Sheltered Lands

Beals Island, Maine B E A L S  I S L A N D,  M E Leaving Mount Desert Island we enter Downeast Maine.   “Downeast” is a loosely defined term with no certain boundaries.   The best description is that the further up the coast toward Canada you go the more Downeast you are.   After leaving MDI, Downeast is where all things touristy are left behind.   We’re on the way to our furthest destination: Washington County Maine.   It’s the country’s eastern-most county and it borders Canada.   To get here we follow US Highway 1, one of America’s most historic roads, nearly to its end.   Back in 2011, I followed US 1 to its southern terminus in Key West; now I’m nearing its northern terminus.   But up here in Downeast it’s a pretty neglected stretch of historic highway - quite bumpy and weather-battered.   Throughout this trip, I’ve forewarned Allison that Beals Island is going to be pretty remote and potentially haggard.   U...

Indian Point Blagden Preserve, Bar Harbor, Maine   B A R  H A R B O R,  M E We cross a bridge onto Mount Desert Island (MDI) – home to Acadia National Park.   Along a northern peninsula of this famous isle is the former summer home of Donald and Zelina Blagden.   In 1968, they donated their 110 acres to The Nature Conservancy (TNC) who maintain it decades later as a public preserve for all to enjoy.   The Blagdens’ must be smiling somewhere knowing their land continues serving such a greater good.   Indian Point Blagden Preserve is off the beaten path on MDI: where two roads diverge after the bridge, take the one less traveled in a direction away from the masses.   We arrive mid-morning and have the parking lot to ourselves – something that won’t occur later while touring Acadia.   After a dousing of bug spray we set out on the Big Woods Trail.   It’s an immediate delight.   Prior to this trip, I contacted TNC’s direc...

Saco Heath Preserve, Saco, Maine S A C O,  M E Frankly, of the now forty two Nature Conservancy (TNC) preserves I’ve visited, Saco Heath is one of the very best.   Simply a beautiful place.   TNC envisions a world where people act to conserve nature for its own sake .   Saco Heath is ideally located to perpetuate that mission.   In an area of growing population and with very easy access, the property brings conservation awareness to the general public in a very touchable way.   In addition to its beauty and easy access, its impeccably maintained multicolored-boardwalk makes this preserve strikingly photogenic – an important draw in a selfie-obsessed world.   The boardwalk weaves atop the fifteen foot thick sphagnum peat moss base of this 1,200 acre bog whose poor soil quality attracts a rare assemblage of plants including pitch pine, Atlantic white cedar and cotton grass.   Multi...

Wells Barren Preserve, Wells, Maine W E L L S,  M E Maine has always been high on the list of states of intrigue.   Its corner-of-the-country location and wild geographic diversity are as intriguing as any other travel destination, and as even more intrigue, has some very appealing Nature Conservancy preserves.   What a great place to pick off some great additions to my 100 by 60 goal. My wife Allison generally understands my fascination with The Nature Conservancy, but as we turn onto Meeting House Road five minutes from Wells Barren Preserve , I launch into a rehearsed explanation of why I like TNC properties:   In summary, they all have uniqueness .   Some are bold like Ice Mountain and its ice vents or Ramsey Canyon and its humming birds; others are much more subtle like here at Wells Barren.   The open plains might just look like an abandoned farm field; however, it’s a rare and naturally occurring globally significant sandplain, home to uni...