Outdoors

Published
May 12, 2012

Allen Afield: Follow these tips for fun and safety in Maine’s outdoors this summer

Whether we’re camping or just spending time on the back deck, four tips can make outings more safe and fun this season, and three of them lessen the chances of having serious medical problems, the bane of the outdoors. The first tip works mostly for campers and involves a dunk bag, a common product sold […]
Published
May 12, 2012

Birding: Two new bird guides geared to Maine beginners

May and June are excellent times of year to introduce people to the birding fraternity. Males are dressed in their best finery. Birds fill the air with their beautiful songs. The frenetic activities of courtship, nesting and feeding young make it easy to observe birds. And, of course, our bird population here in Maine soars […]
Published
May 12, 2012

Kid Tracks: A view worth the effort

Caribou Mountain north of Fryeburg is no easy climb, yet so rewarding
Published
May 12, 2012

Hunting: Luck can tip the scales even after lackluster planning

So much goes into successful turkey hunting. Scouting, care and preparation of equipment, being familiar with the property you hunt and meticulous planning all factor into improving your chances of bagging a bearded bird. Despite all that, sometimes things still don’t go as we’d hoped or intended. Then there are those rare days when luck […]
Published
May 12, 2012

Josh Christie: ‘Up’ chronicles hiking adventures of mother, daughter

That Mother’s Day rolls around just as spring kicks into high gear in New England is a happy coincidence of timing — not only are there fresh flowers for Mom, but there’s ample warm weather to bring families outdoors. I know I spent a lot of Mother’s Days as a kid gardening, hiking, or just […]

Published
May 12, 2012

Best Bets

TODAY Fish Fry for Mothers / 10 a.m. in Shapleigh The Saco River Salmon Club is hosting a fish fry party on Mother’s Day. The fish party is at Shapleigh Pond in North Shapleigh from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. No cost. All welcome. Bring a canoe or kayak with proper safety gear. To learn […]
Published
May 5, 2012

Nature-based community hidden in plain sight

Jefferson's five-year-old Hidden Valley Nature Center is growing through the efforts of its volunteers.
Published
May 5, 2012

Deirdre Fleming: Call of the wild birds, decoded

OGUNQUIT – Dan Hansche turned from his makeshift drawing board in the barn at Hilton-Winn Farm and posed the most basic question of the day to the adult students: “What caused the bird to move from the dangerosity?” Hansche asked with early morning zest. “He likes to make up words,” colleague Dan Gardoqui quipped. Be […]
Published
May 5, 2012

John Christie: The lowdown on enjoying the high points of Mount Desert’s ‘quiet side’

Mount Desert Island is always a great place to spend some outdoor time, and no time, as far as I’m concerned, is better than before the vacationing hordes turn the roads headed that way into something less than the private thoroughfares we natives enjoy for a good part of the year. And my favorite part […]
Published
May 5, 2012

Michael Perry: East Pond offers a wonderful paddling day

Bald eagles, ospreys and mountains are among the views on this majestic ride in the Belgrade Lakes chain.