3/30/15 Northern Headwaters Trail

Thirty five and gray- light rain or snow forecast. We still have lots of snow but now it's getting soft and making walking difficult. Headed to this area because there are several hikes in the area and we hoped one would be OK.

At this trailhead the parking lot had been plowed so that was a good start. There had been some trail use , though not very recently. Still not bad if you watched your step - though the snow seemed to support her, Kelley mostly stayed behind and followed my steps. .You start up the hill and then this first section, along the ridge,  is one of my favorites.

Going down the other side

The trail then swings SW and eventually gets near the stream. Before we got there Kelley found some water-not much - but liquid water.

Not too far beyond here  there was no evidence of prior traffic and each step resulted in me being knee deep in snow. Kelley just stopped and watched me until I gave up and turned back.

Heading back

On the way back light snow started and continued the rest of the day. In spite of the difficult walking it had been a pretty day in the woods and very peaceful as we met no one.  1  3/4 hours 

3/29/15 Little Long Pond

Around 30 and sunny. Still below freezing at night so hard to tell what the trails will be like. We went to the park to see if the Eliot Mt. trail had been used- it had not been and there was also no room to get the car off the road anyway  On to Long Pond where we knew there would have been use.

We started from the upper parking lot and the trail to the Friends Path was in good shape.

The lower part of the Friend path was lumpy and slippery but we would not have to go up it as we were going to loop around the pond.

We met a nice couple and their dog at the start along the east side and walked with them as the dogs played They turned back at the junction with the carriage road and we continued on.  The path on the east side of the pond was lumpy and though it supported Kelley I occasionally broke through but we met more people with dogs and that made Kelley happy.

The path on the west side was easier walking - people had  stayed near the middle rather than wandering all over the path .

A view of the pond from the carriage road  north of the pond.

A couple more people with dogs on this side where we less often meet people. A good day for Kelley.

A nice hike in spite of the iffy footing. It was strong enough to support Kelley and she was happy to greet all the people and dogs. 2  1/4 hours 

3/28/15 Downtown.

Thirty degrees, gray and windy. Looking for something easy so we went downtown for what turned out to be a short walk. Kelley just wanted to sniff everything and though I let her pick the route it was not long before we were back at the car.  We both need some spring weather.

The Kenduskeag Stream

The annual race is only 20 days  away. http://www.kenduskeagstreamcanoerace.com/info/

3/27/15 DeMeritt Forest

Gray, mid 30's with light drizzle .Still a good bit of snow so we were afraid  trails would be too soft and thought at the forest we could at least walk the roads.

The first part of Sewall, which had been plowed in the past had little snow and some bare spots.

Further on where it had not been plowed there was more snow but the walking was still not bad.

Kelley likes the side trails but though they would support Kelley I kept breaking through and so we stuck to the roads until near the end.  We did take the Blue and Red Trails from Logan back to Sewall. I tried to take a picture to illustrate the depth but it was not successful.

Kelley seemed happy, nevertheless  - we met two men with friendly dogs and another man without a dog. Not the best outing but at least we got in some exercise . 1  1/2 hours 

3/26/15 Trails Off Fields Pond Road

Trails new to us and thanks to our friend Mary for telling us about them.

Upper 30's but cloudy with rain forecast. Couldn't find a map that I was sure about our route so this is an approximation. We started from Fields Pond Rd. and walked to Elm St.

There is a large substation at the start

But we quickly moved into some nice woods for the rest of the hike.

We avoided the rain and even got some bits of sun ( the rains came later in the day ) . Kelley was enthusiastic- she really likes new trails she has not been on before. The surface is starting to soften but the footing was still quite good.   2  3/4 hours 

3/25/15 Glenburn Trails

Sunny, no wind and 29 degrees- up to 40 when we finished ! Supposed to rain the next two days so we wanted to get in a good one today.

We were even able to park beside Hudson Rd. and start from there. It was a really nice day to be in the woods

When we got to the intersection of trails 2 an 7 we continued on 7 which I did not think we had done before.

It continued in the woods for awhile and then ran beside some house before turning onto a utility easement. I then realized we had been here before- one day when we had got ourselves lost and wandered around a lot trying to find our way back. At this point it was time to turn around.

I didn't take many pictures today - mostly just enjoyed the nicest day we've had in months. Kelley seemed really happy too.

A very enjoyable hike. Surprisingly, on such a beautiful day, we met no one on the way out and a skier and one pair of snowmobiles on the way back.  3  hours 

3/24/15 City Forest

Ten degrees but sunny and no wind - supposed to get above freezing this afternoon. Kelley did not seem very enthusiastic this morning so I decided we needed a shorter easy hike and we went to the forest and followed the route shown. No one had yet been on the side trails we use so we stuck to those that were used.

Still plenty of snow.

Kelley seemed fine and seemed to enjoy the hike once we were out there. It was a pretty morning and we were surprised to not meet anyone.  1  1/2 hours

Here in Maine

http://hikinginmainewithkelley.blogspot.com/

3/23/15 Paul Bunyan Trails

A repeat of yesterday's weather- cold and very windy ( 10 degrees and gusts to 25 mph )  but after failing to avoid it yesterday we headed out. We had not done the section from Broadway to the Kenduskeag in awhile and it's only a couple of miles from home.

This section of the  trail had been rerouted since we last did it. It used to have a nice section of woods in the middle of two open areas. The trail now skirted the woods and left us open to the frigid winds

 After crossing Kenduskeag Rd. we were finally in the woods

We decided we could still safely cross the stream, rather than go up to the bridge.

We were then on the section we have done several times this winter - prettier and more protected from the wind.

We walked to the end of Pushaw Rd. and turned around.

Looking down the Kenduskeag as we cross on the way back.

Pretty but very cold. Not surprisingly, we met no one. Kelley was enthusiastic and never seems bothered but cold or wind. 2  1/2 hours

3/22/15 Home and Then.....

Call me a wimp but we are staying home today -  the forecast:

Partly sunny. Patchy blowing snow. Brisk with highs around 17. West winds 20 to 25 mph. Gusts up to 45 mph... increasing to 55 mph this afternoon. Right now its 13 

We did a short walk around the neighborhood and Kelley wanted  to stay out side where she is now. A stubborn girl.

LATER

I went out several times to see if Kelley was ready to come in and she finally did.  I sat down at the computer and she came over wanting something - she seemed to want to go back outside and I opened the door leading to the garage exit and she went directly to the car- she wanted to go. I helped her in and went inside to get dressed and drove to nearby Essex Woods - there are trails and a dog park. After greeting the people at the park - she wasn't that interested in the other dogs - we headed down the trail to the old rail bed and walked that both ways before coming back up. . She was happy to be out walking.  My Ex says i have  "spoiled her rotten" . Perhaps. 

3/21/15 Paul Bunyan Trails

Upper twenties and snowing with rain predicted for this afternoon. The start of this hike is only a couple of miles from home so we thought we could get in a hike before the rains came .

Supposed to be light snow but it was coming down pretty good.

The fresh snow made a nice background for pictures

Wooded section of the trail

We went a little further than planned because I wanted to reach a spot that had had water in winter in the past.  And Kelley gets her first water ( though not much ) in a long time.

And one more plant.

This was a day I would have rather stayed home but it turned out to be a nice hike. There is something peaceful about walking in the snow, especially with no wind. Kelley was excited about the snow and the water and seemed to be having no difficulties.  2  1/2 hours