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.....
Friday, November 23, 2007
10,000 Steps Can Help You Shed Thanksgiving Guilt
Ever heard of the 10,000 step program? It's a simple exercise program that strives to get 10,000 foot steps per day. This equals about a total distance of 5 miles. You measure your progress by wearing a pedometer which tracks each step you take.
The pedometer is a great feedback device which really measures if you are the 'active'/'busy' person you really say you are. I thought I was a pretty active person when I started measuring my steps three years ago. What I found though, is that work rarely got me more than 4000 steps per day, considered sedentary and a health risk. So I found I would check my progress over the course of the day then take a 30 minute work (2000 steps) once or twice a day to increase my output. Before long I consistently got 10,000 steps a day and felt sluggish on days I missed my mark. Medical research this week, proved the value of this exercise method, showing it has significant impact on your health.
So, if you are getting up today and feeling a little bloated. Libby Hill Trails can help add some steps to your day. Here are some examples:
The pedometer is a great feedback device which really measures if you are the 'active'/'busy' person you really say you are. I thought I was a pretty active person when I started measuring my steps three years ago. What I found though, is that work rarely got me more than 4000 steps per day, considered sedentary and a health risk. So I found I would check my progress over the course of the day then take a 30 minute work (2000 steps) once or twice a day to increase my output. Before long I consistently got 10,000 steps a day and felt sluggish on days I missed my mark. Medical research this week, proved the value of this exercise method, showing it has significant impact on your health.
So, if you are getting up today and feeling a little bloated. Libby Hill Trails can help add some steps to your day. Here are some examples:
- Moose Odyssey - 6,000 Steps
- Deer Run - 1,100 Steps
- Holmquist Hollow - 900 Steps
- Turkey Trot - 1,100 Steps
- Harold Libbey - 2,800 Steps
- Outback Trail - 2,000 Steps
Monday, November 19, 2007
Trail Orientations Remind Us to be Thankful
This past Saturday we held a another trail orientation walk. The weather was cool and our turn out a little smaller (13 vs 18 last month) but everyone had a good time. One family from Auburn came with their small boys who were good sports and especially liked getting a souvenir of beaver chewed sticks. Another couple have just retired here to Gray and wanted to explore all aspects of their new town. Our small group gave us all a chance to casually stroll the trails and learn a little bit about our fellow walkers. We even got a trail volunteer to help me clear some brush this week.
Sometimes when I get to the parking lot early before the walk, I wonder how many folks will come and how valuable they will find the tour. Then close to departure time cars always show up and the walk gets started. After we get about an hour into the walk, the group always starts to relax and you start to see people really enjoying the trails and the woods around them.
For the past eight years lots of effort has gone into making this recreation site a reality and many times it seems like its future may be uncertain. However, once you see how excited people get when they discover they have a great recreation space so close to their homes it makes all the work seem worthwhile! I tell everyone on the walk that all we ask is they tell at least one other person about their experience on Libby Hill. If you are one of those who haven't discovered what Libby Hill is, please join us at a future event or call us me (Steve McPike) at 657-2114 to arrange a guided tour. Of course you can always explore on your own by downloading our trail guides or maps at our web site www.LibbyHill.org.
So in this week of thanks, I thank the generous land owners who donated the land, the volunteers, the support of the town, and most of all the people who enjoy the trails every day!
Sometimes when I get to the parking lot early before the walk, I wonder how many folks will come and how valuable they will find the tour. Then close to departure time cars always show up and the walk gets started. After we get about an hour into the walk, the group always starts to relax and you start to see people really enjoying the trails and the woods around them.
For the past eight years lots of effort has gone into making this recreation site a reality and many times it seems like its future may be uncertain. However, once you see how excited people get when they discover they have a great recreation space so close to their homes it makes all the work seem worthwhile! I tell everyone on the walk that all we ask is they tell at least one other person about their experience on Libby Hill. If you are one of those who haven't discovered what Libby Hill is, please join us at a future event or call us me (Steve McPike) at 657-2114 to arrange a guided tour. Of course you can always explore on your own by downloading our trail guides or maps at our web site www.LibbyHill.org.
So in this week of thanks, I thank the generous land owners who donated the land, the volunteers, the support of the town, and most of all the people who enjoy the trails every day!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
