The Boomer's Guide to Hiking in Maine: From Woodsy Rambles to Dozens of Peaks

By Peter and Suellen Diaconoff

Why a hiking book for Boomers? Because Boomers are a savvy lot and they know that one size does not fit all. While they may be up for adventure and eager to challenge themselves, they wisely want to know what they are getting into before taking the leap. Thats exactly what youll get in this lively and informative hiking book, appropriate for both novice and experienced hiker.

Organized into five Boomer Rating categories according to the level of challenge, the 75 hikes of this book begin with an honest assessment of the physical demands (and pleasures) of a hike, then give you all the advance trail intel necessary to make your day in the woods memorable.

Drawing upon first-hand experience, the authorswho didnt start hiking until into their fifth and sixth decadesare eager to encourage others in the upper-age bracket to enjoy the great benefits of hiking. To entice you out, they include a full spectrum of hikes from easy rambles to dozens of peaks, giving you a wealth of helpful and practical advice about the trails, along with entertaining and informative anecdotes about wildlife, trail lore, Maine history, and tips for dealing with creaky joints and cranky knees.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Oct 5, 2011
• ISBN: 9781462035588

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Overview

Boomer Rating One:

Starting Out—Woodsy Rambles

Okay, so you’re hooked on wanting to enjoy the outdoors, but either don’t have much time or maybe are just getting back into shape after a hiatus from hiking. We’ve got just what you’re looking for in our Boomer Rating One suggestions, because these rambles require neither many miles nor, for the most part, any real altitude challenge. All of our recommendations are less than two miles round-trip, and many are shorter, though some of them could be extended. Their footpaths will have some up and down, or a single steep section, but we deem them all to be fully doable by most folks. Still, we would take along a single hiking stick, but that’s primarily because we take a hiking stick even when we take a walk around the neighborhood.

Most of our selections are like Sunday walks in the woods, offering all the pleasures that such a title suggests. Plus, for a very modest amount of energy, you’ll have the opportunity to see the state and explore several regions from the coast to the western mountains, and the broader Capitol area, all the while learning some history and getting outdoors.

As we have continued to discover, Maine has many hidden gems that even longtime residents may not know about. For example, it wasn’t until we had lived in the state for nearly two decades that our friend Milt took us to one of these hidden treasures—beautiful Vaughan Woods with its picturesque stone bridges and waterfalls, evoking an earlier age of elegance.

Garden areas, also, will make for especially nice walks, from the small and very worthwhile Thuya Gardens in Northeast Harbor on Mount Desert Island, to the nearby, peaceful Asticou Azalea Garden.

For woodlands serenity, you could take the short and well laid out path near a pond at Gott Pasture in Wayne, or the short but steep path up French Mountain in Belgrade Lakes, or the lovely Parker Pond trail in Fayette. On the coast, at Boothbay Harbor, visit the Porter Preserve, where you can choose from among a variety of fine walks on a sixteen-acre preserve.

If you’re up for a little huffing and puffing, take the short and charming walk to the summit of Jockey Cap, in western Maine, on the outskirts of Fryeburg. You’ll be amazed at what a simple one-quarter mile trail can lead to: splendid 360-degree views including famous peaks in both New Hampshire and Maine.

Should you want a more dramatic trip, visit the hallowed ground of the B-52 crash at Elephant Mountain, outside Greenville, where, spread throughout the forest, you will see the fuselage and pieces of the plane, and get shivers as you find yourself recreating the scene of that fateful winter day more than four decades ago.

What is wonderful about Maine is that while there are many fine strolls that have been around for a long, long time, every year seems to bring more new possibilities, particularly on Maine’s nearly one hundred Land Trusts. So, do check the Web to discover what may be near you. And in the meantime, we offer a handful of delightful recommendations to get you started. To the outdoors!

Acadia Gardens: Thuya Garden at Asticou Terraces and Asticou Azalea