Spirit Camping - Camping, Hiking, Travel and More

There are currently a couple of great shops in both the Maine Mall in Southern Maine, as well as the Bangor Mall in central Maine, where local Native Americans in Maine own and sell goods in an impressive mall storefront.

What’s most impressive about these stores isn’t so much that they are well designed or that the decor is astonishing or flashy like so many other mall stores. What’s so impressive about them is the products, the goods - many of which members of the various Native American tribes in Maine created.

Just browsing through these stores instantly remind you that there are Native Americans in Maine who are part of an ancient civilization and part of tribes with such a long heritage that it’s really difficult to fathom. Sure, you may find a few trinkets or jewelry that’s Made in China - products that they use to fill out the shelves with as much product as possible - but if you look carefully you’ll come across hand-made products that the owners of the stores, or members of their tribe, created.

Observing Local Tradition of Native Americans in Maine

One of the things that I think about often while hiking throughout Maine or New Hampshire is how the Native Americans in the area managed to survive off the land so successfully. The point of my post here, today, is to reflect a bit on the traditions and history of not only the Native Americans in Maine, but those all across the country.

When you’re hiking with the family or on your next nature excursion, stop and take a good look around and imagine what life would be like if all you have to survive are the tools you can create from nature, the food you can harvest or hunt from the wild, and the shelter you can create from whatever the wilderness offers.

The one thing that I keep coming back to when I imagine this is how cold the winters are in this part of the country, and how difficult it must have been for these tribes to survive the harsh conditions.

One of the things that I’m sure gave strength to the tribe is their spiritual beliefs and practices, which essentially incorporated the land - their lives were completely integrated with the Earth and the environment. It’s difficult for Europeans to understand how completely opposite the two cultures are.

White Europeans strive to use science and technology to conquer nature and put it under the control of mankind, while the Native Americans found a way to coexist with the Earth in ways that provided nourishment and support for both the tribe, and for the Earth.

I would like to dedicate this post as a reflection upon the wonderful spirituality and heritage of the Penobscot Nation - the largest Native American tribe in Maine, and one with a very long and compelling history in this part of the country. The following video are members of the tribe performing “The Traveler” in Millinocket, Maine in 2009.

As you listen to the tribal music, I suggest you sit back and close your eyes. You’ll find that the sound of the drums serves as a tremendous soothing tone, while the chant takes you into a realm that you probably never imagined possible. Please take the time to listen to this wonderful performance, and share your opinion about the experience in the comments section below.

Tags: facts about maine, maine resources, native americans in maine

If you are interested in winter activities and events in Maine, it isn’t always easy to find the latest news about what’s going on. Maine is one of the most popular winter destinations, simply because it’s a part of the country that receives some of the highest levels of precipitation in the form of nice, white, fluffy snow.

There are resources to learn about those fun winter festivals and skiing events, but you need to know where to look.

Where to Find Activities and Events in Maine

You’ve never fully experienced the wilderness until you’ve experienced the great outdoors of Maine.

Growing up in Aroostook county, I had the advantage of a childhood where I could walk out of my back door and just beyond my back yard I could go hiking for miles. The wilderness behind my childhood home felt like it went on forever. Of course, the only thing between the town where I grew up and Canada was thousands of acres of untamed wilderness and occasional logging roads.

While that sort of environment can feel very remote, and for the uninitiated it can feel scary - the solitude that the great Maine wilderness offers is also a spiritual experience that you’ll never forget. However, for many people who have never gone skiing on Maine’s many slopes or winter hiking and camping in its sub-zero temperatures, having a club or organization to support you through your adventures is a very good thing. When you want to know about outdoor activities and events in Maine, outdoor organizations and clubs are the first place you should start.

The Top 4 Sources for Outdoor Information About Maine

The following organizations are the best outdoor groups in Maine. If you are interested in hiking, skiing, camping or canoeing in Maine, joining any one of these organizations would be a very smart decision.

The first organization isn’t really a group, it’s a resource put together by the state called Visit Maine, to promote tourism. The website is a very valuable resource to learn about activities and events going on in Maine. The site provides information about Maine lodging, dining and activities, and if you click on the “Events” category you’ll be swept away to a very well designed Events page.

These activities are not only outdoors, but you can filter results to only show activities for “Science & Nature” if you like. Search for events that are great for children, based on performing arts or just check out all events going on throughout the state.

