Hiking trips bring rewards of discovery Every trek can raise spirits

Every hike is a chance to explore. Hiking across the landscape by trail is a way to discover just what’s out there. It doesn’t matter whether it’s somewhere you’ve tramped before. Each hike’s different, even when you’re taking the same trail. Different season, different weather, different hike. There’s always something you didn’t notice before.

When I put on my hiking boots and my feet hit the trail, my senses start working in overdrive sorting out all the stimulating surroundings. With each step down a trail, everything about being inside four walls starts to fade. A recent hike a couple of weekends ago revealed all the rewards of discovery I could find while tramping the trails.

I decided to take a trail I haven’t hiked before to add to the sense of adventure. That was easy enough. Even though I’ve hiked trails from Acadia to Baxter State Park, there are still trails from Aroostook County to York that I haven’t trekked. I wanted someplace close, though, so I settled on a trail south of Camden, the Georges Highland Path. It was near my home in Ellsworth, so I drove down U.S. Route 1 that Sunday for the half-day hike.

When I got to the trailhead around 10:30 a.m., there were eight or 10 cars in the Maine Route 17 gravel parking lot. The trail leads to the summit of Ragged Mountain. The day was clear, mild and warm for this late in the fall. As soon as my boots hit the ground, the scent of warm soil and dry leaves rose from the trail.

The map I picked up from the map box showed excellent detail of the 1,200-foot-plus mountain. I guessed it was a little more than 21/2 miles to the top. I followed the rocky trail under a canopy of hardwoods dropping their leaves. It looked like there were more leaves on the ground than on the trees. Yellow maple, red maple and brown oak leaves created a mosaic of color underfoot.

The trail went through a couple of rock walls, then after about a mile, it turned right at the base of a collapsed cliff. The huge rocks that were piled up looked like they had been shed by the mountain. Following the mountain’s base for the next mile, I noticed the absence of birdsong. All but the last of the migrating birds have left for points farther south and the woods were quiet except for the sound of a northwesterly breeze in the trees.

Soon I reached the start of the climb up the southeast side of the mountain and ascended steeply. Partway up a view opened up of Mirror Lake at the mountain’s base. Looking across the valley, the forest was painted with gold, brown and red. Around peoples’ farms and houses below, the last of the green mowed lawns stood out against all the color.

At another turn in the trail another view opened, this one of Penobscot Bay, Rockland Harbor and Owls Head jutting into the Atlantic. Bedrock ledge was underfoot and the granite slope grew steeper nearer the top. It was a little before noon and the sun shone brilliantly on the water. After a short climb, the radio tower on the open summit ledges came into view. The views were now to the west and across the ridgeline. The mountain stretches on across a distance of about another mile and a half before the trail takes you to the other end and farther to Barnestowne Road.

There were all sorts of people on the trail. Older people, dads with kids, younger couples, all sorts. I stopped on a rock bench near the top and dug out the map from my fanny pack. The text on the back stated that on a clear day you could see Mount Washington. I met a couple of people my age and asked them to show me where to look. I turned in the direction they pointed and could just make out Washington’s massive profile in the haze. They said it’s easier to see with snow on it.

I sat a while just taking in the views and eating some snacks, crackers, cheese and an apple. The low blueberry bushes blanketing the summit bedrock were bright red, the berries long since gone. The last of the mountain cranberries were gone, too. I sat there for another 40 minutes or so, just taking it all in. The breeze picked up and I moved to a spot out of the wind.

Even though it was 1 o’clock, the sun was only as high in the sky as it would be around 4 in the afternoon on a summer day. The low angled light of the sun illuminated each tree and rock from the side, casting long shadows in the middle of the day.

Finally, it came time to leave the top and descend back to the truck. It was a brilliant fall day to be outdoors. Like most hikes, I found out more about my own backyard. I ended the hike thinking about what I had discovered. I found a season full of color and dramatic views, one fine autumn day and just a hint at what the fall season can reveal.

More on the Georges Highland Path: There are some things to know about the Georges Highland Path. Hunting is allowed on their lands, so if you plan to hike there, you need to wear blaze orange during hunting season. Also there are several other trails on the property they conserve. Call The Georges River Land Trust in Rockland at 207-594-5166 for maps and information.