On January 22, 10 people joined Sierra Club expedition leader Laura Pilgrim for a day of skiing along the Penobscot River’s eastern branch in the new Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument.
Some of the skiers’ motivation to travel north was to find more skiable snow. But mostly they were eager to view the park for the first time.
“I think people were curious to see the new monument and check out the area,” Pilgrim said, speaking also for herself. It was Pilgrim’s first time to the 87,563-acre monument, which President Barack Obama designated in late August.
The park has many miles of groomed trails. Pilgrim described the tracks she skied on as “wide, easy, and gorgeous.
Mark and Susan Adams, who maintain the monument's trails, welcomed the Sierra Club group on Sunday, Jan. 22, and recommended they head out on the five-mile Old River Road loop.
Pilgrim said it was glorious skiing “along the river and seeing views of the mountains, which were snow-covered and beautiful.” The night before she and a few others on the trip stayed at the Mt. Chase Lodge in Patten. Other group members joined them for breakfast there on Sunday.
While there are rough winter camping options available in the park, Susan Adams also recommends nearby lodging — such as Bowlin Camps Lodge and Matagamon Wilderness Campground and Cabins. These days, she added, the local lodges are filled with people pursuing all types of winter activities.
On a typical day at work, she said she sees “ski tracks, snowshoe tracks, skijoring tracks, and fat tire tracks.” There are also about 30 miles of snowmobile tracks in the monument.
While more visitors are starting to make the journey to Katahdin Woods and Waters, Susan Adams warns that the national monument is still a work in progress — and that visitors should bring a four wheel-drive car in the winter.
Pilgrim plans to return to the park this summer to lead another trip. To stay up to date on future Sierra Club expeditions in Maine, check out our calendar on this website and LIKE our Facebook page.
Sierra Club Maine is also seeking volunteers interested in becoming local outings leaders to explore, enjoy, and share the beauty of Maine. For more information on how to get involved, contact Laura Pilgram.
(Photo by Michele Yade Benoit)