MaineTourism.com offers this valuable official travel planner in electronic format (PDF) called Maine Invites You, where you can learn about events and information for the year including cruises and fishing trips, skiing, museums, hunting and much more. The book is updated every year and offered for free.

This book is a valuable resource and I’d recommend it to anyone who’s even just planning to visit Maine for a simple vacation, not only for outdoor experiences.

The Maine Outdoor Adventure Club (MOAC) is a great organization for anyone who simply wants to experience the great Maine outdoors.

The club offers all kinds of events, both public and private, so checking out this calendar often (and joining the club itself) is an excellent idea.

The Maine chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) is another great place to go if you want to go on outdoor adventures with a bunch of folks who love the wilderness just like you.

The Maine AMC goes on work trips (to maintain trails), organizes outdoor trips and also offers social events. I can assure you that if you join the Maine chapter of the AMC, you’ll never be bored. Additionally, you may even consider joining the Maine Appalachian Trail Club, a group of very special men and women who devote their own personal time and resources to maintaining the Appalachian Trail and the many structures and camping areas it visits.

Have you ever visited the Maine outdoors? Do you spend time with any of these clubs? Share your experiences in the comments section below.

Tags: campgrounds, camping, facts about maine, skiing, snowshoeing

One of the ways I like to spend my lunch break or leisure time on the Internet is exploring the natural world through the camera lense of photographers throughout the world - and reviewing winter photographs of Southern Utah is an excellent example of that.

Southern Utah is one of the most magical, surreal, strange and stunningly beautiful locations in the world, and winter photographs of the Southern Utah landscape are almost as good as exploring the rugged terrain in person.

Top 5 Sites to See Winter Photographs of Southern Utah

During my lunch break today, I’ve decided to take a photographic tour of the Southern Utah wilderness, and I’m going to take my nature-loving blog readers along for the adventure. So without further ado, let’s start checking out the wonder of Southern Utah in the wintertime.

If you want to see stunning winter photographs of Southern Utah, the absolute top of the list is the photo slideshow at PhotoSafaris that offers you one of the most stunning photographic tours of “Utah’s Winter Panoramas” that you’ll find anywhere. Just scroll down and click on “watch slideshow” to receive a feast for your eyes.

You’ll find another amazing Utah photographer over at UtahRedRocks. From the main page, just go over to the right and review the various photo galleries. Click on any of them for an absolutely amazing treat. The gallery above comes from the photographer’s Arches National Park Photo Gallery - an amazing collection of Utah winter photos.

The photographer at Zion National Park is in love with wintertime in the Zion National park, and that love is reflected in his beautiful photography. In these galleries, like the one above, you’ll see the Zion National Park wilderness blanketed in snow. These photos will really make you want to jump in a plane and go exploring for yourself.

Trek Earth is another tremendous photo adventure website where you can find amazing large images of the Utah landscape. While the winter scenes aren’t organized in one group, you’ll find occasional ones, like the one above titled “Zion N.P. in winter” by photographer Marlis.

More Resources about Exploring Beautiful Utah

If you are interested in taking a trip to see this magical and exciting land, the following resources will provide all that you’ll need to plan out your trip and determine what areas you want to see. There are also photo galleries at many of these official sites as well.

• National Park Service - Zion National Park
• National Park Service - Bryce Canyon
• National Park Service - Capitol Reef
• National Park Service - Arches National Park
• National Park Service - Canyonlands National Park

If you do take a trip, or you know of additional resources for visiting and exploring Utah, please share your insight in the comments section below.

Tags: national parks, nature photographs, Winter Adventures, winter weather

During one of our summer camping outings to the New Hampshire White Mountains this year, my daughters made a very cool discovery resulting in one of them asking me, what do salamanders eat? Do you know the answer? I’m not ashamed to admit that I didn’t know the answer right off the top of my head, but after we did a little research about the little critter that my daughters found, we knew everything we could ever want to know about the little guy.

As you might have noticed from the recent post on Maine animal shelters, we’re animal lovers in this family, so looking into what do salamanders eat with my daughters was a great adventure.

The Investigation Into What Do Salamanders Eat

The way it happened was like this. We arrived at the campsite close to suppertime. So after setting up the tent and getting things squared away, my wife and I started cooking supper as the girls went into exploring mode around the campsite. Usually, exploring involves hunting around the campsite for interesting rocks, sticks or sometimes interesting insects. Just as supper was almost ready, I heard both girls exclaim, “Oooh! Daddy, look what we found!” The two of them were staring at the ground, which I thought was very odd.

