3/9/16 Walden Parke

Forties and hazy sun with rain predicted. We picked nearby Walden to get in a hike before the rain ( which never happened) . A friend had said the trails were in not bad shape and at the start they were clear.

This clump looked like it might be starting to green ( wishful thinking ?)

When we got on the north part of the loop it was mostly clear but there were sections of ice - but snow to walk on along the sides

The old rail bed was mostly clear at the start

 and Kelley found water

but some sections still  had ice.

a little color

Kelley wanted to take a side trail  and on it found some nice water

I wasn't sure where the trail went but we came out on the snowmobile trail along the easement and then took another side trail back to the loop. This section was in good shape.

Another bit of color.

This turned out well. Any ice was easily got around, Kelley seemed happy and did well - she was disappointed when several places she usually gets in the water were still frozen. We met a man and his dog but otherwise had it to ourselves  1  1/2 hours 

3/7/16 Newport- Dover- Foxcroft Rail-Trail

This is a 26 mile long multi-use trail. We have done most of it (in sections) . Problem for us, still, is  finding trails with descent footing We didn't know what we would find today. Thirty degrees and cloudy but little wind so it was comfortable.

We started from Dover-Foxcroft  and the start didn't look too bad with snow around the ice.

We soon crossed the river which was full of breaking up ice.

Soon the trail conditions became even better

Even the more open areas had snow and  were OK

 Then it started to snow and became quite pretty - my excuse for excess pictures

When we crossed this stream we stopped for an apple break and then turned back

Final shot of the trail as we neared the hikes end

This turned out much better than expected. The footing was mostly quite good and Kelley was enthusiastic. The snow made it a prettier hike. 2  1/4 hours 

3/5/16 Little Long Pond

Upper 20's and sunny but quite windy, making it feel colder. It's been hard to find good trail conditions so we returned to the pond. My idea was to just walk the carriage roads as I have a sore back.

We parked at the east end of the pond and found it frozen.

So we headed off down the carriage road - Kelley's ears were flying in the wind.

 Just some ice

When we came to the first trail off the carriage road, Kelley wanted to take it and we did. This took us to the Jordan Stream, There was open water in the stream but ice along the banks which Kelley usually won't cross.

I broke away ice so she could get in

But then there was the matter of getting out - looking for a spot.

I finally had to help her out and we headed back on the west side Trail.

A small stream that crossed the trail

When we got back to the pond Kelley checked again but it remained frozen. We met two nice women and their dog and chatted about trails before heading for the car. I was cold much of the hike, though it was better in the woods - Kelley, of course, was unaffected by the cold but disappointed that so much of the water  was frozen. she did well. 1  3/4 hours 

3/3/16 Eliot Mt./ Harbor Brook

Weird weather continues -yesterday 47 and rain - this morning 16 and quite windy when we started - hoping for better trail conditions and we knew the woods would give us some shelter from the wind.

We started from the trailhead on Rte. 3 and the trails were mostly clear with some small patches of ice that were easily got around.

Kelley even found some water early on.

View from ledge near the top - the summit is tree covered witout views.

We took the trail down to Harbor Brook and it was also in good shape. When we reached the brook and the new bridge we found that work on the new trail had continued on the far side of the stream. I wanted to follow it but Kelley wanted to stick with our usual route and so we did.

The woods and stream were pretty but there was still a fair amount of ice in the stream and that stopped Kelley getting in at several of her usual spots.

The trail was in good shape with only patches of ice.

and Kelley did find spots where she could get in the water

Not many pictures today- contrasty light and the cold kept my coat zipped up. Kelley was enthusiastic and did well - cold seems to not ever be a factor for her.  1  3/4 hours.

3/1/16 DeMeritt Forest

Sunny but 22 degrees (28 degrees colder than yesterday when it was 50) and much windier.  Weird weather continues as tomorrow is forecast to be upper 40's and rain.

Kelley was reluctant to get in the car and I was not feeling up to par but tomorrow is not going to be good so we headed to the nearby forest, thinking it would, at least be easy walking.

We started from Sewall Rd. which didn't look bad.

First trail we got on was icy and we did a lot of working around the ice.

White Trail was worse, with water added to the mix of snow and ice. Kelley was not averse to the water - I was trying to keep my feet dry.

Back on the road - more ice. Kelley did pretty well, though I could tell she didn't like the ice and I decided we had got all the exercise we needed and we headed back.

  A little more ice

The trail conditions were disappointing and it was cold and windy but we got in an hour and a quarter. Kelley did well in spite of all the ice. 

2/29/16 Branch Lake

Yesterday Kelley didn't want to get in the car so we just walked around the neighborhood.

First choice was Partridge Pond but there is a two mile drive on a dirt road to the trailhead. Three winters ago we slid off the road and spent the afternoon getting out of there. http://hikinginmainewithkelley.blogspot.com/2013/04/4213-partridge-pond-misadventure.html  I looked at the road this morning and saw ice and opted out. There is a road from Rte. 9 that goes to Ellsworth ( I wasn't sure where it came out) where we could do the  trail at Branch Lake we didn't do a few days ago.

When we got to the trail head it was 50 degrees, mostly sunny, and windy. Rain predicted for this afternoon.

Kelley soon found some water

and I found some ice

The tote road was mostly clear with patches of snow.

Parts of the trail also had snow and some small patches of ice but were mostly in good shape.

The lake has started to thaw, at least near the shore.

Because of the rocky shore, Kelley has a hard time getting to the deeper water

We completed the loop and headed back. Turned out to be a nice hike on a pretty day. Kelley did well. 1  1/2 hours