11/11/14 Newman - Bangor Hill

Another nice day. Mix of sun and clouds and temps in the 50's. New map and better markings at the intersections. I think this is the first time we have followed a route without getting off track at some point, and we have gone way off track as there is private land along with the land trust property and snowmobile trails, old woods roads, and trails not on the map which can lead you a long way from where you planned to be. . We followed the route indicated on the map above.

View from Newman Hill

Kelley waiting for me to get my picture - she is wearing her blaze orange because some of the trails cross property where hunting is allowed.

When we reached the old rail bed we followed it NE for a bit until it became water covered

I assume this is the work of beavers though I didn't see a dam or lodge

We turned back and then took the short spur to Pine Pond

and then heading back we had to visit Black Pond

A pretty good day. There was little storm damage and Kelley was happy with all the water. It's also an easy hike for her with no work arounnds . Once again we met no one so had a quiet time.  2  hours 

11/10/14 Partidge and Ducktail Ponds

Another nice day - upper 40's and mostly sunny. We started from the Partridge Pond trailhead. Most of the snow had melted and there was more on the bog bridges than on the ground.

The trail had lots of wet spots and there were small pools beside the trail.

We usually hike to the top of Partridge and them come back and do the side trails to Partridge and Ducktail . Today I was apparently wool gathering  until I realized we had somehow turned onto the trail to Ducktail - we continued on to the pond.

Where the stream runs out of the end of the pond

A panoramic shot of Ducktail- please click for large view



We returned to the main trail and followed it to the top of Partridge and then came back to go to the bottom of that pond.

Waiting for me

Some pictures at Partridge

There was little storm damage except when we got near the top of Partridge and then not as bad as most we have encountered. But it kept us from going down to the pond there- there was also more snow and that trail is not blazed .

Another quiet day in pretty surroundings which we had all to ourselves.  2  1.2 hours 

11/9/14 Eliot Mountain and Harbor Brook

Much warmer with temps in the 50's and a mix of mostly clouds with some sun. We had not done this loop in awhile and Kelley really likes the brook section.

The Eliot Mt. Trail was still pretty wet on the lower part with water like a small stream running either beside or on the trail. Not much storm damage so there wasn't a lot to work around.

The Eliot summit is wooded but we got a view from a ledge just before the top.

We use the Asticou Trail to get to Harbor Brook. The trail crews have done a lot of work on it.

When we reached the Harbor Brook Trail Kelley was into the water

There is a spot just off the trail where we usually stop for lunch and Kelley knows it and goes right to it. Today there was no place dry to sit so I just took a shot of the brook and we moved on.

This trail is mostly right next to the stream and Kelley gets in numerous times.

Waiting patiently

Nearing the end

There had been more downed trees and branches on the brook trail but still not bad. It was a nice quiet day in the woods - we didn't meet anyone and Kelley had lots of water. She seemed in good spirits and even more agile than usual.  2  1/2 hours 

11/8/14 Sheepscot Headwaters

Rain yesterday so we just walked around the neighborhood  in it. This morning is sunny and 30's with a brisk wind making it feel colder ( we got clouds later) . The snow, rain, and storm damage made it hard to know what kind of conditions we would find so we chose this area because there are several alternatives.

Starting from the Whitten Hill Trailhead, we walked up to the Northern Headwaters Trail. Up on the hill part of the trail there was little snow and not much storm damage.

As we started down toward the river there was more snow and downed trees. We took the Goose Ridge Trail for a short distance because there are two streams there that Kelley likes. There was a lot more snow and a lot of downed trees and branches we both had to work around. In places it was difficult to follow the trail but we got to the streams.

We then returned to the Northern Headwaters Trail ( continuing on the Goose Ridge brings us to an old broken dam that Kelley cannot cross) . and that was a mixed bag with some sections in pretty good shape and others with storm damage, water, and snow.

Two pictures of the river

In spite of wet feet and a lot of work arounds it was nice to be in the woods. We had them all to ourselves as we didn't meet anyone- we seldom do here. 2  1/4 hours

11/6/14 Walden

Printer still not working so no map

Gray and 30's with rain in the forecast.  ( more rain for tomorrow) Back to nearby Walden with a little different route- following Kelley's lead

She took us on a side trail that led to this pond but it had a thin skin of ice along the shore so she would not enter.

Back to the Loop Trail and out to the old rail bed. A section we didn't do last time. This part is less open and had a lot more storm damage. Lots of work arounds.

Kelley spotted water running across an old woods road so we went down to it. 

Another pond with a skin of ice along the shore

and some Lichen

We got in 2 hours without getting rained on, there was lots of water for Kelley, and a pretty good hike in spite of working around all the fallen trees- and getting very wet feet. 

11/5/14 City Forest

Gray and 40's. Back over to City Forest. The roads are plowed but the way across the meadow has much less snow than two days ago  so we took that.

There was a thin skin of ice on the beaver pond and Kelley did not like it so passed on the pond. There was lots of water everywhere so not a problem.

The trails had received a good deal of damage.

We did our usual hike, taking the West Trail to it's end and then the rail bed to a side trail back to the West.

A leaf and a weed

When we got back to the pond the ice was gone and Kelley was able to get in. One last shot before we climb the hill.

Not a bad hike. Few people- we met a dog friend and her people but no one else. Lots of water for kelley and she could work around the blow downs easier than I could.  2  hours

11/4/14 Walden

First we went to City Forest but the road in had not been plowed yet and no one had crossed the meadow so we went to Walden to check those trails. One person on snowshoes  had preceded us so we had a little advantage.

A leaf at the start

The storm had cause a fair amount of damage with lots of branches and some trees down across the trails.

but Kelley found some water

and  some sections were in good shape

Some lichen

I don't know what these are

More leaves

Kelley was happy to be back out in the woods and it was a pretty good outing though I sensed the trudge through the snow had tired her some. We just did a little less than 1  1/2 hours