas nearby. In addition to the trails, a stretch of beach leading to the Cedar Island Lighthouse proved to be a beautiful, however hot, 2 mile hike (both ways). Once divided by water to make the area around the lighthouse an island, this beach was connected by the hurricane of 1938 and was filled with tasty wild beach plums with a view of Northwest Harbor and Gardiners Bay. The hot sand warmed our feet as the salty air provided just enough of a breeze to keep us going.

When we reached the lighthouse, which was built in 1839 to assist ship traffic in and out of Northwest and Sag Harbors, the view of sailboats in the summer sun was picturesque. In addition to the view, the channel running between the beach and Shelter Island was host to great fishing opportunities. Many visitors have caught bluefish, striped bass and snappers, to name a few. Depending on the season and the presence of endangered or threatened shorebirds, a County Beach Driving Permit can be obtained, available to both residents and non-residents, which make fishing trips to the channel a breeze (pun intended).

I would recommend Cedar Point County Park to families and fishermen because of the following reasons:

• The park has different camping options to suit your needs.
• A camp store is a short walk from the campground, which shows family movies on Sunday nights during the summer season.
• The park offers Youth Group Camping.
• Visitors can rent row boats from the cabin, life preservers and oars included.
• Fishing can be done in the pond, in the channel, and just about anywhere off the shore.
• Both campers and day visitors can use clean restrooms and showers, grassy picnic areas with a view of the bay, bird watching trails, a playground, and a ball field.
• Park police and security are present, especially at night, to keep the park safe.
  

Cedar Point County Park Pictures

Cedar Island Lighthouse.

Marsh.

Picnic Area.

One of the beaches.

View from the hiking trail.

Emergency Fire Starting Tips (Part IV)

The Strap Drill

To conclude my emergency fire starting tips series, I would like to provide you all with one more video courtesy of Nick Spadaro and the Maine Primitive Skills School in Augusta, Maine. This technique is another form of primitive friction fire starting, known as the strap drill. I hope you all enjoy! Just remember to be safe when starting a fire with any of the methods I have listed on this blog!

Emergency Fire Starting Tips (Part III)

The Hand Drill

The next portion of my emergency fire starting tips is another form of primitive friction fire, known as the hand drill. As this is much easier seen than read, I have provided you all with another instructional video, courtesy of Nick Spadaro and the Maine Primitive Skills School in Augusta, Maine. I think it's quite helpful, so I hope you all enjoy!

Emergency Fire Starting Tips (Part II)

The Bow Drill

To continue my instructional pieces on emergency fire starting, I decided to cover primitive forms of friction fire. Unfortunately, these are rather difficult to explain in a short, concise paragraph, making it hard for me to publish easy-to-understand instructions, while keeping the length of the post down to an acceptable size. Luckily, an acquaintance of mine, Nick Spadaro, has a few great detailed videos that will cover these topics. I am currently a member of his Primitive Skills club at Unity College, and he is also an instructor at the Maine Primitive Skills School in Augusta, Maine. These videos are shown courtesy of Nick Spadaro and the Maine Primitive Skills School. To start off with this series of instructional videos, I have chosen the bow drill, which Nick had also taught me first hand. I hope you enjoy!

An Interesting Film Coming to PBS May 13, 2008

The well publicized "disaster" that took place on Mount Everest in 1996 has been the source of heated debates and controversies since its first appearance in the media. It has been the focus of many articles and books, including successful novel Into Thin Air by climber and author Jon Krakauer. David Beashears, quite a legend in his own light, now helps add the visual aspect of the event with this new film set to air on PBS Frontline on May 13, 2008.

BPA: Nalgene Bottles & Your Health

As a frequent member of the outdoors community, I tend to get a lot of use out of specific equipment I use on various excursions. As a result, I naturally figure out which brands I prefer for different gear, and sometimes share these personal opinions with others; whether it is on the trails during a casual discussion, or in something I write or openly commend on this blog. However, some concern involving an important health issue has been expressed about particular brands of liquid containers (Nalgene®, Camelback®, etc.), which I had previously recommended over the years. While this is unfortunate, the health concern can be greatly reduced with some research and care when purchasing a product from these companies. Subsequently, to help out my friends and fellow excursionists outdoors, I am writing this article to give you an overview of what you should know about this health risk and how to avoid it.

