Connecticut River 14th Annual Source to Sea Cleanup, postponed to Oct 16

Posted on October 12, 2010 by NETrailhead

The Connecticut River Watershed Council has postponed the 14th Annual Source to Sea Cleanup until October 16 because of rising water levels.

Area residents will take part in the 14th annual Connecticut River Watershed Source to Sea Cleanup, a one-day community cleanup of the Connecticut River and its tributaries. The four-state event is coordinated by the Connecticut River Watershed Council, a non-profit advocacy organization working to conserve and protect water quality and quantity, habitat, and recreational access within the entire Connecticut River watershed.

More Information:

Film Festival – Celebrate the Paddling Lifestyle

Posted on June 1, 2009 by NETrailhead

Maine Island Trail Association and the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT) are thrilled to present the Second Annual Paddlers Film Fest at the Jewett Auditorium at Southern Maine Community College on Thursday, June 4th from 7-9 p.m. (Doors open at 6 p.m.; come and mingle.)

All proceeds from the festival will go to benefit MITA and NFCT. Advance tickets $10; at the door $12; students $8. Advance tickets available by calling MITA at 207.761.8225 x107.

For more information, see Second Annual Paddlers Film Fest page at MITA.

American Rivers and NOAA awards grant for New Hampshire’s Black Brook

Posted on September 11, 2008 by NETrailhead

America Rivers released an announcement yesterday that will benefit Black Brook in New Hampshire.

Washington D.C. Sept. 10, 2008 – Rivers and fisheries nationwide are getting a boost, thanks to a partnership between American Rivers, the nation’s leading river conservation organization, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Restoration Center. $310,000 in Community-based Habitat Restoration Program Partnership grants were awarded this year to improve fish passage on rivers in five states.

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Tumbledown Mountain Weld, ME

Posted on August 14, 2008 by deni

Tumbledown Mountain found in Weld, ME, located just outside of Mt. Blue State Park, approximately 2 hours North of Portland, has become on of the state’s most popular hikes. While not one of the tallest mountains in the region, this little mountain, with an elevation of 3068′, packs a punch, but rewards you with one of the prettiest views and a great alpine pond to cool down in as a reward.

Open 24 hrs as you can camp out here overnight, outhouse located at the Brook Trail trail head, carry in carry out, dog friendly, hiking, camping, conservation, wildlife, bird watching, fishing, alpine pond, swimming.

For more information: http://www.tumbledown.org/

To Get There: (directions from Summitpost.org) From Portland, Maine, take I-95 north to Route 4 in Auburn. Follow route 4 through Auburn, Turner, Livermore Falls, and Jay. Turn left on 156 and follow into Weld Village. At the four way stop in Weld, go straight. Turn left at Webb Corner (large sign). Within about 1/2 mile, a logging road (Byron Road) leaves straight ahead in a 90 degree turn. The Brook Trail leaves Byron Road approximately 4.4 miles from Webb Corner. The Loop Trail also begins on Byron Road approximately 5.8 miles from Webb Corner. Both the Loop and Brook Trail heads are fairly well marked but I suggest setting your trip odometer when you make the turn at Webb Corner so you know you are in the general area.

* We mis-read our directions and found our Maine Gazetteer essential to finding our way back.

On our hike, we chose the Brook Trail as my husband had hiked this mountain before and remembered on the Loop Trail and Ridge Trail that there were places with ladder rungs to help hikers, as well as a hole on the Loop Trail that you would need to take your pack off to get through called the “fat man’s misery”. Since those trails would not be appropriate for our dog, we decided on the “easier” trail. The Brook Trail is approximately 1.5 – 2.5 miles (depending on which site you are looking at) with a 1, 600 ft height gain. Don’t be fooled though. The beginning of the trail is loose rock of various sizes on a wide path with many water barriers across the trail directing the water to the sides. Approximately 3/4 – 1 mile in, the path suddenly goes almost completely vertical. You will need to climb over many boulders and cross the stream 3 times. There is a rock step stair that parallels the waterfall near the top. The alpine pond is beautiful and the view can’t be beat.

