Full Moon Trek, Pigsah Hill

Activity: Snowshoe/Hiking  (I had snowshoed enough earlier in the day.. I hiked, with my microspikes!) 

Location:  Pigsah Hill 74 Dougherty Rd. New Glouster

Cost: Free!  But... this event was sponsored by the Royal River Conservation Trust.  You can always donate to the then  become a member, or volunteer with them to say thanks! 

Parking: There is a small parking lot, maybe enough for six vehicles in the winter.  For this event parking along hte road was allowed. 

FMI:  Event page can be found here. Apparently this was the 8th annual event! 

Notes: There is something magical about a full moon... and on nights when the sky is clear and the air is crisp... it is even better!  Tuesday night I joined the Royal River Conservation Trust for their February Full Moon snowshoe/trek up Pigsah Hill in New Glouster. This was the same day as my adventure in the Mill Brooks Preserve...so my legs were a bit tired... making this trek a bit more challenging than it would normally be! 

I think the trail is about 1.5 miles round trip.  The way up is a steady incline... so it is a short hike, but has some incline.  (Maybe the incline seems more at night? Or maybe after having done a lot of miles earlier in the day?)   

It was dusk when we arrived at the parking area, around 5:30.  (If I do this next year I think I will wait a little bit and hike up a little later... so that the moon was higher in the sky!!)

As we entered the woods it seemed to get dark quickly.  I used my headlamp! 

The trail was well marked...

 About a half mile in there is this kiosk.  It shows that the trail to the top is a circle.  So, either way you decide to go, you will reach the top! It is like a lilipop!

It is a strange sensation being in the woods at night in the winter... I like it! 

I should include I opted to wear my microspikes instead of snowshoes.  I wore my microspikes on my LLBean boots, the classic type of LLBean Boots... One of my mocrospikes kept coming off... I think my microspikes are better suited for hiking boots... lesson learned!  (Truth is.. my toe was sore after the earlier adventure and I wanted to wear boots that had extra space in the toes!)  

The climb to the top was pretty... and there were quite a few people... a steady stream of hikers and snowshoers... kids and adults.  It was really great to see families out enjoying time outside together.  I would imagine this would be one of those events that kids remember for a long time!  Especially if it is an annual tradition!  

Close to the top of the hill there were a couple of luminaries.... made of snow.  It was so pretty! I wish there had been more!

 As we got to the top we saw the moon rising over the fire.  It was a very cool image! 

Shannon decided to roast a marshmallow... which adds to the experience!  

I mean... seriously.... a fire in the snow...on top of a hill...as the full moon rose? 

 As it turns out the three of us who had come together as part of FitMaine had all had long days... and we didn't stay at the top for too long... we descended the hill....meeting people along the way who were on their way up... It's pretty cool to see people with headlamps trekking through the woods!! 

Of course we had some things to laugh about on the way down!  Shenanigans  may have happened!

This is a photo of some other people coming off the trail.  

On my way home, near Pineland Farms the moon was stunning. 

Lesson from this adventure... Full Moon events are something everyone should do at one point or another.  I have done some full moon kayak adventures... but this was my first winter full moon hike... and it wo't be my last!  

I had seen a variety of similar events, hosted by many land trusts... If you are looking for an event like this, check out the land trusts in your area!  

 

Here are a couple of selfies with my headlamp...safety first! ... apparently the red light is night vision? I didn't use it on the trail... sometime I will try it out!