What is the Health Risk?
The health concern for specific water containers such as Nalgene Original™ is the use of Bisphenol-A (BPA), which has been the target of numerous claims which state that the material may cause health problems. These problems range from reproductive failures such as miscarriage, to hyperactivity and obesity. However, an even larger concern is the possibility of the material’s ability to increase the risk of cancer. Nevertheless, according to the Food and Drug Administration, the threat of these health issues is not great enough to place a ban on the material from its current use.

How is BPA Used and Why is it Relevant to the Outdoors?
The material is used currently in many different plastic products, including the Nalgene Original™ bottle, which is often recommended for hikers, campers, climbers, etc. Due to the demand for containers and bottles required for continuous use, these name brands have been trusted and recommended over the years for numerous outdoor activities.

What is Being Done to Address this Issue and Which Items are Safe?
Nalgene® has created an informative page dedicated to sharing information about BPA, and has also gathered links including the official FDA statement on the material. To access this page, click here. In addition to the informative page, Nalgene® has also released information on which of their products still contain BPA, which you can access by clicking here. Currently, the only bottle which does contain the material is their Original™. Camelback® has also recently started advertising their products which do not contain BPA via stickers and print on the side of their bottles. Taking some extra time to look for these indications may be useful when purchasing a container or bottle for continuous use.

In Conclusion:
Due to the concern over the health issues regarding the use of Bisphenol-A, I urge my friends and fellow excursionists to do a little research before buying products, especially if they intend on using them for an extended period of time. Of course, this applies to every piece of equipment you purchase for your trips into the wilderness. I cannot stress enough how important it is to invest in proper equipment that will serve you the way you expect it to, and the best way to do this is get background information before buying something. Some products may be worth the brand name, and others may not, depending on what you intend to use it for. Take the additional time before spending the additional dime!

Emergency Fire Starting Tips (Part I)

I would like to begin my series of lectures with a few quick emergency fire starting tips and procedures. This is mainly because starting and maintaining a fire is one of the most crucial elements to survival in the wilderness. Fire can provide heat, light, and means of cooking and purifying water.

First, some definitions:

1. Coal: This describes the initial flame you start with, often referring to the saw dust you create and ignite when bow drilling or hand drilling (I'll discuss those later in Part II).
2. Coal Extender: This is what you use to keep your coal lit. Good examples you can find include cattail "fluff," fine saw dust, dead wood, or the ground up inside of Tinder Fungus.
   
3. Tinder: This is what you'll light with your coal when you're ready. This can be made out of Cedar bark, or something along those lines.
   
4. Kindling: This is what you'll light with your tinder once it creates a flame. It starts the fire off with smaller wood so that the larger wood can be added later.
   
5. Fire Wood: This is the larger wood you'll need to finish building the fire, and to keep it burning for a long time.
   

Preparation:

• Preparation is not necessarily "everything," but still makes up a good 90% of the "ingredients" for a successful fire. Keep in mind that if you take the time to prepare a fire pit and gather and assemble your wood in advance, even if your first attempts fail, you at least have that part out of the way and nothing to worry about when you are finally successful; not being prepared may cause your fire to die out while gathering and assembling after you've ignited a coal or tinder bundle, leading you to repeat that process once more.

Assembling a Fire Ring/Pit:

• Find an open area, and clear out any debris on the ground, including leaves and plants.
• If you choose to dig out a section of the ground to make a "pit," do so, if not, ignore this step.
• Find fairly large rocks (give or take 1 square foot ideally) and assemble them around the perimeter of your fire ring or pit. This is to stop the fire and/or embers from escaping, and to give a little resistance against the wind.
  
• Prepare a spot for your tinder, and build up your kindling into either a "cabin style" foundation (placing two pieces of wood parallel to one another horizontally, and then two more on top of those vertically, creating a log cabin effect) or in a "tee pee style" foundation (propping the pieces of wood against one another diagonally to create a cone shape or a tee pee effect) inside your ring of rocks.
  
• Continue the same pattern you have chosen (either the "cabin" or "tee pee") with your fire wood and larger sticks also inside the ring of rocks.
• Make sure you construct these foundations sturdy enough, but also keep them spaced apart enough so that the fire can "breathe" (the fire needs oxygen to burn, and a little room between your kindling will help fuel the fire).
  

Items Necessary or Useful When Starting an Emergency Fire:

• Lighter (anything from a Zippo to a cheap Bic)
• Matches (preferably waterproof)
• Magnesium Fire Starter (make sure you have a steel knife too)
• Swedish Fire Starter
  
• Steel Wool and a 9Volt Battery
  
• Cotton Balls and Vaseline or an Alcohol Based Hand Sanitizer
  

*Make sure you read the instructions of how to use these items, most of which can be purchased at a local outdoors store or WalMart.

