Activity: Snowshoeing! (Despite the toe situation, I went snowshoeing again...and it was fabulous!)
Location: Hawkes Preserve, Gorham Maine (Part of the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust Trails)
Directions: From
Portland take Brighton Avenue (Rt 25 towards) Westbrook. Stay on 25
through Westbrook. From the intersection of 25/Maine St. and New Gorham
Rd. Stay on Rt. 25 for about 1.8 miles. At the light bear right onto
Rt 237. Drive on Rt. 237 for 2.9 miles entering a small traffic
circle. Take the first right onto Rt. 202 (Gray Rd.) Drive 0.3 miles
and turn left onto Tow Path Road. (There is a sign at the end of the
road indicating Winham Gorham Rod & Gun Club.)
Drive about .3 miles to the end of the road and you will find a small parking area on the left along with a kiosk with some information about the area.
Cost: Free
(If you are so inclined, become a member of Presumpscot Regional Land Trust to help maintain the land/trails.)
Parking: There is a small parking area next to the kiosk that has info on the trail. Today that part of the road had not been plowed. One car had gone in on their own and the vehicle was gone when we left, so apparently they did not get stuck. Even with 4 WD, I opted to park on the side of the road where it had been plowed.
Safety Notes: The trail is pretty well marked, but remember to watch closely for the signs and don't just go where the trail seems to be .... there were several places where I could have headed, but they were not part of the trail system. Follow the signs! Make sure people know where you are going to be! Since I was going solo on this adventure I let someone know where I was going and let them know when I was off the trail!
FMI: Visit Presumpscot Regional Land Trust for more information. This is also a great place to kayak (When the water is warmer!!) See my kayaking blog post here!
Notes:
In my opinion... This is a GREAT beginner destination for winter hiking and snowshoeing. The trail is listed as being a mile long... I followed part of a trail that went onto private property so I ended up doing about 1 mile and a half total. There is enough gentle ups and downs for good practice without being intimidating and so much beauty to take in to really get excited about embracing this season of winter!
The first time I came to this preserve I was participating in an event for the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust. They are responsible for maintaining the trails here and two or three years ago added a new launch for kayaks/canoes. It is a beautiful place to paddle... and since I am new to seeking my own winter adventures, I knew that this was an area with which I had some familiarity, so I felt safe going here.
There is a nice kiosk that has information about the trails and about the area. Please remember to respect the land...stay on the trails... and leave no trace!
This is a pic I took of my computer screen to have with me in case there were no trail maps at the trailhead. (Which there were not... so... remember to plan ahead and have a map with you!)
I am one of those people who saves the best part of my dinner for last... so I decided, for this hike, I would save the river part for last! So, from the kiosk I went left and headed up a very slight hill.
Gladys was very excited to be on another winter adventure. She wore her newest accessory, a backpack. I want her to feel like she has a job...so she will now carry her own treats and water bowl... and if she poops in the woods... I will clean it up, but SHE has to carry it! I think that's fair!
I am no expert in equipment...but this is the backpack I got for her. It is pretty lightweight and probably wouldn't withstand a ton of wear if it is overpacked, but I think, for our purposes, adventures that last a few hours, it will be perfect.
Just over the first hill I could look down the line of powerlines... I was tempted to just walk the powerlines, but then I saw this post with a sign on it. (bottom left of the photo) It has been vandalized, sadly, but the arrow pointed to the left...into the woods!!!
We were the first to make tracks in this part of the trail! (Before long we crossed paths with someone hiking out there and found other tracks indicating others had enjoyed the trail today too!)
Gladys was pulling pretty hard - she was so thrilled to be out in the snow.
The trail quickly takes you towards Great Falls Elementary School. I would guess that the trail is accessed from the school too.
Oh.. I can't remember if it was before or after the school, but there is a place where you have to cross a road to continue on the trail.
Gladys didn't want to stop, but I wanted to get a couple of pictures... this one she seems to be saying, "Joke's on you... you can take my picture, but I don't have to look pretty, ha ha!"
I have to admit... snowshoeing through the trees was beautiful... a couple of times I thought... 'this is the stuff poems are made of!' For those who write poetry.... this would be a place for inspiration!
It was 30 degrees today, which was pretty mild compared to the last few adventures I have been on! So I had fewer layers on... and it was perfect! One base layer under my snowpants instead of two... and no outer jacket... I was plenty warm, but not too warm! And I really enjoyed being out there today... I am not yet as confident in hiking/snowshoeing by myself as I am kayaking.. but... just like I did with kayaking I am starting small and learning as I go.
This was a gentle hill to go down. Again, a great place to practice getting comfortable in your snowshoes.
She is so pretty!!
This was one of my favorite parts of the trail... going down to this bridge... the stream below it was open... so cool to see some open water in the midst of the snow.
Gladys seemed to like looking down at the stream too! Yes that is snow on her nose! She was in her element!
Stream selfie!
Not sure what mesmerized her, but it had her attention... I love that she had some snow in her chin whiskers.
After crossing over the stream I could have gone left or right... the PRLT Trail went to the right... and the trail to the left was well traveled... with a sign that said it was beyond the PRLT property... It was worth the extra steps because it took us out to a great viewpoint on the river.
Gladys liked this spot! She did some belly crawls as we watched some waterfowl swimming by... (I didn't get pictures of them!)
After enjoying the view we headed back to the PRLT property...
How pretty is this??
Those who follow my kayaking blog know I like pictures that have texture... I liked this contrast of soft snow with the rough bark...
As we kept walking we were getting closer to the river. I am not gonna lie... I am always thinking about what my next padding adventure will be... and walking next to the river I love to paddle on, was not a bad way to spend part of my day!
(Can you see the river through the trees?)
The other favorite part of this hike for me was another bridge, a long one. I loved the way the snow looked on the slats and loved the angles of the bridge itself. I loved that there was a bench just before the bridge available for sitting and looking at the view.
Wanted a pic of her with the snowshoes!
The view was very pretty.
Gladys and I stood on the bridge for a few minutes, just enjoying the water.
There is something so powerful about water... feeds my soul!
We kept walking... and it was still beautiful!
The sun through the trees... pretty perfect!
Of course I paused at the kayak launch too...
Because there is open water... it is tempting to get my kayak and paddle.. but I do not have the right gear for winter paddling... (No dry suit and no plans on getting one, those things are PRICEY!)
But the idea of paddling with the snow on the banks of the river is a nice one... But paddling here when it warms up is even more appealing!
So... I am learning to appreciate Maine more as I embrace winter. I really felt comfortable today, striking out on my own and exploring an 'easy' trail. (I don't want to classify things too often because we are all at different levels of fitness and abilities.) I hope to explore more of the properties of the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust this winter and have begun researching other Land Trusts and their trails for more winter adventures.
I hope you are getting outside too! It really is pretty!!! And the view from out here was way better than the view form my couch! (And Gladys was THRILLED!)
Here are a few pics of her after the snowshoeing adventure... (She got some snowballs in her fur... we stopped at the bank and she was certain they would give her a treat...they did!...and she climbed the snowbank in our yard!)
This coming weekend I have a couple of more adventures planned! Learning to XC ski... well... I know how, I have done it... did it a lot as a kid and once last season... but am excited to learn the proper way to turn, to fall, and to go up and down hills... I am certain there will be falling... but hope to gain some confidence so I can get on some trails and not feel like I have to take the skis off to go down a hill.
Cheers to Adventure!
