By Craig Snapp
Photos by Craig Snapp
As I entered my 80th year on planet Earth, I was moved to do some special things to celebrate the upcoming decadal milestone. A top item on my list was to hike trails in all the Downeast Coastal Conservancy public access preserves that I could reach without a boat! (Check out all the trails on the DCC Trails webpage.) Why? I love to hike in nature preserves and for almost 20 years I’ve been an enthusiastic supporter and volunteer for DCC’s mission.
My quest began on June 29 at Pigeon Hill Preserve in Steuben and ended on August 8 at Mowry Beach Preserve in Lubec. Companionship was provided by my wife Barbara on more than half the hikes. It was a fun and delightful adventure! Here’s a map of our travels.
DCC hikes in order: Pigeon Hill, Ingersoll Point, Tide Mill Creek, Middle River Park, Machias River, Beaver Dam Stream, Vining Lake, Orange River Estey Mountain, Reversing Falls, Denbow Point, Mowry Beach, Klondike Mountain, and Pike Lands.
I’m something of an amateur photographer and mapping geek who enjoys recording my hiking tracks using the Gaia GPS on my phone. Below are a few photos taken at Pigeon Hill, Machias River, Beaver Dam Stream and Mowry Beach preserves. These preserves were selected because they represent the most southern, central, northern and eastern preserves in the DCC region.
Pigeon Hill Preserve in Steuben is very popular and famous for its stunning panorama vistas to the East, South and West. Rather than showing yet another panorama photo, see above a shot of me hugging the “Big Lonely Boulder” glacial erratic. It is one of the 12 history/nature educational waypoints along the Pigeon Hill trails.
Machias River Preserve in Machias is an ecologically diverse 917-acre preserve and the largest that DCC has protected to date. Much of the trail provides excellent views of one of Maine’s greatest remaining wild rivers.
Mowry Beach Preserve in Lubec features a 1700 boardwalk leading to one of the most easterly beaches in the country that both humans and birds enjoy.
Beaver Dam Stream Preserve in Wesley is a tributary to the East Machias River. Habitat restoration projects in the preserve have helped make it home to native fish species including endangered Atlantic salmon.
My quest has reminded me:
Celebrate Life!
Nurture the Earth!
Keep exploring!