Fire starting tips and instructions:

• Steel Wool and 9V Battery:

1. Use a piece of steel wool and place it somewhere safe, near to where you want to start the fire but away from other flammable items.
2. Place both ends of the 9V battery on the piece of steel wool, and the electricity should create the heat required to turn the steel wool into a coal.
3. Blow onto the steel wool, providing your fire with air to extend the coal.
4. You should have a large enough coal to start your fire, just be careful when moving the steel wool.
5. Enjoy your fire that only takes under a minute to start! Just make sure that don't leave it unattended!

• Cotton Balls and Vaseline/Hand Sanitizer

1. Take your cotton balls and coat the outsides with a layer of Vaseline or an alcohol based hand sanitizer.
2. Using your finger nails, pull apart the cotton ball to make a slight opening (so that the part opened doesn't contain any Vaseline or hand sanitizer)
3. Using a lighter, match, or magnesium/Swedish fire starter, ignite the opened part of the cotton ball.
4. The cotton ball should catch and then slowly burn (as the Vaseline/hand sanitizer acts as a candle to keep it lit for much longer)
5. Use the cotton ball to start your fire, but no need to rush as it will burn for a while! Just keep an eye on it and make sure you keep your fire attended at all times!

Safety Tips:

• As I have stressed before, which is often stressed by anyone discussing fire safety, NEVER LEAVE YOUR FIRE UNATTENDED. Of course, in the wilderness when one's surviving, it is sometimes necessary to slightly ignore this rule in order to maximize daylight use and to complete numerous tasks at once, but one should never venture further than they can see from the fire.
• Be cautious as to where you build the fire. Make sure you clear out other flammable materials that may catch easily, including dry plant roots scattered through the ground. Even after building a fire pit, if dry roots exist under the rocks you have built around the fire, the flame can simply spread under the "barrier" of rocks (coming from first experience).
• When building a fire inside a shelter, ventilation is the key. One must make sure to have enough ventilation to allow oxygen in, for both the fire and the occupants. Also be sure to give the smoke somewhere to go, you don't want to smoke yourself out of your own shelter. Obviously, the previous advice to keep flammable materials still apply.
• Always keep sand or water close by to extinguish the fire. It is beautiful and useful in many contexts under the right circumstances, but the dangers are too harsh to ignore. Therefore, don't be ignorant, respect the fury of the flame and use it as safely as possible.

This article is a brief compilation of tips and methods thrown together to give you an understanding of how to start a fire in the wilderness. Knowing this information in advance will help save time when you need to make a fire in an emergency situation. If you do decide to look into fire starting in more depth, there are plenty of resources available containing various methods and other tips not covered here. Also, keep at least two of the materials listed with you at all times while venturing into the outdoors, you never know when you'll need a quick fire, or when your first fire starting item may get lost or ineffective. Be safe and have fun!

A Brief Update

I know it has been a significant amount of time since I have written on the site. Well, to be honest my first year in Maine has been quite interesting, but I have still yet to overcome the paralyzing effects of the harsh winters. This, of course, is not to be confused with a struggle, but rather with a lack of motivation to tackle the outdoors during my first winter this far North. Instead I have been getting a feel for the season, so I can know what to expect next year. In the mean time, as the months of 2008 progress, it almost being the third of which, I have began to consider the excitements of the warmer season. Once the predicted snowfall of April clears, hopefully providing me with enough good weather for some interesting hikes, I intend to get as much outdoor experience as possible before returning to New York for the summer. I intend to summit a local mountain, organize a camping trip, and make another trip across Lake Winnecook before the end of May.

In the mean time, as I wait for the second half of the season to end, I have discovered a new way to keep you all updated and educated. I have recently joined a Primitive Skills Club, and will be documenting some of the activities and experiences on the site. Subsequently, I hope to regain the regular attendance of my audience, while providing you all with survival techniques, and fun activities for the outdoors.

I intend on describing the following lessons to you, and encourage you to participate and attempt these at home if possible:

• How to make a alcohol stove burner from a can
  
• How to hand drill and bow drill
• Emergency fire starting techniques
• Basic ice climbing techniques
  

Along with the lessons, which I intend on beginning soon, I will also do a brief gear review. Check the site soon for more updates, and hopefully I will have the instructional articles completed and some dates prepared for the first outdoor activities of the season.

