Monitoring the Maine Woods
On Feb 9-13, I completed my 39th winter excursion in Baxter State Park with several colleagues.
The first day, Thursday, we skied from Abol Bridge to Daicey Pond (6 miles). On Friday, we snowshoed from Daicey Pond to Big and Little Niagara Falls on Nesowdnehunk Stream (2.2 miles). Saturday, after watching a fiery sunrise, we skied from Daicey Pond to Kidney Pond and back (6 miles). We skied from Daicey Pond to Ceilia Pond near the west boundary of the Park on Sunday (5 miles). Monday, we skied from Daicey Pond over hill and dale to Elbow Pond, then south on the Tote Road to Abol Beach and back to our vehicles at Abol Bridge (12.5 miles). Total miles: 31.7.
Baxter State Park is one of the oldest, largest, and most beautiful protected wildlands in New England. It is a good example of the importance of allowing natural processes to reign while people can experience an evolving Northern New England forest in a natural setting.
Over the past four decades, I have traveled on skis and snowshoes in the winter in Baxter State Park more than 1,500 miles. Seeing the park with its winter mantle of snow always reminds me of the power of nature to rejuvenate not just ecosystems, but also the human spirit.
~ Jym St. Pierre, Maine Director, RESTORE: The North Woods