From Providence to the northern reaches of the province of New Brunswick, I’ve covered a bit of territory in the past couple of weeks. I even managed to squeeze in a few hours of paddling!

Vacation was divided between family visits to the south, an afternoon or two of on-water time back in the Bangor area. Then it was back to work for a couple of days – but only two because I was invited to go salmon fishing on the Upsalquitch River in Robinsonville, New Brunswick, for three days.

It’s been several years since my last visit at Millbrook Farm, a gracious salmon lodge at river’s edge, and was the guest of this newspaper’s publisher, Richard J. Warren. He was off on an adventure of his own elsewhere in the province, so company controller Tim Reynolds stood in as host to Mike Dyer, head and horns of the Bangor Auditorium and Civic Center, and Ivan McPike, owner of Maine Salt Company on Coldbrook Road in Hermon.

We feasted like kings, fished like fools, drank like fish and regaled in laughter at McPike’s non-stop storytelling. The fishing? It’s not important that the salmon didn’t like the low, warm water, nor that they would just lie there in their nonchalant, blaze way and not even look at our flies – no matter how expertly presented. It’s not important that McPike was able to put a hook into the mouth of an unsuspecting grisle and brought it to the net.

It’s not important because any fish caught is returned to the river. And besides, who’s counting anyway? What’s important is that a small group of people got together, shared good food, good drink, good friendship and great conversation and let the worries of the work-a-day world melt away.

Three new guidebooks

I’ve been a little remiss in sharing these three new guidebooks with you. The Appalachian Mountain Club sent them recently. “The Maine Mountain Guide” (ISBN1-929173-69-5) featuring full-color maps is in its ninth edition; “Discover Acadia National Park” (ISBN 1-929173-58-X) is in its second edition and “Quiet Water Maine” (ISBN 929173-65-2) is also in its second edition.

The AMC says “Maine Mountain Guide,” a hiker’s Bible for 40 years, has “completely updated descriptions of trails to nearly 200 summits throughout the state … the only guide offering full-color, pull-out maps for the state’ s most popular hiking regions.” The 5 by 7-inch book will fit in your pack easily and provide you with information on some 400 trails, suggested hikes for all abilities and mileage and suggested hiking times for any hike you pick.

The pull-out maps now provide up-to-date coverage of Baxter State Park, the Rangeley-Stratton Region, the Camden Hills, Pleasant Mountain, Weld, The Mahoosucs, Evans Notch and new this edition, Gulf Hagas. They provide information on trails, campsites, shelters and land management boundaries as well as mileage between trail segments to help you navigate on the trail.

New information includes coverage of 20 miles of new trails in Baxter State Park.

If you have an early edition of this guide, don’t think it will get you through in all instances. Trailheads change, logging may obliterate a trail or parking areas can be moved. It’s worth the $19.95 to have an up-to-date reference.

The same is true for “Discover Acadia National Park” by Jerry and Marcy Monkman ($17.95). The pull-out map not only features all the trails in the park, it shows the Island Explorer routes. This helps you plan some longer, one-way hikes wherein you can use the bus to get back to your starting place.

There are detailed descriptions of 50 trips (including Isle au Haut and Schoodic Point -no buses here) as well as an additional 80 hikes in Appendix A. You’ll find suggested bike rides as well as some quiet water paddling and some sea kayaking suggestions. And of course there are pictures.

This is another guidebook that will help you make any trip to Acadia National Park a joy. Here’s what W. Kent Olson, president of Friends of Acadia had to say about it: … “This guide to hiking, biking and paddling is family-friendly, like Acadia itself. The Monkmans have produced an authoritative source book for harvesting the fruits of an incomparable public resource while leaving it intact.”

There’s two by land. Here’s one if by water (ouch!) – “Quiet Water Maine” by Alex Wilson and John Hayes ($18.95). There are maps and descriptions of 100 lakes, ponds and rivers to provide even the most picky paddler with a choice of destinations or camping trips. Best of all the mystery of where to put in has been solved by detailed instructions by the authors.