Acadia National Park Summary (Oct. 9)

This trip included the following destinations:

• Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park, Maine
• Seal Harbor, Acadia National Park, Maine
  

It was already shortly after noon on Tuesday, October 9th, when we departed from campus and headed towards Acadia National Park. I, along most of the others in our group, had never been to Acadia before, so we didn't know what to expect. Nicole, however, had been before, as she navigated us East for about two hours. As we approached the park, numerous mountains and hills came into view. As it was still fairly early in the afternoon, the sun was relatively high, making for a bright and sharp view of the beautiful scenic coast. The weather was fairly warm for an autumn day, and none of us needed much more than T-Shirts as we got closer to our destination.

When we entered Acadia National Park, we headed towards Cadillac Mountain, which stood 1,532 feet above the surrounding waters. Despite the fact that I had been to much taller peaks, I had to admit that the mountain was quite impressive. The accessibility to the summit made me feel as though we cheated the climb, however, the flat rocky terrain made for an enjoyable walk. In addition to the interesting landscape, the sight seeing was quite beautiful, as around each turn a new view made its stunning appearance. The warm sun shining down on us combined with the fresh air made the walk into another relaxing scenic trip.

At the true summit of the mountain, there was a small gift shop with plenty of souvenirs; despite the fact that I wasn't fond of commercialized tourist attractions, I decided to buy a patch for my weekend pack. I figured it wouldn't do any harm, as I already had a collection going anyway. Besides, the store was quite convenient for families and hikers, like us, who didn't have time for a full day's hike. However, I intend to do some trails around the park the next time I get the chance, particularly when I have a number of disposable hours to really enjoy the hike.

Our next destination was Seal Harbor, which wasn't too far away. This, however, wasn't the issue that caused our delay. We accidentally ended up on the wrong road after passing the harbor, and spent roughly 45 minutes driving around in a loop. Our navigator soon corrected the error, though, and within minutes we were on the right track. Regardless, the drive wasn't boring. The mountains divided the rays of light like a dusty serrated knife blade, cutting the days in half. As one side of the mountain appeared to glow in an autumn haze, the other was buried within an endless blanket of shadows.

When we reached the harbor, the sun was beginning to lower itself behind the massive bodies of land that covered the region. It was my understanding that the harbor was no stranger to a few local seals, so when there was an absence of these fascinating creatures I was slightly disappointed. Nevertheless, the stretch of sand that was left exposed in low tide was smooth and comforting to walk on. The view of the coastline was also beautiful; however, slightly different from our other trips, the view was enough of a contrast to keep us interested. As the sun began to dip even lower, casting a golden glow across the sand, we decided it was time to head back. It had been a successful scenic experience at Acadia National Park, and we'd be sure to return again with a more eventful schedule and additional time to explore the region.

I would recommend Acadia National Park to a wide range of people for the following reasons:

• The park is filled with various activities including hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, etc.
• There is plenty of territory to explore, including various mountains, lakes, harbors, trails, and friendly villages.
• The public accessibility and numerous free parking locations make it a fun and easy trip for inexperienced hikers and families.
• There is plenty of information available in local towns, making it easy to plan a fulfilling day at the park.
• The views and scenic locations make it the perfect destination for photographers and those whom appreciate nature.

Acadia National Park Pictures (Oct. 9)

Jon on the top of Cadillac Mountain

Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park, Maine

The view was amazing

Large rock on the side of the mountain

Seal Harbor

Cape Elizabeth Summary (Oct. 8)

The trip to Cape Elizabeth in southern Maine was by far the shortest journey so far. Nevertheless, not once was there a lack of beauty or interest. Amanda, Rob, Nicole, Liz, and I traveled a couple of hours south on the interstate until reaching Portland. It was our first time in a large city for quite some time, so naturally the excitement level rose immediately. We soon left much of the tall buildings and shopping centers behind, however, as we approached Cape Elizabeth. Our first destination was the "Portland Head Light." Shortly after parking, the gorgeous lighthouse came into view. Even though the sunshine was not in our favor, the coast was still as breathtaking as ever.

After spending a few moments admiring the lighthouse and browsing the gift shop, we headed out on a small trail along the edge of the coastline. The simple trail naturally wasn't satisfying to us, so we often found ourselves scurrying across rocks and making our way down to the water before continuing. We, obviously not thinking, hadn't brought hiking shoes; thus making the steep and slippery rocks an interesting challenge.