Notes: We went up on a Saturday in July 2008. We found the trail head to be packed and had to park along the side of the road with many others. There was a constant wave of hikers, fishers, campers and dogs going up and down the mountain. The beginning of the trail was easy packed rock, which changed as the elevation changed to loose rocks of various sizes and there was almost a shallow river running through the trail. There were work crews there working on the water diverts in the trail. As the trail elevation climbed more vertically, we found that even the dogs had some trouble climbing and eventually allowed them off-leash as many others were doing. This is not a beginner’s climb. I became overheated and eventually sick and had to rest often. It took us almost 3 hrs to reach the top, although we were passed by more fit hikers. The alpine pond at the top was a pleasant cool down on a hot and humid day for me as well as the dogs and was a very popular spot for many to have lunch. The climb back down was confusing at times as we lost the blazes 4 times. It was easy to back track though and get on the right path. The climb down was almost scary for me as I am a little afraid of heights and looking down at what I had climbed up was a bit daunting. I began to understand how the mountain got it’s name.

Have you been here? If so, what were your thoughts about this hike? Or did you take a different trail? If so, I would love to hear about it. Please post a comment and let me know about your experience.

Mount Agamenticus York, ME

Posted on July 5, 2008 by deni

Mt. Agamenticus located in York, Maine is a great hike without the long drive and still being close to many amenities. Mt. Ag is located very close to the tourist areas of York and Ogunquit, ME. It would be easy to spend time at the mountain and then hit the beach and have a great dinner in the area. At the top of the mountain the lookout towers offer amazing views of the Presidential Mountain Range as well as views to the Atlantic Ocean. There is active conservation going on all over the mountain as well.

Last visited June 2008

Activities: hiking, mountain biking, snowmobilling, horseback riding, atv riding, bird watching, dogs on leash as well as off leash with voice control, snow shoeing, picnicing

Open Dawn to dusk, no trash, portable restroom, private residence on site

To Get There:

Directions to Mount Agamenticus from the North:
Take I-95 South to Wells (exit 19)
Turn left from exit onto route 109. Go 1 ½ to 2 miles to route 1.
Turn right (south) onto route 1.
Follow route 1 into Ogunquit and through “downtown”.
At the flashing yellow light hanging over the road, turn right onto Clay Hill Road (also called Mountain Road and Agamenticus Road).
Follow this road 2 ½- 3 miles to a stop sign.
Turn right onto Mountain Road and follow it for about 1 mile.

Directions to Mount A from the South (using Route 1):
Take I-95 North into Maine. Take Exit 7, York (the last exit before the tollbooth for the Maine Turnpike).
Follow signs to Route 1 North (keeping right after the exit ramp). Turn left onto Route 1 North.
Approximately 3.5 miles after turning onto Route 1, turn left on Mountain Road. (Across from Flo’s Hotdog Stand)
Follow Mountain Road for approximately 4 miles to a stop sign after crossing the interstate. Turn right and continue on Mountain Road for approximately two and a half miles from the interstate overpass.

There is a parking area located at the base, or you can follow the road up to the top where there is another parking area. There is a large sign showing the trail system and welcoming you to the area. There is a lookout tower, picnic tables, a private residence that has a large deck lookout for the public and rental hall. You will also see the first of many ski lift parts along the trail. The mountain has a history of having been a ski resort for a few years in the 60′s.

There is active conservation in this area. According to the website:

Community Conservation
The Mount Agamenticus Conservation Region contains 10,000 acres of land and is one of the largest remaining expanses of undeveloped forests in coastal New England. The region is known for its abundance of vernal pools, rich biodiversity, and unique trail system and is home to many of Maine’s rare plants and animals. State, local and non-profit landowners are working together to protect Mount A’s water, wildlife, and land. These landowners make up the Mount Agamenticus Steering Committee and include: the towns of York and South Berwick, The York Water District, Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Great Works Regional Land Trust, York Land Trust, and The Nature Conservancy.

You can choose the length of hike you want from a short jaunt to a longer two peak hike. The trails are easy to follow and are marked well. One thing we found different was that the blaze colors are referenced for the use of the trail, not for the particular trail you may be walking on. At the head of each trail, you can find a box with maps and sometimes other helpful information.

Notes: We saw many families hiking and having picnics. We even saw a brownie troop helping to re-establish various plants in the area. We choose the Ring Trail and had a nice easy hike. The hardest part was the trail from the top to the Ring Trail; we went down Sweet Fern, and it was a little steep and had loose rock. There were many frogs, and one family was looking at a sunning snake.