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This was my first big, snowy hike of the season, and it provided everything I was looking for after the Christmas holiday: quiet trails, gorgeous views, and a great workout. I love the holidays - the lights, the time with family, the excitement of our kids - but it's a busy, overstimulating time of year. I'm always eager to get to the mountains for a good, replenishing hike when it's all over. When planning a winter hike, there are several things to consider: Snowshoes or mic

My husband suggested I create a hiking checklist for myself, since I have a loooong history of forgetting important items when setting out on my adventures. Like the microspikes I forgot to bring on our recent hike in the snowy Whites. Or my wallet, which I left at home while traveling to Vermont for hiking research. Lists have become my life-line, because my brain is not always functioning like that of a full-grown adult. If you’re anything like me, I hope this hiking hack h

A newsletter about hiking can feel trivial at a time when people are fighting for their human rights and basic needs. But then I have an experience like last weekend - watching 100 high school students start hiking at 5:00 am to share a spectacular sunrise from Mt. Battie in Camden. I’m reminded that disconnecting from the chaos to spend time outdoors ignites the motivation to continue valuing, fighting for, and finding refuge in our messy and beautiful world. Hiking is one o

I've done this hike with groups several times and can confidently say it's an ideal adventure for a range of ages, abilities, and dogs....

Me below Piazza Rock. Photo by Jaime Gagnon. The jaw-dropping reward at the outer end of this hike evokes wonder for nature’s majestic...

A moderate, 3-mile loop featuring grand views, cascading streams and stone stairs. Just outside of downtown Camden in Midcoast Maine, the...

Photo by Northern Outdoors (Post originally published in August of 2023) White water rafting offers unrivaled family fun. Lucky for us, we have access to three places to raft in Maine: the Kennebec River, the Dead River and the Penobscot River. The Kennebec and Dead Rivers converge at The Forks in Somerset County and include class 2 - 4 rapids. The Penobscot River runs through Baxter State Park and is a bit more intense with class 5 rapids. I've never rafted the Penobscot, bu

Last weekend, I joined eleven women in a large cabin heated by wood stove, and there was no cell phone service. It was the perfect reset...

Amy Niemczura-Sowa was the first person to ever complete the entire Maine Mountain Guide. Here is the story of her remarkable achievement.

Located just 15 minutes from Sunday River Ski Resort, Buck's Ledge is a quick hike to open views of Mount Abram, The Mahoosuc Range, and...

Located within the Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area, this 4-mile out-and-back hike is among the most stunning in midcoast Maine....

This post was written in April 2022. I learned three things today: 1. Adventures in large groups can be fun - as long as you're...

For a shorter day hike, this mountain offers great views and a steep ascent with 1,420 feet in elevation gain. I've done this 3.8-mile...

Located near Stow in Western Maine, this out-and-back hike is just over five miles with an elevation gain of 1,257 feet. The summit...

This moderate, 2.5-mile hike in Acadia National Park includes incredible views, mossy woodlands, a fire tower, easy parking and...

This spectacular 3-mile loop near Bar Harbor includes a moderate climb to the 525-foot summit of Gorham Mountain with sweeping views of...

This daylong adventure had me on a wild goose chase to find the mysterious monument for Elenora French, the young girl who fell from...

This rugged trail includes 150-ft cliffs overlooking Long Reach Reserve's unnamed island, a fairy house village, a short walk along...

Each year during the first week of June, we gather with 25+ family members in Bar Harbor for several days. We stay in cabins on the same...

If you are looking for some larger hikes to plug into your summer schedule, here are 12 of my favorites in Western Maine and New...