Chances are this time of year everyone has a bit of cabin fever. Typically you’re itching to welcome spring and say goodbye to the cold long winter. Now more than ever it feels so important to opt outside, reduce stress and feel active. Spring can be the perfect time of year to hit the trails – the daylight is staying longer, bugs have yet to appear, flowers are blossoming, and the birds are returning. Now is the time of year when tiny streams transform into small waterfalls. When amphibians emerge on warm rainy nights to begin their migration back to their breeding pools. Everything seems to be coming back to life and enjoying the mild temperatures of this season, but this early spring life is also often a sign that conditions can be very wet!
Therefore, early spring hiking is often a challenge for hikers and trail maintainers alike. Spring is our mudseason, the time of year when our hiking paths become soggy and wet from the melting snow and increased rain. Hikers can often be turned around on the trail as sections become washed out due to increased water levels in nearby rivers or streams. Conditions will almost definitely be muddy! Therefore it is important to always walk in the center of the path. While you may be tempted to walk along the sides of the trail to keep your boots dry, these small steps make the trail more susceptible to damage. Embrace the muddy adventure of spring-time hikes! Stick to stepping on the rocks and bridges wherever possible, but be ready to step into water and mud when necessary. A little dirt won’t hurt, but your actions can make a big difference in minimizing the trail damage.
What is a great location for a spring-time hike? Mowry Beach in Lubec!
Mowry Beach is the perfect location to minimize your impact in the spring. You can start on the 1,700 foot wooden boardwalk that passes through coastal-scrub woodland and skirts a sphagnum bog and cattail swamp; then walk 1.2 miles along the beach overlooking Lubec Channel and Campobello Island.
