Wendy Almeida

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Published
November 10, 2013

Kid Tracks: Hiking Pleasant Mountain in Bridgton

The hike is a moderate challenge with views that make it worth the effort.
Published
October 12, 2013

Kid Tracks: Short hikes with great views

It doesn’t take an accomplished hiker to find spots to enjoy the majesty of the foliage.
Published
September 7, 2013

Kid Tracks: A summit trip uncovers plenty

My family hiked to the summit of Mount Washington in late-August and learned some interesting things about the place dubbed “the worst weather in the world” and the highest peak in the Northeast. • 1. Hiking up the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail — which features beautiful waterfalls — to the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) Lakes of […]
Published
August 10, 2013

Kid Tracks: The view was outstanding, but about those signs

Mount Zircon in Rumford offers a wonderful mountain-top view of the area. What it doesn’t offer is the best signage. The kids and I have spent a lot of time this summer in the White Mountains National Forest (both in Maine and New Hampshire) and have come to expect certain signage, thanks to our familiarity […]
Published
July 13, 2013

Kid Tracks: Evans Notch at its family friendliest

There are a lot of challenging hikes in Evans Notch in the White Mountains National Forest, but there are two hikes in this area that are great for families or those looking for a less challenging trek with great mountain views. The Roost is a hike that has been on my family’s bucket list for […]
Published
June 8, 2013

Kid Tracks: Learning, with plenty of enjoyment

Learning about the outdoors is a work in progress for my family despite the fact we are outside all the time and I’ve been writing this column for 10 years. But when I’m asked how I learned about trees, birds, the night sky and a whole host of other useful (and maybe not so useful […]
Published
May 15, 2013

Who is the greatest ‘Star Trek’ captain of them all?

I am a “Star Trek” fan, but I don’t claim to be a die-hard one, because I have not loved every incarnation of the series. My all-time favorite “Star Trek” captain is Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) from “The Next Generation.” His compassionate logic and wit as well as his sense of fairness have always been […]
Published
May 11, 2013

Kid Tracks: Keeping fun as the climb’s bottom line

The kids and I, along with our friend Shannon, hiked two mountains this past month but we never reached either summit. We are tracking our “numbers” — elevation gain and mileage — in our attempt to get into shape for bigger mountains to climb this summer, but we have learned to keep our adventures fun […]
Published
April 13, 2013

Kid Tracks: Burnt Meadow Mountain just right for a spring hike

Trying to plan a hike in the spring in Maine, particularly this year, is a real guessing game. Will there be snow? Or mud? Or will we get lucky with some dry conditions? My safest bet has to assume we’ll be finding a combination of all three. Because of the unpredictability of spring hiking conditions, […]
Published
March 9, 2013

Kid Tracks: Whether you’re on on skis or on foot, Portland offers delights

One day it’s snowing, another day it’s raining and just to keep things interesting, a warm day is thrown into the mix. That’s what March in Maine is all about, which makes planning an outdoor adventure a lesson in weather watching and taking advantage of every condition when family time is available. With flexibility in […]