A Brief Visit to White Mountain National Forest

April 16, 2012

Now entering White Mountain National Forest!

This day was a gorgeous one, with the temperatures ranging from the mid 70’s to 80’s, and not a cloud in sight. I had the day off due to Patriots Day. Mia still had school. I wanted to keep her with me for the day so we could adventure together, but I know that she needs the consistency for schooling. So, because I was going to have to pick her up in Oxford Hills later in the day, I headed north to do a bit of hiking and fishing.
I really had no idea where I was headed for the day. I knew I wanted to try something different. I let my senses take me over, and they seemed to steer the Jeep in it’s own direction. As I drove, the fir trees started gathering closer to the road way. A river played hide and seek with the roadway, and then gave into it’s coy game by becoming wider and more pronounced, staying with the road for the majority of the way. The houses and buildings became sparse and after some time, nonexistent. Eventually, the big green monster landed in the town of Gilead. I continued on route 25 when I saw a sign that said Evans Notch.
I knew I wouldn’t have time to hike it today, but I took the left hand turn down 113 anyways to get a feel for the land. As I drove further, I became overwhelmed by a strong sense of nostalgia. It was the feeling of returning to a long ago visited area, as though I had been here before, but I couldn’t for the life of me ever remember venturing into this area. And the further I got down this road, the stronger the feeling got.

Scenic turnout. 

Eventually, Route 113 leads into the White Mountain National Forest. The tag line on the sign read “The Land of Many Uses”. As I poked around in here, I realized how true this tag line was. Along the road were several areas to make a camp site. There were a couple of scenic turn outs for peering into the natural setting that really gave you a feel of the lay of the land. Even if you’re not the outdoorsy type, just taking a drive through this scenic area would possibly leave you longing for a day or two in a wonderful habitat such as this. The river continued to make it’s way up to the road and then back into the woods again, providing ample places for fishing and swimming. And the number of hiking trails in the area were unreal.

Wild River, with abnormally low water levels. 

I stopped here and there to wet a line and to do some exploring. It was nice and quiet up here, with the only noises being the occasional woodpecker, squirrel, or a shrieking bird as it passed overhead. the gurgling water of the running river was calming, even though the water was very low in comparison to where it looked like it should have been. I even managed to get a picture of this little crossing the road behind me. He was quite a ways off so it was hard for me to get a good shot with my point and shoot, but I’m guessing it was a pheasant. I really can’t be sure though.

Pheasant, maybe? He didn't seem to bothered that I was there.

This road kept going along for quite some time before crossing over the New Hampshire border. After crossing, I was greeted by the Basin Pond Camp Ground. I thought for a moment about how I tend to find bodies of water with either similar aspects of landscape, or with similar names. Just  a couple of weekends ago, Mia and I fished the Basin in Auburn. To most, it would just be a coincidence, but for me it gives me an even greater sense of belonging and correct path choices. Some call this spiritualistic, but I call in nature-alistic! And still, through all of this, I had that nagging feeling of dejavu.

Another Basin. I must be drawn to them!

The Basin. I could pitch a tent and live here all summer!

Basin Pond was quite large, and from what I’ve read it offers trout fishing. Yes, I tried, but today I came up empty! A mother and her two young boys came to the shore side to fish while I was there. The youngest one came up to me with excitement in his step to ask me if I’d had any luck. I told him I hadn’t, but I was sure there was something to be caught here. I loved seeing this interaction between another parent and her children. I chatted with the mother for a bit, about kids and such, and then I left the pond for them to enjoy. I handed over what I had left for worms and packed up my gear. I was off to pick up my little adventure girl!
As I was headed back through 113, I realized why I was having this feeling that I was “coming home”. Many many years ago, my family and I had camped, hiked, fished, and panned for gold in Ruidoso, New Mexico while my father was stationed in El Paso. It was there that I really became involved in the outdoors, and gained a love of the waters and trees. From what I can now recall, the area there was much like this. Abundant in rivers, mountains, and trees. Isn’t it amazing how our memories can create such an overwhelmingly wonderful feeling?
I started wondering if Mia might also get these types of feelings when we go to places that we know, or when we head to places that have a similar feel. I know that she does pick up on things as we drive down the road, because when we get close to a favorite trail, grammy and grampies house, or even home, she starts giggling with anticipation in the back seat. I’m not sure if she’s picking up on road signs, specific trees, houses, etc., but I do know that she is always aware of where we are. I can not wait for the day when she can tell me all of these things, and more!
In any event, this place holds some pretty great adventure opportunities, and I plan on coming back with Mia in the very near future. I think she will like it here also, though lately I think she just likes being where ever mom is!