We continued our trek down the scenic trail, encountering the remains of old military buildings. However, these images weren't rare in my eyes, as I often visited a similar park just 20 minutes from my hometown. Nevertheless, I found the public accessibility to be quite interesting, especially as I entered one of the old concrete buildings used to accommodate large defense weapons during World War II.

We finished our small hike at a small beach, where we came across a small rock tower built by visitors of the park. After walking along the soft sand, giving our feet a break from the jagged rocks, we headed back to the car to drive to our next location.

We reached the second lighthouse only 15 minutes later. However, unlike our previous stop, this park lacked any interesting trails that we could see. Regardless, we walked out onto the edges of the cove. The rocks here were a little trickier to cross, but their characteristics were significantly more interesting. They seemed to crack and crumble in large flakes, and when they were crushed further they resembled wood chips. At some points they were quite high off the ground, making for an interesting walk. Unfortunately, a thick fog began to roll in quickly, cutting our trip short. Nevertheless, our trip to Cape Elizabeth had been a relaxing and successful one.

I would recommend Cape Elizabeth and the Portland Head Light to families and nature photographers for the following reasons:

• Parking is cheap, if not free.
• There are plenty of scenic places to have a picnic.
• The trails are easy, making for a fun walk with the children.
• The local history makes for a good educational experience.
• The various sights and abstract rocks make for interesting photography.
• The atmosphere of the town is friendly.
• It's an interesting location for a relaxing day away from home.

Cape Elizabeth Pictures (Oct. 8)

An interesting rock formation on the beach

A cove view from the rocks

Amanda sitting on the edge of a cliff-like rock

Jon on the edge of a cliff-like rock (it's higher than it looks)

A compass drawn on one of the rocks

Maine's rocky coastline

More of the coastline

Portland Head Light

Some local history

An old building used in WWII along the cape

Lake Winnecook Camping Trip Summary (Sep. 28-30)

After spending a great deal of time around Lake Winnecook (also known as Unity Pond), a group of my friends and I heard about an island on the eastern side of the lake. As it turns out, the owner of the lake, a relative of one of the well respected staff members at my college, was kind enough to let people camp there on occasion. Soon after, we planned a weekend camping trip to the island via canoes we were able to rent from our campus. Once we had the schedule figured out, we packed up our vehicles with gear and two canoes, and headed for the public access launch ramp in town. It was only a five minute drive into town, making this trip easy as far as necessary preparation goes. Being so close to the college, we didn't need to be too concerned about forgetting any supplies. This was especially important for Amanda and I, as we were beginners in the canoe department.

Any worries or doubts we had were soon put to rest, as we successfully loaded all the gear and launched smoothly into the water, which was shimmering under the setting sun. In the first canoe, Jay, Christy, and Amanda N. led the way to the island. Amanda S. and I, with the remaining gear and zero prior time spent in a canoe, followed behind quickly. It was quite a positive first experience, as we encountered very little wave movement. The water wasn't exactly flat, but the canoe remained stable with all the weight of our gear the entire time, thus creating a sense of confidence in our ability to cross with ease.

When we began to approach the island, the sun was almost fully concealed behind the dark hills. To our benefit, we spotted an obvious place to land our canoes within a few minutes of scoping out the northwestern shores of the island. Cautiously avoiding various rocks that created a small barrier, we headed into a miniature cove decorated with tall grasses and shrubs around the edges.

Upon landing on the island, Jay headed inland while the rest of us stretched our legs and unpacked the canoes. It was getting dark and increasingly harder to see, but we were glad to be on land after the mile trip into a headwind for roughly an hour. Once the rest of us were set to enter the island, we called the owner for final permission to camp overnight. As we hoped, he and his wife graciously granted us permission, and just in time for Jay's return to shore. Jay came through the shrubs with confidence, claiming to have found a decent spot to set up camp. We immediately secured the canoes and followed with our gear, battling through the thick growth that seemed determined to slow us down every step.

Once we reached the clearing Jay had found, we unpacked two tents while Jay gathered kindling wood for a fire. I soon followed under his command, gathering birch bark and rocks to create a fire pit. After only 30 minutes, we had a high pressure fire blazing and keeping us warm as the temperature began to drop. As Jay continued to feed the fire, Amanda S. and I finished setting up the rest of the campsite.

Meanwhile, on the shore, Christy and Amanda N. were preparing to go back to shore. Amanda wasn't planning on staying that night, so Christy was going to go back to shore with her, and return with Travis whom was busy when we first set out to the island. They would also return with food and a few last minute items we had left behind.

