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Northwestern Wilderness Of Maine
Personal Essays
In the midst of faceless crowds in everyday life, there is a place, just over the river and through the woods, to rediscover your lost youth. Growing old without nature is a big mistake. I have spent 30 years within the walls of an office. Where have you spent your last thirty years?
The Northwestern Wilderness Of Maine Personal Essays entices you to become one with nature!
Pour yourself a hot cup of coffee - mouse click the essay titles to read about the Northwestern Wilderness Of Maine.
Introduction
It was the first day of spring,the flowers were in bloom, the tree leaves were unfolded, and the birds were singing as we drove out the farm road for the last time. My eyes watched the farm getting smaller as we began our journey to New England.
Fly Fishing
You look again. Brook trout of all sizes are flying out of the water. There are so many rings of waves on the water, you become confused, wondering where to cast a fly.
Snowshoe Tracks
Dressed in several layers of warm clothing and wearing my red woolen Maine guides coat, I leave the warmth of a roaring fireside within our log cabin to challenge the frosty outdoors.
Fishing In The Jackman Region
What kind of fish were we looking for and where are they?
If we look at the two lakes closest to Jackman, we would think of Big Wood Pond, Attean Lake, and the moose river in between them. You are sure to find brook trout (square tail), lake trout (togue), landlocked salmon, and the splake (what is a splake?).
Ice Shanty
I was excited about going ice fishing for the first time. I gathered my new fishing tools and frozen smelt bait and walked out onto the snow covered ice several hundred yards from the shore of Big Wood Pond, in front of our log cabin.
Fly Tying - The Art Of Creating Artificial Fishing Flies
Fly fishermen think about the trout family twelve months of the year. When they are not out in the wilderness fishing, they are indoors sitting by the warmth of the flickering flames of their fireside; their eyes focused above a fly tying vice. Imagine wrapping a bare hook with a proven pattern of feathers, furs, and dazzling threads, or creating your own secret patterns.
Enchanted Mountain Ski Area
During the 1960s a proposal was made to construct a year round resort on Coburn Mountain, 15 miles south of Jackman, just off route 201.The facility would be constructed in the Johnson Mountain and Upper Enchanted Townships. The name of this facility would be called Enchanted Mountain Ski Area.
Owls Head
Spectacular views are everywhere, but when you know every inch of the land you are looking at, you feel like you belong somewhere. Your eyes trace the trails up the mountsides you traveled many times. Your memories drift back, as you watch the distant lakes and rivers, to the first time you traveled across them in a canoe.
Pulpwood in the Kennebec River
Several decades ago, scenes like this were common. Pulpwood was cut in the Northwestern Wilderness of Maine and sluiced into the Kennebec River. The largest sluice I remember, was located below Indian Pond, southeast of Chase Stream Pond. I enjoyed traveling to this large mechanical slide to observe the four foot pieces of pulpwood splash into the fast river current.
The Tranquility Of The Evening
The tranquility of the evening seduces awareness to the stillness of the water surface. As gentle breezes die down, rolling waves lose their momentum and flatten out. A solitary loon echos from the distant shore.
Northwestern Wilderness Of Maine High
Several decades ago, I was a frequent visitor, hiking to the peak of Sally Mountain. On convenient days, I could drive to the boat landing, at the mouth of Moose River on Attean Lake, take a boat across Attean, to the trail leading up Sally Mountain. It didn't take long to pick up a sturdy walking-stick and hike up to the summit. On the mountaintop I could enjoy a lazy day basking in the sunshine, soaking in the view.
Standing Tip-Toe With Great Expectations
During the early 1960s, as a young teenager, it was easy to get excited about adventure. The surrounding territory was a boys dream. No matter what direction you faced, there was adventure hidden somewhere around a turn in a woods trail, beyond the shore of a lake, or perhaps a hike the thousand feet to the center of town.Where ever I faced, I stood tip-toe with great expectations of exploration.
Riding Bareback In The Northwestern Wilderness Of Maine
You will probably find Herb Everett, hours before sunrise, sitting on the deck of his wilderness retreat, on the shore of Big Wood Pond, sipping his secret recipe of steaming hot strong black coffee, while outlining plans in his mind of the trails he will visit when the sun rises. If Herb Everett said a couple of black bears had coffee and donuts with him each morning - I think I would believe him.
Summer Residence
Living in the Northwestern Wilderness Of Maine, it doesn't take long to learn the names of all the local citizens, the summer residents from 'away', and many of the tourists that visit regularly each year.
It seems I met Bill a million years ago, way back when we were teenagers. It was wicked awesome to hang out on the lake during the hours I wasn't working summer jobs with my new summer friend.
Behind The Mountain
A friend of mine, now living in rural Vermont, told me her dad enjoyed hunting. When his wife asked him were he had been, he would tease, "behind the mountain."
Exploring The Shore
The wilderness has many lakes interconnected by rivers and streams. Most of the lakes contain several islands. A canoe is perfect means of exploring the shoreline of the various lakes and islands.
Coming Soon
Keep Me Bookmarked - I'm on the editor's table *grin*
comments or suggestions appreciated
eldorado@prexar.com
Last Updated: 13-August-2003
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