So, cautiously I walked over to where they were standing and saw this little guy crawling along on the ground.

Now, we’ve spent enough time in the woods of Maine and New Hampshire to recognize this little crawly as a salamander, but I honestly didn’t know what kind it was. There are many different varieties and both states. We were camping near a body of water, so I was pretty sure it was a species that lived near a water supply.

The girls watched it for a while, and when it didn’t move they occasionally nudged it along with a small twig. When supper was ready, they left our new little friend alone and came over to feast on hot dogs, cucumbers and Pringles - our traditional “first meal” at camp. Twenty minutes later, the girls went to check out where the salamander was earlier, and sure enough the little guy had barely moved an inch.

We took these photos so that later we could do some research and find out the exact species. A few days later, once we were home from our camping trip, we started to do a little bit of sleuthing. It didn’t take very long for us to learn from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department that our visiting friend was actually actually an Eastern Red-Spotted Newt.

Credit: New Hampshire Fish & Wildlife

Sure enough, the NH Fish & Wildlife website reported that the newt is an aquatic species, and it had just rained the night before we saw it, which would explain why it was basking nearby our campsite. The bright skin color warns predators that eating the little newt would be toxic - and the scent of the skin secretions warn them as well. But still, the question remained - what do they eat? The answer came from the University of Michigan’s Animal Diversity website.

“The aquatic larvae eat small invertebrates including water fleas, snails, and beetle larvae; the terrestrial efts eat small invertebrates, mainly those found in humus and leaf litter, including snails, spring tails, and soil mites; the adult newts eat mainly midge larva and other aquatic immature stages of insects. Adults don’t have a specialized diet, eating any small invertebrate that they can find. (Behler, King, and 1979, 1998; Petranka, 1998)”

So, finally I could answer my daughter’s question - salamanders eat itsy bitsy little invertebrate bugs!

If your kids are anything like mine, they’ll love the huge wall mural shown here titled “A World of Animals” produced by National Geographic. Exploring the world of animals with your kids is a lot of fun, and you get to learn new things yourself, which is always fun. I’m looking forward to what sort of creatures we discover on our camping trips next year!

Tags: animals, camping stories, Camping With Kids, wildlife

As the holiday season approaches, thoughts of snowstorms, christmas lights and Christmas winter scenes fill your mind and tempt you with memories of holidays past and the Christmas celebrations to come.

One of the greatest things about winter is that there are so many winter activities that you can do while enjoying the many Christmas winter scenes that unfold in the community and in nature. In the spirit of the holiday season, I’ve decided to share a few beautiful Christmas scenes that I came across online while I was searching for snowshoeing photos.

Beautiful Christmas Winter Scenes

Just as the holiday songs describe, spending time downtown and in the city is highly enjoyable during the holidays. The town square is always blanketed with multicolored lights, and most often you’ll find a giant Christmas tree towering over the passers-by. As you walk down main street, you can hear the familiar clanging of the Salvation Army bell, and the wonderful scent of pumpkin spice coffee or hot chocolate as people walk past you, warming their hands on each side of their steaming cup.

It’s not a dream - it’s the experience that you can have by getting out there and taking a walk down main street in the town or city near you. To encourage you, I’m going to publish a few of my favorite Christmas winter scenes.
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Tags: christmas scenes, holidays, nature photographs

It’s approaching that time of year again when people start asking the question, “When does winter start?” The answer for 2009 is December 21. However, the real underlying question that outdoors enthusiasts are asking is when do winter activities start? There are certainly a lot of people who dread the snow storms, snowblowing, shoveling and other chores associated with winter’s start, but there are just as many (if not more) people who look forward to the very first snow so that they can pull out the snowshoes, skiis, sleds, snowmobiles and all of the other outdoor gear that you love to enjoy when the snow is powdery and in great supply.

In this post I’m going to explore what climatologists are saying you can expect for the winter season this year. This prediction will include average temps, areas of the world where climate change will be most drastic, and of course where you’ll be able to find most of the snow!

When Does Winter Start? When the Snow Flies.