Trips are grouped regionally and interspersed are nine essays on topics such as the wood duck, the bald eagle, carnivorous plants, black flies (40 species in Maine) and mosquitoes (170 species in North America, 3,400 world-wide), moose and otters.

The books are distributed by The Globe Pequot Press. Those seeking to order a book may call 800-243-0495 or fax 800-820-2329.

Five Safe Hiking Tips

The recent case of lost Boy Scout in Utah illustrates the need for hikers to get better informed. This comes from a group of retired U.S. park rangers who have worked most of their lives outdoors. The Coalition of National Park Service Retirees (http://www.npsretirees.org) consists of 400 former non-political career employees of the National Park Service. Many Coalition members were senior NPS leaders who received awards for stewardship of America’s top natural and cultural resources.

I received this information via e-mail the other day and I thought it contained some nuggets worthy of sharing, especially since it’s prime hiking season here in Maine. I’ve distilled their advice a bit in the interest of saving space, but here’s the bulk of what these professionals had to say about hiking safely.

First, HAVE A PLAN AND SHARE IT. Whether hiking solo or in a group, you need to become familiar with the area you will be hiking, the hazards, and the expected weather. The process of getting ready will include obtaining maps to review the area you will hike, briefing all members of the group on route selection, having a turn-around time, and developing alternate route selections. Let someone know where you are going, when you are going, your departure point, your planned route, and the time you expected to return. It is always a good idea to pay attention to landmarks from all angles, as they sometimes change dramatically in appearance depending on light, elevation and your angle of observation.

Second, CHECK YOUR EQUIPMENT. Make sure your equipment, clothing, and food are up for the trip. Test your equipment before leaving. Have a little extra clothing, especially for inclement weather. It may weigh a bit more, but it is worth it when things go sour. The same rule of “a little extra can’t hurt” applies to food and drink. Better to lug around more than to be stranded with less than you need to survive.

Third, as Clint Eastwood as Inspector “Dirty” Harry Callahan in “Magnum Force” said, “A man’s got to know his limitations.” KNOW YOUR LIMITS – and those of the other individuals in your group. A military unit travels at the speed of its slowest member and that is a good way to think about how to hike. Constant communication is also key. When traveling in a group, use a buddy system. Check your partner for energy levels, blisters, food consumption, and fatigue. It will prevent problems down the trail. Jim Brady, a coalition member and the former chief ranger of the National Park Service and Superintendent of Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska, said: “Almost every park ranger knows of rescues or body recoveries that resulted from poor conditioning and bad judgment. Hiking is supposed to be fun, not a life-and-death struggle.”

Fourth, BRING PROPER EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT. When hiking by yourself, ensure that you have, at a minimum, a first aid kit. Some recommended items include Band Aids, medical tape, over-the-counter pain relievers, moleskin, anti-bacterial ointment, and a compress or two, and spare headlamp batteries. If traveling in a group, have a “community” first aid kit with additional splints, pads, and braces. Tony Bonanno, a CNPSR member and the former chief ranger of the NPS Intermountain Region, said: “EMT gear is a good idea if you have someone along who knows how to use it. Mine includes extra matches, needle and thread, a flare, mirror, and whistle. Remember that splints often can be improvised using what nature or innovation provides, such as branches, pack frames, blankets, coats, sleeping bags etc.”

And fifth, KNOW WHAT TO DO IF THINGS GO BAD. Park rangers typically encourage hikers in genuine distress to “hug a tree,” which means staying where you are until help comes to you. You can last a long time with the gear you have with you. Whistles, mirrors, cell phones (when they work) are priceless. A lost person who wanders around aimlessly – especially in inclement weather – can turn a bad situation into a truly tragic situation. It is better to be lost and then found (even if a little embarrassed) than to be carried out of the wilderness in a body bag. When traveling in a group, if someone sustains an injury, good judgment is required to determine if it is: safe to proceed; better to send someone (two people, if possible) back for help; or “hug a tree” and wait for help.

Jeff Strout’s column on outdoor recreation is published each Saturday. He can be reached at 990-8202 or by e-mail at jstrout@bangordailynews.net.