Maine: Up to Camp!

Live Maine Lobsters

Eric and I along with the Maryland Sled Dog Adventures sled dogs just returned from ten days of adventures up north at our cabin (to Mainers it's a "camp") in Maine.

Hanging the new sign we received as a gift

Along the way, we had two nice Maine lobster dinners. All of the lobsters we purchased this time were "hard shells" vs. "shedders." Eric and I both agree that shedders are much easier to eat than hard shells and even have a different (sweeter) taste than the hard shell lobsters we had on this trip.

We also purchased a new gas grill for the cabin to replace the tiny Weber "Smokey Joe" (portable) we were using as our grill up there.

Eric spent several days cutting and splitting firewood for the wood stove come winter. The new log splitter and the electric chain saw sharpener really helped make that task easier. We also managed to score four free pallets while down at the Home Depot in Augusta. One pallet will be used as a small "bridge" through a wet place on our tie trail (the trail that connects our cabin to the surrounding trails) while the other three were used as a base for Eric's wood pile.

New gas grill

Okemo waits for dinner

Chloe (the cat), Eric and T-Bone relax on the couch

For recreation, we hiked up to the top of Mt. Blue (approx. 3000 feet) in Mt. Blue State Park, took a trip up to Rangeley, and went swimming in Lemon Stream and the Sandy River. The hike up Mt. Blue was quite strenuous as it rises a little under 2000 feet in just 1.6 miles. Along the way we saw tons of moose activity but, sadly, no moose. Once at the top, however, the views were spectacular. Along for the hike were Okemo and Acadia.

On Sunday, we decided to take a short drive up to Rangeley. Along the way we stopped and got some Giffords ice cream. Even Acadia and Zoe enjoyed an ice cream treat.

Acadia checks out the view from the top of Mt. Blue

The view from the top of Mt. Blue

Eric at the top of Mt. Blue

Fish eye view

Webb Lake

Rangeley Lake

While up at the cabin, we had temperatures ranging from the mid 90s to the low 40s. As they say in Maine: "If you don't like the weather, wait a minute."

Most of the time the day time highs were in the 70s with very low humidity

Camp Out at Green Ridge State Forest

Man, all this camping stuff is exhausting thinks T-Bone

Eric and I along with all of the Maryland Sled Dog Adventures sled dogs and our friend and fellow musher, Katie and her Siberian, Sadie spent the past Labor Day weekend camping at Green Ridge State Forest in western Maryland. While the weather was dry and gorgeous with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s and lows in the low 50s to upper 40s (perfect), it was disappointing to find that all of the streams, rivers and creeks we so enjoyed swimming in last time we camped at Green Ridge had completely dried up. Most of the weekend was spent "talking dogs" and relaxing with a couple of short bikejor runs and hikes mixed in to exercise the dogs and people.

The "Taj Mahal" of tents (aka Casa Benson)

Katie's tent attached to the back of her Element

Acadia, Sobo and Okemo hanging out on their drop lines

Weenie roast

Sadie hides out

Camp fire

T-Bone hangs out in the kitchen

Hanging out around the camp fire

Sleeping Sobo

Talkin' dogs and cameras

Up North Adventures!

Waterfall at Gulf Hagas

Maine scenery (one of the few hazy days)

One of Maine's highest water falls: Moxie Falls

Maine heat wave!

Through the trees: Cabin in the woods

Eric, Acadia and Zoe at Moxie Falls

The Maryland Sled Dog Adventures sled dogs have a new seasonal abode...in Starks, Maine.

The sled dogs were tired of the heat and humidity that plagues Maryland in the summer and the lack of snow in the winter and purchased a cabin (a camp to all you Mainers out there) up north in Maine. After several whirlwind trips for home inspection, closing, etc., the sled dogs, and their two legged humans, Eric and Catherine, headed "up ta camp" for the month of August and were able to get down to some serious relaxation.

"Up ta Camp"

Okemo relaxes under the table at the cabin

Eric relaxes at Gulf Hagas

Sobo clearly finds the couch up north quite comfortable

Acadia enjoys resting in the bunk room

While up north, the sled dogs enjoyed swimming at the local swimming holes in Lemon Stream and at Clearwater Pond (that's a lake for all you non Mainers), visiting several of Maine's great water falls including Moxie Falls and Houston Brook Falls, running and playing, visiting fellow mushers at Critterwoods and Fort Illio Kennels, long daily walks, hiking Gulf Hagas, exploring new trails, picking (and eating) blueberries and blackberries, making blackberry jam, reading lots of books, sitting around the camp fire, and just plain relaxin'.

And while much of the time was spent relaxing and vacationing, there were things to be done at the cabin including working on the chain saw, preparing the cabin for winter, and cutting and chopping wood for winter fires in the wood stove.

Acadia and Eric swimming at Houston Brook Falls

Canicross hiking Gulf Hagas with Sobo

The iron works at Katahdin Iron Works

A quick dip in the cold waters of Gulf Hagas

Sobo chose not to swim at Gulf Hagas

Acadia and Eric visiting Houston Brook Falls

Houston Brook Falls

Maine blueberries

Okemo "helps" Eric sort and clean the blueberries

The sled dogs will be returning to Maine this winter to participate in their favorite activity, dog sledding.

Interested in dog sledding in Maine on miles of breathtaking trails? Check out our women's only Maine Winter Cabin Adventure and email catherine@marylanddogsledding.com to register. More information on our special women's dog sledding adventure is available on our blog and on our website.

To sign up for your very own sled dog adventure in Maryland, as always, visit our website.