Shortly after 10 P.M., Christy and Travis appeared alongside the island. Due to the weak visibility, Jay went back to the shore with a flashlight to wait while they approached with a lantern. Once they landed with the food, the next order of business was to create a shelter for Travis. He decided he was going to create a separate shelter from the two tents we already had set up, and luckily he instantly found a suitable location at the edge of the clearing. It was a fallen tree, with branches spreading out wide enough for person to comfortably sleep under. The tree was securely wedged in place, so Travis spread a tarpaulin over the top and prepared a suitable place to sleep underneath. In the end, it turned out to be a successful shelter. In the meantime, we cooked hot dogs over the camp fire for dinner using skewers Travis had made, and enjoyed fresh fruit that our college had generously given us for the trip.

The following morning at five, when the moon was still high and the sun wasn't anywhere in view yet, Jay and Travis headed back to the mainland to take care of the day's plans. They had prior engagements to take care of that Saturday, as did Amanda and I, so we followed after at 7:15. The second time I woke up, just before seven, I was awakened by the sound of the majestic symbol of our country. Apparently there were two eagles that had come to call this island their home. Hearing one of them call out that morning was one of those moments that made me thankful to be a part of the beautiful outdoors. It was as though I was distant from the bustling world that humans had created, yet I was so close to the wildlife "residents" so I was never fully alone. It was an ironic contrast that intrigued me, and I just couldn't help but feel content in this increasingly unique situation. After all, each day there are fewer undeveloped regions in the Northeastern United States. Regardless, once I broke away from my daydreaming thoughts and arose from my sleeping bag, I got dressed and ready for the trip back to the boat launch.

The trip back across the lake was enjoyable, as the water was as smooth as I had ever seen it. It was like gliding across a dark silky highway to the shore, all the while the crisp air was waking us up each time the paddle dipped into the water. Within 25 minutes, we were within feet of the dock and the launch ramp, and fully prepared to take on the days task. The morning trip, however, didn't do justice for the lake's aggression later on that afternoon.

When Amanda and I had completed our errands for that Saturday, we headed back to the lake with unsuspecting excitement. When we approached the dock at Kanokolus Beach, we didn't notice that the waves had significantly picked up in height and force. However, once we reached the ramp and had a short conversation with a local resident just returning from a trip in his boat, we realized the waters would be more of a challenge than they had been the night before. Nevertheless, we decided to attempt the voyage. Subsequently, we didn't realize how poor this judgment had been until we were 1/3 across the lake. Once we had slipped beyond the protection the shore offered, the wind and waves instantly picked up violently. Not long after hitting the strong gusts of headwind, the canoe began to get tossed around by the waves. In addition, roughly a minute after the waves had picked up we began to get air going over the waves, where only a small portion of the canoe was touching water at all times. The violent nature of the lake left me with only a few seconds to make an important decision, and just as a large wave hit and threatened to flip us, I called out to sweep to the side and turn around as quickly as possible. I was definitely not an expert, this being my third time in a canoe, but I knew that the longer we spent turning the more the waves rolling parallel to our canoe posed a serious threat to us.

Once we were able to fight our way to turn around. we paddled hard towards the closest shoreline we could see. We were still in danger with the waves coming in at a slight angle, but the approaching land right within our grasp provided hope for us. Within five minutes or so we started to paddle beyond the danger zone, and towards the comfort of the beaches. Not long after that, we reached the calm section of the lake and followed the shore back to the launch ramp. On a brighter note, as we made our way back to the dock, we came within a couple feet of a fairly young loon. This helped us calm down and relax, as it turned our attention from the potentially serious situation. As we glided past the loon in our canoe, it kept a watchful eye and called to us, however not in a distressful manner. Already not too concerned with our presence, and seeing that we meant no harm, it went back to seeking out an evening meal. The interaction with this fascinating creature had lightened the mood, however we decided to call it quits for the night once we reached the launch ramp.

The following day, having learned from the previous experience, I decided it would be in our best interest to check the weather before departing the mainland again. Reading the wind speed of two knots reassured my confidence once more, and we headed back to where we had been defeated the day before. Once we loaded the canoe, my determination was at its fullest, as we headed across the open water. It was difficult to see the lake the same as I had before, but my nerves were at ease by the time we were more than half way across Lake Winnecook. As we approached the cove, we could see the smoke from camp, and an inflatable raft on shore where the canoes were normally secured.

