It may be a surprise to some that I do not always fish. I have been laser focused on getting out on the water more than I have ever before, but I always appreciate the days that I can just put on a backpack and hike through the woods and enjoy nature. I especially love fall as the leaves are turning a beautiful hue and the air is cool, which is great for a physically demanding hike. However, the lack of bugs will probably go down as the best part of the colder months in Maine. Growing up we could easily walk out the back-door and we would have thousands of acres to explore and play. Some of my fondest memories are of snowshoeing through the hemlock grove and being serenaded by the chickadees. This particular auditory memory still makes me smile when I experience it in the present. Chickadees are some of the most numerous birds during the winter and paired with the stillness of the woods during that time really puts me in a good mood. They are by far my favorite bird and I always look forward to them in the winter.
Love playing in the snow
The northern part of Baxter State Park is spectacular
As kids we always vacationed at Jo-Mary Lake Campground and we would always explore the world around us. I loved coming back to camp after a day spent swimming or hiking and smelling the wood smoke and seeing the delicious food waiting for us. Life seemed simpler back then, but whenever I am out in nature I somehow feel that I am taken back to my childhood. There is something about being surrounded by darkness and seeing the stars shine much brighter than anywhere else. Everyone should experience that at least once in their lifetime. I remember fondly the birthday gift my wife gave me a few years ago of a camping trip to Baxter State Park. We stayed at Trout Brook at an isolated campsite and hiked all around the northern section of the park exploring the ponds and streams. The highlight of that trip was sitting by the fire at night playing card games and hearing the coyotes calling to each other. The wind was swirling, so we never really knew where they were, but it was a surreal moment for us and was unique and exciting. We also had a fisher sneak up behind us on a trail and when I turned around he scrambled up a spruce tree and poked his head around to look at me. We just stared at each other for a bit until he scampered back into the woods. I have never seen a fisher that close before and I remember it like it just happened yesterday.
Cooking with a view
Rain! We have that covered.
My Uncle Bill was also a big factor in getting me out on adventures when I was a kid. He was always going out by himself and would let me tag along sometimes. It was on a trip with him during the summer of 2004 that I made one of the biggest decisions of my life. We planned on boating up the West Branch of the Penobscot from Chesuncook Lake. We wanted to make it as far as Thoreau Island to fish for salmon, but we never made it that far due to low water. We ended up camping at Pine Stream on a rock bluff overlooking the river. It was so peaceful and quiet. Through all of the tranquility I made up my mind to move to another state to be with a woman that I had been dating for a few months. She had just moved out of Maine to pursue her graduate degree and at that time I was trying to move to Montana to pursue teaching and guiding. I had been traveling down to Connecticut every other week to see her, but that was getting tiring. It was a shock to my family when I came back from a camping trip and announced my intention of moving out of state. That decision paid off as in 2005 I married that wonderful woman and have not looked back since.
Nothing like a hearty beef stew to warm you up after a long day
Fall foliage along the river
These stories are just a sample of the memories and experiences that I have built up over the course of my lifetime. These memories stay with me and I cherish each one. That is what we want to provide for all of our clients. Whether it is getting out on snowshoes, leaf peeping or a family outing we want you to leave with lasting memories that you can pull out during a late winter snowstorm and are in need of some happy thoughts. We will also provide freshly prepared meals that will be a highlight of your trip. Nothing tastes better than food prepared in the outdoors and we look forward to providing you with this experience. We also understand that some trips may not fit into a specific mold like our fishing trips. Let us know if there is a different experience that you had in mind and we will do everything we can to make it happen. We look forward to taking you on your next memorable experience!
Best time of the day
This view never gets old