Trip Report -- Medawisla Lodge

[BackCountryGirl]

Okay, New England Divas, this one is for you. I just came back from an overnight AMC family camping/hiking trip to the Northern Woods of Maine. We stayed in the AMC's Medawisla lodge on 2nd Roach Pond, just north of Kokadjo and Lilly Bay. The facility was amazing -- great for kids. You drive right in, great meals are provided by the guides (a lovely couple), the huts have bathrooms and showers, and a generator runs at night. Plenty of fishing, boating, paddling. There would be fantastic mountain biking on the logging trails. We saw 2 moose, loons, bald eagles, and lots of rabbits. The cool thing about Medawisla is that it is open in the winter and there is a 3 night, hut-to-hut XC ski option. Not only do you get lodging in these great camps and meals, but they trek your gear and bring your car to the endpoint for you. Something to think about. . .

Today, we spent the day hiking Mt. Kineo in Moosehead Lake. A great, easy hike with kids. It is a drive from Medawsila, but there were moose sightings and cool vistas. You get to Kineo via a 10 minute launch. The youngest in our group was 4; the oldest 15. There was something for everyone. The summit has an old fire tower and you can climb it for the most amazing views where there is very little man-made to spoil the views.

 

[abc]

Yep, did the 3 day x-c skiing trip this March. Unique is what I'd term it. There're very few places in the northeast one can ski hut to hut like that. However...

The skiing was ok but not particularly great. It's just a wide logging road, straight as an arrow. And as a result, boring as hell. If I were to do it again, which I likely would, I would go straight to Little Lyford pond and do day tours out of that instead. The skiing trails are more fun. And avoiding the extra expense of the car shuttle.

Keep in mind also, in the winter time, you can't drive up to the lodge. You have to ski in. Though for any backcountry skier, that's one of the big draw. Think about it, how cool is THAT!

I've been thinking of going there with my mountain bike. Just waiting for the mud to dry up before heading over though...

 

[MaineSkiLady]

I've been thinking of going there with my mountain bike. Just waiting for the mud to dry up before heading over though...

You may have to wait awhile. The region has been getting soaked. 6 of the last 7 days have had some whopper storms and considerable rainfall. Bring your DEET. Once the black flies finally die off, the mosquitos are going to be ferocious......
is it winter yet?

 

[abc]

Wish me luck then. I'm starting a (White Mountain) Presidential range traverse tomorrow.

I've been told the area has been rained on all of last week (or more?).

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Wish me luck then. I'm starting a (White Mountain) Presidential range traverse tomorrow.

I've been told the area has been rained on all of last week (or more?).

More. With more of the same into the indefinite future (i.e., next 10 days). Good luck. Go prepared. This is not atypical up here at this time of year. August and September are the traditionally dry months, with September being the best for all-around weather. FWIW re future plans.

 

[abc]

Done, and managed to stay dry (mostly). ;-)

I "usually" go only in September/October. Less rain, less bugs but less daylight. On the other hand, the Presi Travers "traditionally" happen in June/July/August to utilize the long days.

And the long daylight came in handy for two of the groups. 5 seperate "parties" went from Madison Hut to Lake of the Cloud. Only three parties made it in time for dinner (one barely: me!). But all 5 parties made it before it gets dark. Had it been October, it might have turned dicy. Fortunately, the rocks were blown dry by the fierce wind. On the other hand, strong wind combined with boulders make for slow walking, and caused some falls and injuries...

I did it only because I have time NOW and may not have so much free time later in the year. It's a 4 day traverse and it takes me a day to get up there and a day to get back. So it's really a week long trip. Not so easy to come by in my line of work.

Weather stayed dry for 3 of the 4 days. Beautiful sights up on top of the peaks of the "Presi" range. Thunderstorm in the afternoon on all days except for day 2, which was the longest day. So the 2 parties that were late didn't get wet. Scary to even THINK about thunderstorms while hiking up on the ridge...

My feet is sore right now. And I have trouble going down stairs due to stiff quads. It's a quite a long walk. Gives a new meaning to "go for a hike4".

 

[BackCountryGirl]

Congratulations. That's a great trip that I'd love to do some day. My 12 year-old is joining a friend and her dad and his friends for a week-long trip to the Presidentials. They're going to stay at the Mountain Inn at Loon and do day trips from there. The girls are starting to go for all the 4,000 footers. I'll join them for the last two days. (That's all I can spare.) I know what you mean about soreness after a weeklong hiking trip. I love getting away from it all, but it would be great to have a yoga class up in the hut to motivate me to stretch.

 

[abc]

Well, had you been on this trip, you would have no shortage of partner to do yoga with. The one group from Boston consist of 5-6 women "over 40" nhikers. They did get into a group yoga each morning.

I don't do yoga per se. But I do stretch before and after.