The first day of winter for the next few years falls on the official calendar date of December 21, except for 2011 when it’s going to fall on December 22. Setting the calendar aside, what are climatologists saying that outdoor enthusiasts can expect for the approaching winter season? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), the leading U.S. Department of Commerce source for climate information, predicts that El Nino is, once again, going to be a significant factor in winter weather. The NOAA predicts warmer ocean water in the Pacific which will, in effect, strengthen the jetstream and therefore strengthening winter storms.
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Tags: skiing, snowshoeing, weather, Winter Adventures, winter weather

Whether I’m at work or traveling somewhere away from Maine, whenever people learn that I’m from Maine I almost always get asked the same questions - where are the best places to stay along the Maine coast or where are the best restaurants. However, one especially surprising question is often, where are the top animal shelters in Maine?

A Comprehensive List of Animal Shelters in Maine

Why am I covering Maine animal shelters on a camping and travel blog? That’s simple - apparently there are a lot of people who travel to Maine to find a new family pet. It may be the fact that many people consider Maine as one of the more clean and naturally beautiful states in the country, so it stands to reason that the animals that are born and raised here are healthy and free of the sort of illnesses or problems many animals experience that are born closer to urban sprawl and under the cloud of city smog and pollution.

For this reason, and because SpiritCamping stands for the spirit of the wilderness - which includes all living creatures - I’m going to offer the most comprehensive and complete list of animal shelters in Maine that you’ll find anywhere. Bookmark this page for quick reference later when you’re looking for a Maine pet, or forward it to a friend who lives in the Northeast and is hunting for a new, healthy cat or dog. This state has lots of them and they’re waiting for a warm and loving home.
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Tags: facts about maine, maine resources, wildlife

During our anniversary in August, my wife and I visited the coastal Maine town of Ogunquit as part of our annual tradition. We were aware of the approaching hurricane, and while we were nervous about the potential for weather to completely ruin our weekend together, we kept our hotel reservation and forged ahead. On the weekend of August 23rd we arrived to a completely sun-filled Maine coast and not a hint at all that a category 4 hurricane was just off the coast. To say we were shocked and pleasantly surprised would be an understatement.

The Amazing Effects of a Hurricane

We had never been anywhere near the coast when a hurricane had ever passed through this area of coastal Maine. In fact, hurricanes usually don’t - they most often head out to sea or they crash inland far South of northern New England, so we were not at all prepared for what we were about to see.

After spending a nice evening at a local restaurant and having a few drinks, we called it an early night - ready to explore Perkins Cove and the surrounding area in the morning. The next day, Sunday, when we looked out the window, we were completely mesmerized by the ocean. The first thing we noticed was that the wind on the land had obviously picked up a bit, but the sun was still shining and the temperature was relatively warm. However, as we approached the guard rail at the edge of the Perkins Cove parking lot and gazed out over the Atlantic Ocean, we just stood in absolute awe at the monstrous waves that were crashing against the rocky Maine coast. I had my SmartPhone with me, so I snapped a few shots of the approaching waves - unfortunately the small 1.5 megapixel lens did not do Hurricane Bill much justice.
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Tags: hurricane, maine coast, ocean

Want to learn a few facts about Maine? One of the best kept secrets of this part of the seacoast are the many family portrait ideas that you’ll find scattered across the York, Maine part of the east coast. We live barely half an hour from the Maine seacoast, and I’m always shocked that the York Maine Chamber of Commerce (or York Beach Maine Chamber of Commerce?), doesn’t feature more images of this stunning coastline on their home page.

Family Portrait Ideas When Visiting York, Maine

Just last weekend, we took the girls to our favorite hangout, York Beach. One of the facts about Maine that you’ll find at the York Maine Chamber of Commerce website is the fact that the Nubble Lighthouse, right down the road from York Beach, is one of the Maine lighthouses most featured in photographs and artwork. However, just down the road, right on the beach itself, you’ll find an ocean view and a coastline that’s really hard to describe unless you’re sitting right on the beach - smelling the ocean air and gazing out over the cool Maine coast.
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Tags: facts about maine, york beach, york maine, york maine chamber of commerce

As the camping season gets good and fired up this year, I wanted to take a moment and reflect upon one of those things that makes going on a camping trip with a large group of people so fun - easy camping pranks.  And there’s nothing that’s quite as good for the spirit as a good, hearty laugh.