Perfect day for an adventure!

Beauty in the Burghal: The River Walk

It's been about a month since Mia and I made our big move. I am happy about it and excited for her enrollment into the new school, and to see her further betterment and growth! However, I know that we both miss a few things about our old area.

Namely, the availability of trails and fishing spots, the ability to reach them in less than hour, and the beauty that comes with living so close to natural settings. Before, with our pack ready and waiting for use at a moments notice, we could just add our food and water and go. We knew all of the trails in the surrounding areas and had a few favorites that we visited frequently.

Here though, it would take (in most instances) nearly two hours to get to one of our furthest favorite spots. So I've been researching the area finding new places for us to go, and how to get there! (Here comes a summer of trail head searching again!) Gone are our days of walking out the door and and walking to the river or trail.

Though we miss being in a rural setting, being here does push us. To adventure more. And I've used this spur of events to create a couple of goals. 1) To find beauty in the the city, and 2) To find different outdoor recreational areas that can become our new favorites.

Having found and fully walked the Riverwalk walking path that connects the cities of Auburn and Lewiston together, I can say that I have found some beauty already. This path gets it's name because it closely follows the shore of the Androscoggin River. It is about a mile long and has some pretty scenic areas that create a unique "brick and nature" combination. Ducks, geese, and seagulls play in these waters while people of all ages stroll along the walkway.

Along the walk are areas of open and cut grass for kids to run around on, and in the middle of the path is a playground as well. Benches dot the walk for people who want to sit and take in a sunset by the river. And there are several areas along the river in which one could wet a line if the desire is there.

Yes, in the midst of pavement, buildings, traffic, and street lights, there is nature here in the city, and it makes it feel a little bit more like home.

Our Perspective On What "Game Time" Is

What does the phrase "game time" mean to you? Board games maybe? Video games? Computer games? Or perhaps sitting in front of the T.V. for hours on end watching the big game?

In my house, game time means Mia and I racing to the water, trail, or back to the Jeep to see who can get there the quickest! Who can find the biggest rock, the most red leaves, or the most interesting thing on our outdoor adventure!

Halls Pond, it's game time Mia!

We usually always stop somewhere to venture outside before we head home. Who wants to be cooped up when the sun is shining and the wind can be blowing through our hair?! Or when there's fresh white powder on the trails to play in? Or when the lakes are frozen and hold promising visions of flags flying from fishing traps?

Yes, game time is our time to get outside and adventure!

First Mother/Daughter Fishing Adventure of The Season!

Beginning of The Basin, Lake Auburn

April 7, 2012

Mia woke up bright and early! And when I say bright and early, I don't mean the crack of dawn. Her normal wake up time is much earlier than that. She's a "get up to catch the sunrise" kind of kid, and I'm happy that she awakes at such an hour with a smile on her face. (She is her mothers daughter!) She came into my room, with that smile that can light up the dark, and hovered over my head checking to see if I was awake. I was, actually, and had been for quite a while before that thinking of our plans for the day.

I reached out suddenly and grabbed her in a bear hug, pulling her into the bed with me for a moment of snuggle time. That moment didn't last long though, as I muttered out to her that we should go get some breakfast, and do a little fishing.

