July 9 Peaked & Little Peaked Mtns

A sunny and warm day was on the schedule for the hike on Peaked and Little Peaked Mountains in Clifton. This was is a strenuous hike with about a 700 foot gain to Little Peaked Mtn, a 700 foot descent and another 800 foot gain to Peaked Mtn. Both mountains offered spectacular views of five lakes, the Penobscot River, the mountains of MDI, and Mount Katahdin.

July 2nd Ship Harbor

A foggy muggy day awaited about 23 DOC hikers who were brave enough to challenge the weather mans predictions. The result was another great hike with spectacular coastal vistas as the reward for the brave ones. Thanks to hike leaders Jane & Gordon.

July 9th Hike Location Change

Due to the poor trail condition and abundance of mosquitoes and black flies at Lead Mtn, the hike for Thursday July 9th has been changed to Peaked and Little Peaked Mountains in Clifton (aka Chick and Little Chick Hills).
This is a strenuous hike with about a 700 foot gain to Little Peaked Mtn, a 700 foot descent to the col and another 800 foot gain to Peaked Mtn. On a good day both mountains offer views of five lakes, the Penobscot River, the mountains of MDI, and Mount Katahdin.
An alternative hike, for those wishing to get the views but not wanting to climb both mountains, is to follow the jeep road (1.3 miles) to the top of Peaked Mountain. This is a moderate hike with loose rock and an elevation gain of about 800 feet.
Both groups can meet at the top of Peaked Mtn for lunch and sight seeing. We can all hike back down to the parking area together.
Be sure to contact Gloria H if you plant to attend.

June 25 Holbrook Sanctuary on Cape Rosier

Finally the best weather day of the week fell on a Thursday and about 23 hikers were able to enjoy the Holbrook Sanctuary trails and lunch on the beach of the Bagaduce River.

June 18 Catherine and Caribou Mountains

The weather finally gave DOC hikers a great day to explore both trails 0n mt. Catherine and Caribou . Hike leaders Dick & Barbara had their hands full with 30+ hikers that scattered like kids at summer camp. It was a warm sunny day with great visibility.

New Features to Blog

Two new features to the DOC blog have been added.
A club activity calendar and a Audio link to Outdoor wildlife sounds courtesy of Wild Sanctuary's Wildstore (wildsanctuary.com).
Note clicking either of these links on the top left side of this page will take you to a new web page, clicking the back arrow will return to the DOC Blog. Enjoy

DOC Hiking Schedule for the 3rd Quarter 2009

DOWNEAST OUTING CLUB

Activity Schedule – July, August, September, 2009

Contact person must be called to confirm meeting place and time. If you cannot reach contact person, call Jim Z. Don't forget your lunch. In consideration of other hikers, please, no dogs on the trail. Unless otherwise specified, meet at 10AM for all hikes.

July 2 Wonderland/Ship Harbor

Walking on trails and along shore. Meet at Seawall pkg area. Call Jane and Gordon R. if you plan to attend.

July 9 Lead Mountain

Meet at Airline Diner on Rt 9 in Beddington. Good views from the summit, 6 mi roundtrip. Call Gloria H. if you plan to attend.

July 16 Great Wass near Jonesport

Long and short flat walks available. Meet at Nature Conservancy pkg area on Beal’s Island. Call Bev N. if you plan to attend.

July 23 Hirundo Wildlife Refuge in Alton

Hirundo Bd member, Dick Andren, will lead a canoe trip. 6 canoes are available or bring your own canoe or kayak. Walking trails also available. From I95 exit 197, drive 5.1 miles west on Rt 43 to Wildlife pkg area. Call Shirley E. if you plan to attend.

July 28 (Tuesday) Corea Heath and Bar Island

Change of day necessary to accommodate the tide. Meet at old Navy pkg area on rt side of Rte 195, 2.6 miles beyond intersection of 195 and 186 in Prospect Harbor. Call Alice W. for further information if you plan to attend.

Aug 6 Great Pond Mountain in Orland

Meet at Craig Brook Hatchery pkg area. Shorter walks available. Swimming in Craig’s Pond an option. Call David and Elise A. if you plan to attend.

Aug 13 Schoodic Point

Climb Schoodic Head or walk at sea level. Observe the sculptors at work at the Schoodic Sculpture Symposium. Meet at parking area at entrance to SERC (the old Navy Base) gate house. Call Pat B. if you plan to attend.

Aug 20 Bucksport " Around Town " Hike

Meet at the public parking lot on Main St. behind the Post Office. Call Jim and Kathy Z. if you plan to attend.

Aug 27 Gulf Hagas near Brownville Jct

Spectacular 3 mile canyon contains 5 major waterfalls. Strenuous 5 or 6 miles roundtrip. Meet at 8AM at park and ride area at jct of Rtes 395 and Odlin Rd. Call Jack W. if you plan to attend.