The following pranks are some of the best I’ve found throughout the Internet, as well as a few that I’ve played along with friends on various camping trips through my life. When you grow up in the Northern Maine woods, camping becomes a way of life and one of the easiest ways to have some fun with friends on the weekend (away from parents).  So pack up the fake bugs and whipped cream, and let’s go!

The Top 10 Easy Camping Pranks

I started out this list with a series of about five of my own favorite camping pranks that you can pull off with very little preparation (in most cases). However, if you spot one or two that may require a little bit of prep work, don’t let that discourage you because those are often the pranks that work best. A few of these only require a straight face!  So, without further ado - here is this years list of the top 10 easy camping pranks.

#1 - Attack of the Birds (and Possibly Critters)

If you’ve ever sprinkled breadcrumbs or small bits of food near a campsite and observed that location over the next few hours, you know that it doesn’t take very much to attract nature’s smallest animals to that spot. Both birds and squirrels seem to have an uncanny ability to zone in on the smallest morsel of food that hits the forest floor. Taking advantage of this knowledge can be a very powerful think for the prankster camper.  All you have to do is wait until an hour or so before dawn, creep out of your tent and sprinkle breadcrumbs all over the top of the tent of your victim(s). Go back to bed and wait. Within an hour or so, depending on the time of year (and the population of birds and chipmunks or squirrels in your area), you’ll start hearing fluttering wings and scampering feet all around the target tent!  The poor campers inside won’t know what all the ruckus is about.

#2 - The Ranger Just Told Me…

There are a few variations to this prank, and each one is a riot. Every campground is maintained by a great crew of rangers or campground workers. Most of the time these workers are friendly and will answer questions or offer advice. One of the funniest “setup” gags is to walk off to go to the bathroom or get some water. Wait a while, and when you return to camp, tell everyone that the Ranger just told you that he’s alerting everyone that the local news just reported an escaped convict from a local prison (it helps if there’s a local prison, or if the campers are clueless about the local area).  It’s best if you tell everyone this just before bed. As people crawl into their tents, they’ll be wondering about the news…possible fretting about spending a long night in an area where there could be an escaped madman. Wait about twenty minutes after everyone is settled in, and then all of a sudden start screaming, “Oh my god! It’s him! He’s here! Oh my god he’s coming!”  Watch everyone scramble out of the tents with a frantic look on their faces.

#3 - The Bear Variation - another version of the Ranger prank is that the ranger told you there’s a bear that’s been ransacking tents and going after camper’s food, and in one case attacking a boy scout troop by tearing up a tent and pulling a camper into the woods. After about twenty minutes, creep out of your tent and then start grunting outside the target victim’s tent. After a little while, as you do one last grunt, slap the side of the tent as hard as you can.  Just make sure the victims don’t have any weapons, because there’s a strong possibility of panic setting in!  It’s hilarious - especially when they all scream.

#4 - The Critter Variation - This version of the Ranger prank involves telling everyone that the ranger reported that snakes have been creeping into sleeping bags (or small animals, spiders, etc…) When your victims aren’t paying attention to their tents, creep in and sneak pine cones or some other rough object into the foot of their sleeping bags. When everyone goes to crawl into bed, wait for the screams!

#5 - The Case of the Annoying Cricket

If you’ve ever had a cricket trapped inside your house, you know how annoying it can be at night. Catch a cricket by setting a light down on the ground at night and wait for them to come to it (they’re attracted to light). Capture one or two in a jar.  Go into your victim’s tent (either that night or the next day) and release the crickets into the victim’s tent. Once night falls and those crickets start singing, the campers in that tent will never get any sleep.  This has to be one of the funniest camping pranks I’ve ever witnessed, as the victims will start cursing the cricket and complaining, while you and your friends are rolling around in your tent in fits of laughter.

More Easy Camping Pranks

Can’t get enough camping pranks? The following will keep you occupied all throughout this camping season:

• Padlock the two zippers of the front tent flaps together so the campers can’t get out.
• Prepare breakfast for everyone, and slip a bit of hot sauce in the orange juice (mix well).
• Set up camping chairs for everyone, but carefully remove the nuts and bolts - watch as everyone collapses to the ground.
• Squirt toothpaste inside everyone’s shoes at night, and watch the fun in the morning as people slip their feet into their sneakers.
• Fill up water balloons, and have your friends help you stake out the victim’s tent in the morning. As your fellow campers arise from their slumber and exit, let them have it!

Tags: camping, camping pranks, easy camping pranks