For a kid who doesn't talk, she is very smart and she sure knows what's being said! As soon as she heard the word fishing, she scrambled away from me and grabbed her shoes. (She had obviously forgotten that she was still in her jammies!) I got up, got our stuff together, and within a half an hour we were out the door.

We stopped at a local diner for breakfast, which kind of did not impress Mia, until she saw her food. She was ready to get outside and adventure. Still, she sat patiently and ate her breakfast and drank her juice. As soon as she had her fill, she slid my wallet over the table towards my hand with her big beaming smile. I could just imagine what she would say if she had words at this point. "Here mom, pay now so we can go outside!" :)

Continuation of The Basin

We headed towards Lake Auburn, since it was pretty close to our new home. It was only 7:30 in the morning, and all of the trails on the Route 4 side of the lake were already packed with cars. I decided to head towards the back side of the lake so we could fish The Basin. I'd never fished here before, so I was interested to see what fun awaited us.

We parked the Jeep on the side of the road, and headed over to the side where the picnic area was. I put a shiner on the hook and cast Mia's line out and handed her the pole. She stood there, jerking the pole this way and that, watching her bobber (and the attached bait fish!) jumping out and back onto the water.

I set my pole up with the same bait and cast out, waiting for something.....anything to hook on. Nothing. Mia put her pole on the ground and tugged at my sleeve, showing me her hands. "They're cold", she gestured towards me. I reeled in her line and mine, and we sat at the picnic table for a bit while I warmed up her hands. I put her gloves on after they were warm again and asked her if she wanted to keep fishing. That was a no brainer!

Tips For Safe Independent Hikes: Part One

Most of the time, I am a lone hiker. It's been this way for years, (since I got out of high school actually) and with the exception of the weekend hikes my daughter and I share, I can count on one hand the number of times a friend has joined me on the trail. I've grown accustomed to enjoying time alone in nature at it's finest, and being the very protective momma bear on hikes with my wee one.

Hiking alone has it's perks for me, which is why I enjoy it so. It's my safety net. When I'm stressed, when I need a moment to reflect, when I need to get away from our bustling busy world, the woods are a serene, calm place for me to collect my thoughts and slow this busy system down. It gives me a feeling of adventure and confidence in being comfortable enough to hike as an individual. When hiking alone with my daughter, this gives me the opportunity to bond with her, connect on a level that most will never understand, and create a sense of adventure, a love of being outdoors, healthy habits and memories that will last for a lifetime.

In addition, it also gives me an excuse to scout out hunting and fishing areas! Yes, an ulterior motive of sorts, but hey! What's a girl gonna do?

I've been asked numerous times about the safety of hiking alone, especially being female. To that I always say, preparation is key. I have routines and checklists that I go through before I plan a hike with my daughter or solo, to ensure our safety and survival in the event of an emergency.

Here, I will outline the steps I go through before I even set foot on a trail. Having these preliminary plans always makes me feel secure in hiking the Maine woods as an independent woman and mom, and I hope that this will help you feel comfortable in hiking solo as well!

I will do this post in two parts, starting with the preparation before your hike!

Puzzle Mountain: A Climb For Autism Awareness



Crossing onto Puzzle Mountain.


Last weekend, after Mia and I started hiking a trail that would eventually lead to Puzzle Mountain, I decided that it was going to be my goal to reach this mountain in honor of Mia and Autism Awareness month. I am elated to say that this mission that I had set forth has been accomplished!

Originally when Mia and I hiked part of this trail, I thought it ironic that we were on this trail headed to a mountain with the same name as the icon that stands for Autism Awareness, as well as following the blue trail markers as blue is associated with Autism Awareness. After this weekend's climb though, I realize that it wasn't irony that I was really feeling. It was a sense of realization.

Living a life as a parent of a child with Autism, or as an individual with Autism, is a lot like climbing a mountain.

There are ups...

The beginning of a steep climb.