QUARTERLY MEETING September 3

Potluck Lunch at noon, St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Ellsworth

Call hostesses: Marcia P, Jane R, or Jessie R.

FRIDAY, SEPT 4 Three mountain tops

For further information call Sue S. if you plan to attend.

Sept 10 Dorr Mountain in ANP

South Ridge Trail. Flat walks available in area. Meet at pkg area on east side of Route 3, ½ mile south of the Tarn. Call Pat M. if you plan to attend.

Sept 17 Cadillac Mountain – South Ridge

Meet at Blackwoods Campground off Rt 3 near Otter Creek. Call Ron and Charlotte S. if you plan to attend.

Sept 19 ( Saturday) (rain date Sept 26) Westcott Stream Dogs welcome. Meet at Reny’s in Belfast. Call Judy K. if you plan to attend.

Sept 24 Schooner Head Trail

Flat walk with a possibility of exploring Anemone Cave. Meet at Schooner Head Pkg area. Call Christina D. if you plan to attend.

Officers:

President Jim Z.

Vice President Gordon R.

Secretary Shirley E.

Treasurer Bob B.

Schedule Pat B.

The next meeting of the planning committee will be at 10AM on August 21st at Mr. Paperback in Ellsworth. Contact any of the following with suggestions and offers to lead hikes: Sue Sullivan , Linda B, Dick F., Jim Z., Joe B., Gloria H., Jane and Gordon R., Dave A., Christina D. or Pat B.

Annual Camping Trip will be August 16, 17, and 18 at Pleasant River Campground near Bethel. Contact Gordon R. for options and rates. Make check out to DOC and send to the club Treasurer Bob B.

The Downeast Outing Club, its members and contact persons, take no responsibility and have no liability for any accident or injury associated with its activities. Participants do so at their own risk and with the understanding that trip leaders are not experts.

DOC 2009 Camping Trip Aug. 16 - 19

The camping committee has selected Pleasant River Campground in West Bethel, ME for our annual camping trip. The dates are Aug. 16 - 19 (Sun - Wed), with the actual overnights on Aug. 16, 17, 18 (Sun, Mon, Tues, check out on Wed.)

Campground website is www.pleasantrivercampground.com; phone no. is 207-836-2000. The campground is located on the Androscoggin River, and has lots of amenities, including outdoor pool, kayak/canoe rentals, and a well-equipped store. The Bethel area also has an abundance of good hiking opportunities.

We have reserved a group site that should be adequate for our group, which has averaged about 20 - 30 in the past couple of years. The site is a large grassy area that includes picnic tables and fire rings; no electricity. It's about 150 feet from the bath house, which includes free hot showers. The rate for campers using the group site is $7/person/night. The campground also accommodates all sizes of RVs (not sure what the RV rate would be)

The campground does not have any of its own cabins. There is a motel immediately across the road (Rt. 2), called Pleasant River Motel (800-847-7786). It has 18 rooms, each with 2 double beds or a single queen. The web site is www.pleasantrivermotel.net for more info. According to the website the rates are $75/night for weekend nights (which includes Sundays) and $49/night on weekdays. The motel is completely separate from the campground so you have to make your arrangements directly with the motel.

The campground owner also has a friend who owns two fully furnished condos, which are located adjacent to the campground. Each condo has 2 bedrooms and a pull out sleep sofa (i.e., the unit sleeps 6), full kitchens, linens, etc. The condos rent for $100/night. If anyone is interested a condo, they should contact Michelle at the campground. Note that payment for the condo is cash or check - no credit cards.

The group camping site has been reserved with my (Gordon's) credit card. The campground needs a 50% deposit no later than a month before we arrive. It would be helpful to get a head count and/or payment from those planning to use the group site no later than July 1.

The camping committee (Gordon/Gloria/Linda/Barbara-Dick) will plan to visit the campground after it officially opens on May 1. Let one of us know if you have any questions.

Pleasant River Motel 764 W. Bethel Rd Rt-2 800-847-7786

Pleasant River Campground Route 2 West Bethel, Maine 04286 207-836-2000

April 24 Gorham Mountain on MDI

Cold windy weather postponed Thursdays hike one day to Friday the 24th. Then winter gave away to a glorious sunny day. This was another Moderate hike along MDI's Ocean Path and past Thunder Hole then after lunch . . . up Gorham Mtn with an elevation gain of 525 feet and nice views from the top.

April 9 Fields Pond

Jane & Gordon led this hike which was scheduled to be a moderate 3 mile hike in the woods, but the Maine winter lasted a bit longer than our planning committee planed on. As an alternate hike we met at the Audubon Nature Center in Holden and proceeded on a 5+ mile hike on the Fields Pond Rd.
After the hike DOC members were invited to Jane & Gordon's home for a demonstration of sugar maple making AND an opportunity to sample some home made maple syrup on ice cream. As you might have expected this hike had a much larger attendance than most hikes.