Doug Dunlap - Waterfall Walks and Easy Hikes in the Western Maine Mountains

M ichael Hhne and Angela Werner of Hhne-Werner Design bring to their craft a deep love and appreciation for the Western Mountains of Maine. Experts in design, who serve clientele world-wide, they are also avid outdoors people who hike our Maine trails and paddle our waters. I am grateful for the combination they bring of skill and insight. Michael and Angela encouraged me to pursue the writing of a guidebook for visitors to our region of Maineencouragement that has led to the publication of four books. I thank them heartily and with deep gratitude.

A succession of editors of the The Franklin Journal, a county-wide newspaper headquartered in Farmington, have welcomed my column Foot and Paddle, which I have had the privilege of writing for nearly 10 years. Some of the entries in this Waterfalls Walks and Short Hikes book have appeared in that column. I thank these editors, who include Mike Petersen, Bobbi Hanstein, Greg Davis, and the current editor, Barry Matulaitis. They have served our Western Maine community with fine vision and a commitment to the outdoor heritage of this magnificent region.

Thank you!

Carrabassett Valley Mountain Bike Trail Map: Sugarloaf Outdoor Center; Maine Huts and Trails Headquarters, Kingfield; High Peaks Information Center, Highway 27, Carrabassett Valley; carrabassett.nemba.org.

Maine Huts and Trails System Map: MHT Headquarters, Kingfield; at individual Huts; at Trailhead signboards/kiosks; High Peaks Information Center, Highway 27, Carrabassett Valley;
www.mainehuts.org

The Valley Below (Map of Bigelow Preserve and Flagstaff Lake): High Peaks Information Center, Highway 27, Carrabassett Valley;
www.mainehighpeaks.com

Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust Maps: RLHT Headquarters, Oquossoc; Outfitters in Rangeley; www.rlht.org

Bigelow Preserve: Maine Bureau of Public Lands (search online); maps may be available at MBPL Office. Farmington.

Mt. Blue State Park: Maine Bureau of Public Lands (search online); Park gatehouse; maps may be available at MBPL Office, Farmington.

Delorme Maine Atlas: Usually more suitable for driving access than hiking, as trailheads and hiking trails are not necessarily displayed. Available at outfitters, bookstores, grocery and convenience stores throughout Maine and the region.

Birds of Maine Field Guide. (2002). Stan Tekela. Adventure Publications, Inc. Cambridge, MN (2002). 119 Maine birds; color photos; compact size.

National Geographic Birds Phone App: Photos, maps, sounds, appearance, behavior.

Forest Trees of Maine, Centennial Edition (2008). Maine Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestryavailable at book stores and from the Department. All major trees to be found in Maine; color photos; identification tips.

Wild Plants of Maine: A Useful Guide (Second edition, 2014). Tom Seymour. Just Write Books, Topsham, Maine. A guide to edible (and inedible) wild plants, with photosand even recipes. Consider the elderberry fritters!

Mountains of Maine: Intriguing Stories Behind Their Names (2009). Steven Pinkham. Downeast Books, Camden, Maine. This book fascinates with references to Abnaki history, colorful settlers, and legend. How about Picked Chicken Hill? Illustrated with reproductions of old postcards.

Lost Villages of Flagstaff Lake (2010) Alan L. Burnell and Kenny R. Wing. Arcadia Publishing, Charleston, SC. Photographs, old maps, and extensive captions pertaining to life in the communities of Flagstaff, Dead River, and Bigelow before the damming of the Dead River and the creation of Flagstaff Lake.

Verne and Me (2013) and Ill Be Back, Judith (2015) H. Coval Conant. Fictionalized accounts of life in Weld, in the 1930s onward, written by one who did exactly that. If you have lived in Weld for a while, you may recognize yourself in this book! Available at Weld stores, other Franklin County outlets, and on-line.

Pilgrim at Tinker Creek (1974). Annie Dillard. Harpers Magazine Press. This is a classic. Dillard writes of daily visits to the creek near her home in the southern Appalachians. With uncanny eye and ear, she brings the reader along on these visits, with a passion.

Have a favorite trail not described here? Have a suggestion? A correction? Have a great time and want to share the good news? Lets hear from you!

Happy trails!

A ll photographs are by Doug Dunlap, unless noted.

Pages 99 and 100 photos by Michael Hhne.

Trail Conditions and Walking Pace: Expect everything from level, leaf-littered trails, to rocks, roots, and occasional mud (enhanced by animal tracks!). The glaciers had a lot to do with it! Those masses of ice retreated 11,000 years ago, shaping the landscape. Streams and rivers carved ways down the mountains sides. Results? The remarkable sculpted terrain of Western Maine.
Expect to take a bit more time when hiking this terrain, as compared with more level ground.

Mountains make their own weather: Have clothing and gear suitable for sudden weather changessuch as fast moving electrical storms in summer, or a cold front that causes the temperature to drop precipitously in minutes. I carry a waterproof jacket, doubling as wind breaker on most hikes, and often another warm layer. Be alert to weather forecasts. Particularly on longer hikes, carry additional layers for warmth and for wind and rain protection. See more suggestions for clothing and gear later in the book!

Water: Carry drinking waterenough for both the hike in and the return hike. Treat all water in the back country (streams, ponds, springs) by filtering, use of chemical purifiers, or other effective means. Clarity of water and distance from roads and dwellings is no guarantee of water purity.

Trail maintenance: Much trail clearing and upkeep is the work of volunteers. Spring particularly is a busy time for trail work, as winter storms and spring run-off may cause damage to a trail. If you encounter a need for maintenance such as a footbridge washed away, or a fallen tree blocking the trail, make an effort to report the situationcontact the trail maintaining organization or property overseer mentioned in this book.