Adventure Day, vacation 2008

Beautiful start to the day.

Be that as it may each Madaswaska Lake vacation I like to add in a day where I go someplace and/or do something in Aroostock County that I haven’t done before. In the case of Wednesday’s Adventure Day the activity entailed revisiting a piece of my history – hiking up Haystack Mountain in Mapleton 35 years ago. Back then I was a student at the former Northern Maine Vocational Technical Institute (NMVTI, now know as Northern Maine Community College, NMCC) in Presque Isle. The school held a yearly event called “Tech Day” where all the class vocations were open for the student body and staff to visit and view the various projects and accomplishments that they had to offer. Included in the day was a chicken BBQ at a picnic area in Mapleton after which as tradition would have it, many of the students headed to Haystack for a mass ascend to the top as many were inclined to celebrate the student life.

Carol and I loaded up a backpack with sandwiches and water then drove to Caribou and Presque Isle where we had a couple of stops to make then proceeded to and through Mapleton where the trailhead up Haystack is located. Along Rt.163 out of Presque Isle to Mapleton are many of The County’s great classic views and many well appointed houses and yards worth the trip alone to see. Once arriving at Haystack which itself is a very short hike to the top we parked in a pull out area across the road from a gravel drive that lead to the trailhead. We wanted the added steps it would take to get there. The hike to the top began on a rather steep trip and after a short time we needed to stop and get our second wind after which the rest of the short climb to the top as a breeze. Once there we took a few photos found a nice niche in the rocks that cut down the wind and provided a great view and ate our lunch. We finished looking around at the views in all directions and headed back to the car.

Destination, Haystack!

This is looking up the most difficult part of the climb.

Hey?!? That's us at the top.

1993 ft above sea level - dizzy yet?

That's Mt. Katahdin to the east.

Looking to the west.

The adventure continued as we drive to Ashland, Portage, Eagle Lake until arriving in familiar Fort Kent. Then we proceeded to Frenchville turned down Rt. 162 to St. Agatha where we stopped at the Lakeview Restaurant, overlooking Long Lake, and had coffee and pie (excellent). Carol actually had bread pudding and I went with the blueberry pie. Then it was time to head back to the camp where we finished the day with a walk and supper that Margaret joined us for.

Hilltop Restaurant, St. Agatha (St. Agatha is pronounced
nothing like you might think, it's the French)

Looking out to Long Lake.

Oh yeah, the PT made for a great trip.