As it turns out, one of our other friends, Jack, had crossed the night before once the water had begun to settle. With my confidence fully restored, I contently made my way back to the campsite. After a couple of hours of conversing and enjoying the serenity of this private island, we packed up the tents and began to load the first canoe. Unfortunately, Jack's raft had began to deflate, and a footpump was nowhere in sight. We decided then, to load some light gear into the raft, and to tow it across the lake with my canoe. It was a decent enough plan, and once we finished packing my tents, sleeping bags, packs, etc. Amanda and Jack hopped in the canoe. I got in last, and pushed us off, paying special attention to the raft we were pulling. The water had gotten a little rougher since our arrival on the island, however it was of no threat to us at this time. We just continued a steady pace towards the shore.

Once our crowded canoe was close, we stopped paddling and decided to just drift. It was one of the first times I had gotten to really just relax in the water, and it felt good. We decided to cut short and head to the beach, just a few feet off from the ramp, where we made a smooth entry to the sandy slope. We unpacked the last of our gear, and headed for my truck. In the meantime, Jack made a detour to start some casual conversation with a local resident standing on the dock. I soon followed suit, and thats when we decided our work for the weekend wasn't over yet.

The gentleman we had met on the dock was awaiting the arrival of a sailboat, which was slowly limping across the lake due to the absence of a decent wind. When it finally reached the dock, we agreed to help by loading it onto the trailer, and by helping to take down it's heavy mast. This would have been a much simpler task, had it not been for the series of events that followed. We had a hard time adjusting the trailer, as the boat wouldn't sit evenly on the it. Once we reasembled the supports on the trailer, we gave it another attempt, which is when we faced a more serious issue. The truck towing the boat out of the lake broke down when the fan belt snapped and cut through the transmission fluid and steering fluid lines.

We had to react fast, creating a dam of sand across the ramp to prevent the fluid from polluting the lake before we could clean it up. Once the truck was safely out of the way, we managed to get a hold of a replacement truck. When we finally loaded the boat one last time, we realized it was too large for the new truck which had a cap over the bed. With a little team work we removed the clamps from the cap and lifted it off the truck, maneuvering it onto the dock and up the hill. With all the elements in place, we made one last attempt at hauling the boat out, and this time with decent success. Although the boat was still tilted on the trailer, we managed to adjust it enough with man power to get it safely home.

Now that our tasks for the weekend were successfully completed, we were ready to return to campus. In addition to camping on the island, we had also helped a few friendly local residents and had some good laughs as a result. We all went home with a little more knowledge. I personally returned knowing how much fun you can have in a canoe, and how to ensure a safe trip. In addition, we all learned the personal benefits of lending a helping hand, and how good it felt to give back to such a caring community.

I would recommend Lake Winnecook for a day out for the following reasons:

• The lake is large enough to enjoy all day long.
• The public access is easy to get to and always available.
• There are two public beaches along the Unity shores of the lake (Kanokolus and Brier's), both with picnic and fire pit accommodations.
• The towns surrounding the lake are filled with friendly and helpful residents.
• The fishing is great.
  
• Plenty of wildlife, such as eagles and loons.

If you wish to experience the island for yourselves, it is very easy to locate, but please be sure to contact the owner in advance and ask permission if you intend on stepping foot on the shore. He is very generous, however he asks that the visitors keep the island clean and discuss plans before visiting. For information on how to contact him contact me through this site in advance.

Lake Winnecook Camping Trip Pictures (Sep. 28-30)

Jon getting the canoe ready on the island

Part of the island we stayed on

Amanda pulling the canoe at the launch ramp

Jon and Jay's vehicles prepared for the trip

Amanda up front

Our campsite

Where we landed the canoes, just a short distance from the campsite

Mount Blue State Park Summary (August 19-24)

This trip included the following destinations:

• Mount Blue State Park
• Tumbledown Mountain
• Coos Canyon
• Smalls Falls
  

During some of the last precious moments of summer I was privileged to experience the peaceful camping Mount Blue State Park had to offer in central Maine. I went as a member of an orientation trip for Unity College known as NOVA, along with 13 other freshmen students and two upperclassmen group leaders. On our first day, after establishing a campsite, we had personal time to explore the part of the lake we claimed as ours for those five days. As the sun went down, disappearing behind the nearby mountains, the lake offered its mysterious sounds for our enjoyment. Filled with the beauty of various calls from loons, ducks, and cranes, the air settled in with a slight chill. Many of us huddled closely by our campfire and conversed about our hometowns and those we left behind, while the rest explored the beaches and woods with headlamps in seek of nocturnal wildlife.

