Venturing Outdoors in Maine

By Nancy Dorrans

One of the gains of the pandemic is that a lot more people have ventured outside for their vacations. While hesitant to travel by air or stay in hotels, road trips and camping seemed a safer alternative. People that had never considered themselves the “outdoor types” decided to give it a go. Travel trailer sales skyrocketed! However, training on how to drive and camp didn’t necessarily come with these vehicles. 

Newly Outdoor Types Venturing Outdoors

I encountered such a family of “outdoor types” in July of 2020 while tent camping with a few friends at Peaks-Kenny State Park. This state park is a quiet gem hidden on the south shore of Sebec Lake, in Dover-Foxcroft. 

While relaxing in my hammock after a leisurely lunch I heard – but didn’t see – a large vehicle drive up to a site not far from ours. I then heard a door slam and young woman’s frantic voice… “Honey, Honey…STOP!!! Remember what they told us at the dealership? You have to turn the wheel the opposite of what you think! Honey… Honey… HONEY!” 

Then a man’s voice, “Stop yelling at me!” And so on…

My friends and I wandered a bit closer and saw a shiny red truck and a huge brand new fifth wheel travel trailer. When they finally got settled, we went over and chatted with the young family. They were from Connecticut and hadn’t been out of the house for months. They had three young children that had been in school at home, virtually, since the beginning of the pandemic. The whole family were so excited and eager to be campers!

I was a tad envious of all that flashy gear including a fancy Zodiac boat for the lake and shiny fishing poles. I’m not sure how much fish they caught.

Over-tourism Concerns

While I’m glad that more people got outside during the last two years, I’ve been reading and hearing a lot about the effects of travel on our planet. In a recent article in Outside Magazine, they stated clearly: “Overtourism Has Reached a Dangerous Tipping Point.” Stephanie Pearson wrote the article. She is a colleague from the Adventure Travel Trade Association and is also in my virtual pandemic meditation group. (Learning to meditate is another pandemic gain…)

Stephanie has made a life out of travelling and writing about her adventures. Like me and a growing number of adventure travel industry professionals, she is concerned. The pandemic has put many more visitors in and pressure on popular domestic destinations, especially our national parks. The film “The Last Tourist,” directed by Tyson Sadler and executive-produced by G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip, exposes these consequences with painful visuals and testimonials.

So, what do we do to help prevent over-tourism while still exploring and venturing outdoors?

I say find quiet, peaceful, and even dark places to explore. Don’t go where and when everyone else goes.

April is a quiet time in Maine, and it will be extra dark this year. Instead of a Blue Moon, we’ll have two New Moons. The Black Moon, or second New Moon is only “slightly rare, occurring about once every two to three years.” Maine has some of the darkest skies in the country. The organization Dark Sky Maine encourages and educates about where to go and how to appreciate the darkness. The Black Moon at the end of this month will give us an extra opportunity!

There are plenty of peaceful places for venturing outdoors in Maine. I can’t share all my secrets but here’s one.

Mud Brook is a stream situated near to Mathews Cove and close to Mud Cove in Greenville.  I haven’t been there yet, but I am going. The weekend before Memorial Day I’m co-leading a MOAC (Maine Outdoor Adventure Club) group camping trip to Lily Bay State Park in Moosehead Lake. Mud Brook is the name of the group site situated on a secluded peninsula.

It “May” be a cool mud/bug adventure, but it won’t be crowded. We will have the place to ourselves and be able to soak in the peace, quiet, and darkness.

Nancy Dorrans is a professional travel expert and founded Adventure Marketplace in 2014.