Another year has come and gone! We'd like you to think about Libby Hill Trails for your 2008 plans and resolutions. Here are some ideas:
January 12th - Attend our guided snowshoe trek to celebrate National Winter Trails Day (see our home page for more info)
January 19th - Winter Nature Snowshoe Walk - come with naturalist Carryl Widdowson to learn how diverse nature is in winter.
Ski our trails for free - yes you can ski cross country at no charge, compare that value anywhere!
Try Snowshoeing - attend one of our snowshoe events and call ahead to reserve a pair of snowshoes, it is the best way to get out in winter! The Harold Libbey and Outback trails offer some of the most diverse snowshoeing in southern Maine!
Come to the fun day March 1st - we have many events planned for our winter fun day March 1st. Visit the home page for more info!
Visit Libby Hill after winter - Libby Hill Trails offer year round recreation at all levels. Don't stop coming when the snow stops!
See what you are missing - Despite being in existence over 8 years, a majority of local residents haven't discovered what Libby Hill Trails have to offer. We offer guided tours, even by appointment if you wish. Don't wait another year before you discover what Libby Hill Trails can provide you for a recreational experience.
Happy New Year from Libby Hill!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Deer Have a Different View
We are so lucky to have early snow and cold temperatures so early this winter! Ski conditions have not been this good in over five years. It now looks like we are guaranteed skiing and snowshoeing through the winter. I get to go out and break trail on the 2.4 miles of snowshoe trails after a snow storm. While its not as bad as lugging a chainsaw out to the trails, breaking new trail in more than 6 inches of snow will certainly warm you up!
I do love seeing what makes the first tracks after a storm though. As usual the deer make their presence know everywhere. As you approach the areas with water, the tracks increase in frequency. I did notice that one deer instead of plodding through the 16 inches of snow on the ground, decided to jump with each stride. I saw tracks that were 10-15 feet apart that showed the deer continuing to leap for over 500 feet. As I proceeded I started to notice how many bedding sites (see photo above) had been used the night before. I counted over 22 deer bedding imprints in 9 different locations on the Harold Libbey and Outback trails.
I'm sure though, the deer aren't as keen on the snow as we are but you can read their stories in the snow as you set out on the trails!
I do love seeing what makes the first tracks after a storm though. As usual the deer make their presence know everywhere. As you approach the areas with water, the tracks increase in frequency. I did notice that one deer instead of plodding through the 16 inches of snow on the ground, decided to jump with each stride. I saw tracks that were 10-15 feet apart that showed the deer continuing to leap for over 500 feet. As I proceeded I started to notice how many bedding sites (see photo above) had been used the night before. I counted over 22 deer bedding imprints in 9 different locations on the Harold Libbey and Outback trails.
I'm sure though, the deer aren't as keen on the snow as we are but you can read their stories in the snow as you set out on the trails!
Friday, December 14, 2007
Great Tracking Snow
Tuesday's and now Thursday's light fluffy snow makes tracking animals very easy. 
You can find deer and squirrel tracks everywhere on Libby Hill. If go down to Thayer brook on the Harold Libbey Trail you will also see lots of coyote tracks (see photo on right). Some tracks also had good imprints of the claws as well. Of interest if you follow the tracks, is that the coyote actually went out on the ice and onto the top of the beaver house (don't try this yourself since the ice is thin). Coyotes do prey on beavers but beavers tend to stay in their houses eating the bark they stored there. There are lots of stories to be read in the snow, take the time to see how diverse the userrs of Libby Hill are!
You can find deer and squirrel tracks everywhere on Libby Hill. If go down to Thayer brook on the Harold Libbey Trail you will also see lots of coyote tracks (see photo on right). Some tracks also had good imprints of the claws as well. Of interest if you follow the tracks, is that the coyote actually went out on the ice and onto the top of the beaver house (don't try this yourself since the ice is thin). Coyotes do prey on beavers but beavers tend to stay in their houses eating the bark they stored there. There are lots of stories to be read in the snow, take the time to see how diverse the userrs of Libby Hill are!Saturday, December 8, 2007
Gray News Article On Libby Hill
In case you missed it, we had an article in the Gray News this week. Click this link to see:
http://www.graynews.maine.com/2007-12-07/libby_hill_trails.html
http://www.graynews.maine.com/2007-12-07/libby_hill_trails.html
Saturday, December 1, 2007
The Waiting
Our first snow season is on the radar for Monday. If we get 6 inches it should be enough to groom the trails for some pre-Christmas skiing! This winter we hope to get you more up to date trail conditions by having our grooming team post the conditions after they finish running the trails. To see those you will need to come to this blog area of our web page or directly here to our blog. It will also allow skiers to give feedback on conditions by leaving comments. Stay tuned for more on trail conditions later this month!
While skiers are getting excited, animals have a very different point of view about winter. Last Sunday I did some hiking around Range Pond State park (see Trails Near By Section for more info) and met a lady who told me of the 'stranded' Canadian goose. The goose which I found swimming all by itself on the pond is apparently unable to fly and has been left behind by its fellow flock who have long since gone south. I think about the goose almost every day since then. Swimming its lone course around the lake with about a month before things freeze up. Maybe it will find a kindly house on the lake to beg for food. More likely though, it will be forced off the water and have to contend with the predators that will find it land bound. I'll probably have to go back in a week or so and see how the goose is doing, but it makes you appreciate how lucky we are to play in winter and not have to struggle to survive..... the waiting continues.....
While skiers are getting excited, animals have a very different point of view about winter. Last Sunday I did some hiking around Range Pond State park (see Trails Near By Section for more info) and met a lady who told me of the 'stranded' Canadian goose. The goose which I found swimming all by itself on the pond is apparently unable to fly and has been left behind by its fellow flock who have long since gone south. I think about the goose almost every day since then. Swimming its lone course around the lake with about a month before things freeze up. Maybe it will find a kindly house on the lake to beg for food. More likely though, it will be forced off the water and have to contend with the predators that will find it land bound. I'll probably have to go back in a week or so and see how the goose is doing, but it makes you appreciate how lucky we are to play in winter and not have to struggle to survive..... the waiting continues.....
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