Tag Archives: Baxter State Park

Baxter State Park

July 20, 2011   Hiking, Nature, Outdoors

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White water rafters on the West Branch of the Penobscot River

What a beautiful day! I spent the day up north with Melissa, my sister. We drove out the Golden Road in search of moose and other photo ops.

The weather was perfect – not hot but warm and breezy. Melissa got a little sunburn. We brought a picnic lunch and ate at Cribworks, also on the West Branch.

Crib Works on the West Branch of the Penobscot River

Melissa saw Mathew, a friend of hers, at the south gate of Baxter State Park. He’s a ranger there. We’re completely jealous of his job. When we grow up we want to be park rangers at Baxter State Park. We’d get him fired if we could have his job. Just kidding! I can’t imagine anything could get Mathew fired. He knows that park upside down and backward and obviously loves his job. When I said we were going to Ledge Falls, a natural water slide, he said every vehicle that had gone through the gate in the 20 minutes he’d been standing there were going to the falls. “What are the odds of getting into the parking lot to go to Sandy Stream Pond?” The parking lot fills up quickly. If you want to be sure to get in you have to pay $5 to reserve a spot. If you don’t show up by 7 am you lose your spot even though you paid for it. I love BSP but really? Lose your paid-for spot? That sucks. We lucked out. A moose pass had just been turned in. A moose pass gives you three hours from the time you leave the gatehouse until you have to be back. You lose nearly an hour in driving and stopping at an outhouse before hitting the trail.

Two bull moose in Sandy Stream Pond, Baxter State Park

The boardwalk at Sandy Stream Pond is 4/10 mile from the parking lot. It’s an easy hike. Melissa spotted the bull moose on the left in the shadows at the far side of the pond. Not long after we got there we heard a grunt coming from the woods on the opposite shore. The bull in the water immediately moved away from the second moose when it appeared at the edge of the pond. It took a while for the first moose to relax before they were this close together. The darker moose in the back is very thin. You can see his ribs and lack of muscle tone. They’re two or three years old.

We left SSP and drove nearly an hour to Ledge Falls. It was 5:30 pm by the time we got there so we didn’t slide. We will next time. We’re planning to go back soon with a group of friends and kids to spend another day in the park.

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Henderson Pond

September 2, 2009   Maine, Maine Outdoors, Nature, Outdoors

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Melissa and I flew to Henderson Pond (Baxter State Park area of Maine) yesterday. I’ve wanted to fly in a small plane since deciding to conquer my fears. She’s flown several times, loves it and would like to have her pilot’s license. We flew with Jim at Katahdin Air. He needed to drop supplies off to the carpenter who was working on a cabin he owns on the pond. We drove up early, spent some time in Millinocket running an errand for Jim, then climbed into the plane. I was too excited to be nervous. Besides, what’s the point? Being nervous while you’re flying is useless.

The scenery is gorgeous. I’ve wanted to see the view from the top of Mt Katahdin but a bad knee keeps me from making the climb. I’ve now seen the view from above Katahdin. Take off and landing were smooth both times. It was a rush to land on the pond. There are two ways to Henderson Pond–flying or hiking. I’ve thought of renting the cabin for a week as a private writing retreat. I just might do it some day.

Henderson Pond

Flying to Henderson Pond was a lot of fun!

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Cow in Baxter State Park

June 22, 2008   Homestead

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I stood 15′ from her.  The man I was standing with annoyed her by using his flash.  You can see her ears laid back in the second photo.  He turned it off and she relaxed and was still standing still when we finished and walked away.  Smaller monitors might have to right click and chose ‘view image’ to see the whole picture.  The moose at Sandy Stream Pond don’t know life without people nearby.  I wouldn’t reach out to touch one but I’m not afraid to let them walk past me.  I haven’t been to Sandy Stream Pond during the rut.  I wouldn’t let a bull in rut come this close to me.

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Mt. Katahdin

January 27, 2008   Maine Outdoors

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Sunset behind Mt. Katahdin, Baxter State Park, northern Maine.  We were off the farm today for my nephew’s birthday.  He’s 14 and not letting me forget that, “Auntie, I’m a lot taller than you now.”Mt.

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