Morse Mountain

Morse Mountain is a very neat family outing.

From Bath, Maine, take route 209 to route 216 in Phippsburg (just past where 209 turns toward Popham Beach) and a left onto Morse Mountain Road (pvt.).  There is a parking lot up the hill on the left.  Just be aware that when the lot if full, they do not let anyone else in.  We arrived around 10am on a beautiful October Sunday morning, and the lot was roughly a third full, but when we left around 2pm, the lot was full.

The conservation area is managed by Bates College for conservation, research and recreational activity.  The one and three quarter mile "hike" is really an old road (paved many many years ago) that through a salt marsh, past beautiful ledge, through the woods, and goes up and over Morse Mountain (elevation 180ft). At the summit, are a few private homes, but the view over the marsh to the ocean is stunning, and on a clear day, you can see Mount Washington (it was pretty clear, but we didn't see Mt. W.).  Going down the hill, the road goes through marshy areas, some very old trees, and out to a nearly deserted beach with large rock outcroppings, healthy grassy dunes, and long stretches of pristine sandy beach.

We were there at low tide and the beach was wide and inviting.  The walk in is the only way to access the beach, and access to the walk is restricted, so the beach was basically ours to enjoy.  The water was chilly, but Leah and I did splash in the surf and we all enjoyed playing in the sand, looking for beach treasures, and running in the wonderful autumn warmth.

On our walk back, we saw a porcupine asleep in the sun, resting in the crook of a big old pine tree.

Borestone Mountain

We hadn't hiked Borestone in quite a few years, and are glad we remembered it!

About 8 miles east of Monson (up near Moosehead) on Elliotsville Road, is the Borestone Mountain Audubon sanctuary. This is part of Maine's one hundred mile wilderness. After the bridge over Big Wilson Stream, follow the signs left. The parking area is up the hill, over the railroad tracks, and on the left.

From the gate, the Base Trail leaves the access road and heads left, through piles of shale, climbs steeply through some really nice big old trees- hemlock, spruce, aspen, maple, birch, and other magical beings. The trail is filled with interesting staircases and can be steep. 

After about three quarters of a mile, the trail meets the access road and continues about a quarter of a mile to the Audubon visitors center and two small ponds.  It is very spectacular to see the autumn foliage reflected in the pond.

There is a donation box at the visitor's center.  There is an area that invites us to make fairy houses in the jumble of rocks and soft ground.   Leah loved this area; she loved finding the little houses that many others had tucked into thick moss, nestled in the duff, and perched against trees..  She and Andrew spent a long time perfecting their beautiful little spot. We decided not to bag the peak, but to turn back at this point,; we followed the access road about a mile and a quarter down to the car. Along the access road, there is a spur trail to a lookout. This makes a nice two-ish mile loop.

For a more adventurous day, the trail continues from the pond up the side with scrambles and some nice climbs (I remember iron handholds...) and up to the beautiful open peaks in about a mile.  The many mountains of the Moosehead area are visible, as are bunches of lakes and ponds.  This is a particularly sweet time of year for sweeping views. 

Lost, or Just Hiding?

Autumn is Baxter season!!!

Love the Lost Pond Trail.  We started at the AT trail head south of the Daicey Pond day use lot.  The trail starts out very exciting with some rock hopping and and slippery boardwalks over muddy sections.  In just a few minutes, the AT continues south and the Daicey Pond trail sneaks through some soft woods and down to the water's edge. I told Leah we were going to Lost Pond and she seemed worried that it was lost so I told her we'd find it; "it must be playing hide and seek" she reasoned.

Walking along the edge of Daicey, the views of OJI and  Katahdin are fantastic, awe-inspiring; it is hard to take everything in. The narrow trail is lined with cedars, mountain laurel, and moss-covered rocks. 

The earth smells delicious and the sound of the waves lapping softly against the shore remind us why we love the quiet of October.

The Lost Pond trail leaves about a half a mile from the junction of Daicey Pond and climbs gently up through spruce and cedar and the landscape is strewn with erratics big and small and huge!  It is a soft, quiet trail with few people but lots to look at.

Just as we reached the rise before descending to Lost Pond, Leah told us she was looking forward to getting to the car so she could nap.  We decided that we didn't need to reach the pond, it would be better for her to nap in the car than have a short nap in the pack.  The pond is a great hide and seek player!!!

Alas...

But since she was awake in the car, we stopped by Stump Pond and were treated to the sight of a moose family, bull, cow, and calf all enjoying the beautiful autumn afternoon.