Tuesday, November 7, 2023
Bull Rock, Dixfield (912') 11/7/2023
This afternoon, we went for a short hike up Bull Rock in Dixfield. We decided to make a loop, ascending via the trail described in the newest edition of the Maine Mountain Guide from 142, and descending via the traditional route from Moxie Heights Road. I hadn't taken the trail from 142 before today, and we discovered that it is an extremely steep trail with lots of erosion and poor footing. While steep, it does provide direct access in 0.3 mile to Bull Rock, compared to the longer, albeit far less steep, 1 mile long route from Moxie Heights Road. It also has about double the elevation gain, (400' vs. 200') compared to the route from Moxie Heights. We found that it was excellent to do as a loop in a clockwise direction, as the descent down to 142 could have been downright hazardous today with the wet leaves and rocks on the steep trail. Bull Rock is always a great spot to visit, and is also a nice side trip on the hike up Sugarloaf. It provided a very nice view out over the village of Dixfield and up the Androscoggin River Valley.
Monday, October 30, 2023
Cathedral Pines Pathways 10/30/2023
Today's storm delivered 4 inches of snow to the Eustis area, so we headed up to Cathedral Pines Pathways for my first ski day of the season, although Sierra decided just to walk, instead of ski. The 4 inches of dense snow was enough to cover most of the loop trail well. The only areas with issues were wet areas where the ground hadn't frozen yet. Although this snow will probably only be skiable for the next 48 hours, it was great to be back out in the snow and on skis!
Sunday, October 22, 2023
Jewell Hill, Canaan (655') 10/22/2023
One of the new hikes added to the new edition of the Maine Mountain Guide is Jewell Hill in Canaan, also known as The Pinnacle. On this rainy Sunday, I headed over to Lake George Regional Park, where this small summit is located. I hiked a loop of just under 4 miles utilizing the Pinnacle Trail and Townsend Family Trail. The trails were well marked and maintained, although parts of the Townsend Family Trail were quite wet today. There isn't all that much to see at the summit of Jewell Hill, besides a small clearing where there may have been a bit of a view in the past, but it's still a nice network of trails to hike. It was a good choice for a rainy day, as I had the trails all to myself and I wasn't missing out on any views.
Thursday, October 19, 2023
Fogg Island Preserve, Mount Vernon 10/19/2023
Today we went for a hike at Fogg Island Preserve in Mount Vernon. This Seven Lakes Alliance property protects over 400 acres on the west side of Long Pond. The trail through the property passes through the forest and across a boardwalk to a picnic area on the shore of the pond. The trail is well marked and maintained, and we didn't see anyone else during the entire hike.
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