Maine Minutiae: Take a Walk on the Wild Side

I have covered Maine Huts and Trails before. It's a great resource for the outdoors-minded during the long, cold, damn-I-miss-Texas winters. But when in Maine, do as the Mainers do. That's where Maine Huts and Trails come in. Their web site gives us an idea of what they're about, "Maine's newest, year-round outdoor adventure destination. We're located in the beautiful and wild, western mountains region of Maine. In time, our system of backcountry eco-lodges connected by people-powered trails will stretch nearly 200 miles from near the New Hampshire border to the Moosehead Lake region." The Moosehead Lake region of Maine is an astonishingly beautiful place.

These huts, while modern in their construction, take you back to a time when snowshoeing and the like was the only way to get around during the harsh Maine winter. I'll let the folks who run Maine Huts and Trails tell you more, "Each hut is "off-the grid" and features state-of-the-art utility systems that generate and store their own power through a combination of alternative energy sources. Each facility will accommodate up to 42 guests plus 4 staff in a variety of room sizes. The huts each provide sleeping accommodations, with a soft mattress and a pillow on each bunk, hot showers, toilets and healthy, homemade meals. These amenities at remote locations along the trails help to manage human impact and provide accessibility for those seeking a 'comfort camping' experience."

This is one of the coolest things I have ever seen for enjoying the outdoors and still have some creature comforts like electricity and a good strong shelter in what can be a brutal climate during the winter months in Maine. Hiking to one of the cabins and drilling a hole in the ice on the lake to do some fishing for some pan size trout to cook for supper sounds like a great experience. I have done some similar things back in Texas, but I'd like to take my two little girls on a trip like this. The things they would learn about surviving in the wilderness would be a valuable lesson for them to carry with them for the rest of their lives. Plus the scenery ain't bad either. :)