During our first full day outdoors, we traveled a short distance down the road to Tumbledown Mountain. As many of the students were beginners, we took one of the easier routs up, known as the Brook Trail. After roughly three hours of climbing, and a few small rock scrambles, we reached the lake atop Tumbledown. As we climbed the last major boulders, we turned to the left and the view was simply breathtaking. One by one, our group members looked out across a beautiful valley shining in the midday sun. For those that had never witnessed this kind of natural beauty before, it was a moment of personal victory, and a reward for the work they put into the hike.

Upon reaching the edge of the lake, after a few moments of gasping in awe, most of the students headed for the soothing cool water. The lake worked wonders on our soar feet, as we shared content smiles with one another. At this point, none of us had began to think about the climb down. The most important thought running through our minds was that we had successfully climbed Tumbledown Mountain, and the sparkling waters that greeted us had been well worth the morning's climb.

The lake had given us another gift, however, as an excited climber from a different party approached me. In his hands he held a pair of binoculars, and on his face he wore a large grin as he began to speak. "There's a large moose over there!" He was fascinated as he took one last glance through the lenses before handing off the binoculars. As I watched the moose on the opposite shore of the lake, I too became fascinated. He was a large bull moose, and shortly after drinking from the sparkling water, he made his way in for a swim. It was a moment many of our group members had been waiting for, especially those whom had never been to Maine or seen a moose before.

The day was moving on quickly, so once the moose disappeared back into the tree line, our now rested group began to pack up and put on the last of their gear. At around three, we began our descent down the Brook Trail. The trip down took significantly less time, and the mood was much happier than it had been earlier that morning. Between us we shared mixed emotions of pride, satisfaction, and slight fatigue. Nevertheless, the trip had been successful, and the topic stayed on the tips of our tongues long after we reached our campsite.

Our next event as a group was a trip to Coos Canyon. The day's events were focused around the simple hike along the canyon river. We were free to separate into small groups and explore for a few hours, and many of us used the time to relax and reflect while taking in the gorgeous scenery. We also encountered our first store in several days, and many of us went in for some fresh food and drinks, and the occasional gift for loved ones back home. The day soon came to closure, as it had been one of casual relaxation, and the night once again settled as we spent another night around the fire. Karaoke was not a stranger to the night hours either.

The last main event of our trip was the hike up Smalls Falls. It was a simple hike, taking less than half an hour to reach our destination at the top. We then broke off into smaller groups once more, and explored the various trails along the river. The day was disputing over forecasts, however, and the sun didn't shine for quite some time. Regardless,the waterfalls were beautiful to watch even as the heavy clouds lingered above. Midway through the afternoon, we broke up our groups again, and each of us were instructed to have some personal time alone to meditate and think about our trip so far.

On our final day at Mount Blue, we encountered our first bad weather. We packed up all our tents and personal gear in the morning rain, and began to head up to the vans with what seemed like an endless supply of bags, tents, cooking equipment, etc. We took one last look at the trail leading to our "base camp," and loaded up the last of the gear. It had been an amazing trip, and an experience most will never forget, even if they didn't realize it at that time as their minds flooded with the thoughts of hot showers and clean clothes. Even without all the luxuries of modern society, each of the members had found a way to continue smiling. The five days at Mount Blue, to some of the students, had also been an introduction to the outdoors. However, to some of the other students, it was a continuing chapter, although this time the setting was different. It was the first time for all of us to be in a college atmosphere, even if the ideas of classes and exams had been miles away from our thoughts.

I would strongly recommend Mount Blue State Park to beginner campers for the following reasons:

• Privies are available, which is always convenient.
  
• There are designated places to camp, making it a safe location for beginners.
• There is a decent amount of privacy, despite the fact that it is a public campground.
• There are plenty of things to do, including a public beach and an amphitheater.
• The park is well maintained.

Mount Blue State Park Pictures (Aug. 19-24)

Lake atop Tumbledown Mountain

Tumbledown Mountain

The view from Tumbledown Mountain

Jon and Amanda on Smalls Falls

Welcome!

Welcome to the Northeastern Excursions blog! Are you interested in the outdoors and all it has to offer? Follow us on all our outdoor excursions as we explore nature across the Northeast. For the 2007-08 years we will be focusing on Maine's natural playgrounds, where we'll be going on camping trips and day hikes. We'll write about our journey and provide additional photos (and videos on occasion), and we'll announce our next destination in advance, so if you don't see us on the trails you'll see us on the blog site. Thanks!
Jon