Kid Tracks Column: It's a breeze: Hiking a trail by the sea

Looking for some variety during our summer hikes, my children decided we should find a trail near the ocean. After consulting a few sources we decided on the East Point Sanctuary in Biddeford Pool.
It was a warm summer day and getting wet was something the kids were definitely planning to do.

The trail starts off with lots of trees and bushes and then leads along an open, grassy area that borders on a golf course. It didn't take long to catch a glimpse of the ocean and the kids took off running towards it.

Usually we make the kids wear sneakers on our hikes. We assumed that they would be getting wet  – that was their point in choosing this hike — so we allowed them to wear their sturdy, thick-soled sandals. It was a good choice. As soon as they could reach the ocean, they were in it, sandals and all.

There were some wet, slippery rocks in the water so my husband and I stayed close to them while they were climbing. We wanted to avert any big falls. Despite our best efforts and reminders my 7-year old ended up slipping on some rocks while she was supposedly walking (running as fast as she could would be more accurate) in the water. It wasn't a serious fall but required some antibiotic cream, a band-aid and our family's magic remedy -- gum. The gum seems to have a magical power over my kids' injuries. They don't feel the need to cry as much as they do to chew.

Making sure you have a useful first aid kit is very important when out on the trail with kids. Here's a few of the items we carry in our packs during a day hike:

band-aids

antibiotic cream

alcohol swabs

moleskin

ace bandage

waterproof tape

anti-itch lotion

scissors

tweezers

gum  

We also carry our bug spray and sun block in the first aid kit because we use those items a lot. By going in and out of the kit we are more apt to notice what we need to replenish. There's nothing worse than thinking you have something in your bag and then realizing you used it all on your last outing.

According to Peter Wilson, the Property Management Assistant for the Maine Audubon Society, poison ivy is often found on shoreline trails in Maine. The East Point Sanctuary is no exception. He encourages hikers to stay on the marked trails to avoid coming in contact with the plant. Parents should make sure they know what poison ivy looks like so you can avoid it. While we were out on our hike we stayed on the marked trails and did not encounter any poison ivy.

Discovering snails was one of the highlights of this hike for the kids. There were also several types of seaweed that the kids loved to touch because it was "slimy." We also found tons of seashells and interesting rocks.

The Wood Island Lighthouse was visible from the trail and I was directed by both kids to take photos of it. They waved to a group of sea kayakers making their way along the shore and all the sailboats that likely couldn't see them. They didn't seem to mind.

After a leisurely picnic we continued along the trail at the shore. The rocks got to be more challenging than we thought our kids could handle. We opted to climb up onto the grassy part and make our way back to the trail head along the dirt trail. Older children looking for a challenge could likely have hiked further down the rocky coastal trail. There are several outlets from the rocks that lead back up to the main trail. Navigating the coastal trail is fairly easy.

We spent about two and half hours on the trail. Most of that time was spent climbing rocks around the shore.

Our hike along this ocean trail on a hot summer day kept us all cool and comfortable, which always makes being together on the trail much more fun.

Trail name: East Point Sanctuary
Nearest town: Biddeford Pool
Region: Southern Coast
Length: 1.8 miles
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. The trail to the shore is easy but once at the shore, there are large rocks to climb through if you want to continue along the coast.
Elevation gain: at sea level
Other:There was on-street parking Lester B. Orcutt Boulevard for about 12 cars. Parking is limited.
Hazards: There is poison ivy along the trail as well as brown tail moth caterpillars. Directions:Take Route 208 toward Biddeford Pool. After 0.6 miles, turn left at the T intersection, then bear right through two forks to Lester B. Orcutt Boulevard, following it to the point. The gate entrance is on the left side.

Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram Aug. 3, 2003

Kid Tracks Column: A trip up Douglas Mountain offers great views

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