Getting the family excited about hitting the
trail takes some planning and a lot of flexibility. Giving everyone a
chance to make choices about the days' activities, even with young
children, can make all the difference.
I have two daughters, 5 and
7 years old, and they love to be outside. We took them to California
two years ago and did the Disneyland thing but it was our 4-day camping
trip on the Central Coast in California that they remembered most and
talked about when we returned to Maine. So we decided from that point
on, going on a trip really meant doing something outdoors.
In
planning for our first hiking trip of the season, my husband and I
picked a couple of short day hikes and presented them to the kids.
Because of their ages, we kept the explanation of options simple by
asking them if they wanted to see the ocean or the mountains. They were
thrilled to make the final decision for us and decided on Douglas
Mountain.
The night before the hike we each packed our own
backpack. My 7-year old packed a bottle of water, a granola bar, a
jacket, a jump rope, a stuff animal and a notebook with pencil. I asked
her if she really needed a jump rope and she said, "Mommy when we get to
the top of the mountain I think I might want to jump rope." I tried to
explain that she might want to rest at the top of the mountain but she
insisted. As most parents know, choosing your battles is important and
since a jump rope wasn't going to add any weight to her pack, I said
nothing more.
My 5-year old decided she was going to hike up the
mountain with a wicker basket. She decided she would be like Little Red
Riding Hood and didn't need a pack. I almost went along with that one
since she couldn't carry much in that basket, but then she seemed to
figure that out too and decided on the backpack. She packed a bottle of
water (at least both girls were practical), 2 single-serving containers
of applesauce, a metal spoon from our silverware draw, a mini robot
bunny and a little plastic bed for the bunny. "Bunny has to climb the
mountain mommy. He'll be so sad if he can't see it." she told me. Ok,
so here's another example of choosing battles so the bunny, and her
bed, went with us. I did draw the line however at the silverware and
replaced that with some plastic fare.
My husband and I packed a first aid kit, a picnic blanket, extra water and snacks, binoculars and a camera.
We were lucky enough to hike on a picture-perfect day in May when the visibility was near 100% at the top of the mountain.
The
guidebook we had suggested starting at the top of the trail on Dyke
Mountain Road. But after speaking with a few friends, we decided to
start at the bottom of the "Woods Trail," which is at the end of Douglas
Mountain Road. We thought we should start the toughest part of the hike
first (meaning the ascent).
At the entrance of Woods Trail, which
is managed by the town of Sebago, there's only enough parking for maybe
6-8 cars which wasn't a problem during our visit because there weren't
many hikers on the trail that day. If you're going to hit this trail at
the height of the season, you should leave early to assure a place to
park in this area. The entrance to another trail off Dyke Mountain Road
offers a larger parking lot for a fee.
Along the trail, which is
marked, we saw lots of quartz deposits and the kids marveled at it for
quite some time. It also kept them moving up the trail to see more of it
and in turn, got us to the top without any complaining about the steep
climb. Another motivating factor to continue down the path was the stone
lookout tower, which my 7 year old knew about from a hike she took with
her summer camp last year.
Even with the steepness of the trail,
it only took about 15 minutes to get to the tower. While we were on the
trail we saw a hiker with a dog (leased animals are welcomed on the
trail), a couple of adults with a toddler and a baby and another family
with elementary-aged children. The trail is very do-able for a variety
of abilities and ages.
When we got to the lookout tower the kids
ran right up the stone steps to the top. We had a great view of Mount
Washington and the mountains on one side and Sebago Lake and the other
region's lakes on the other side.
The whole trip, including a
leisurely picnic at the top, took us two hours. It was a great first
hike of the season that offered some spectacular views and the kids felt
a real sense of accomplishment at hiking a "real mountain."
Trail name: Woods Trail, Douglas Mountain
Nearest town: Sebago
Region: Western Lakes and Mountains
Length: 0.25 miles
Difficulty: Advanced Beginner
Elevation gain: 300 feet
Other: There are 6 to 8 parking places at the entrance to Woods Trail.
Directions:
For the Woods Trail, take Route 113 to Douglas Hill Road then turn onto
Douglas Mountain Road in Sebago. There is another trail head on Dyke
Mountain Road that offers a larger parking area. To get to that trail
take Route 107 in Baldwin to Douglas Hill Road to Dyke Mountain Road.
Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram June 8, 2003
Sunday, June 8, 2003
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