Rock Work at Pine Mountain

FCNEMBA is building a new trail up Pine Mountain. Today's session was heavy rock work!!

Needless to say, this trail will be awesome when completed...

Bunker Ruins - Peaks Island

A large completely abandoned military fortification remains unadvertised and obscured by nature on a remote section of Peaks Island near Portland Maine. Completed in 1942 as part of World War II, it was built to protect Casco Bay.

My niece was getting married that night on Peaks Island so it was a great opportunity to explore the ruins with my son. After taking the ferry from Portland, we hiked at a brisk pace for about three miles and found the spot, barely visible among all the overgrowth.

My son forging ahead at a brisk pace

One of three entrances - too wet to enter

We climbed up on top

Nature vs. Man

Up top there were remnants of old ventilation shafts

We found the way in!

Graffiti everywhere...

This is the view from the front that faces the ocean. I believe it was a huge gun turret.

Inside - a long scary walk in the pitch black darkness

A super short video - "Whistling in the Dark"

I meant to whistle the X files theme but Chariot of the Gods and the opening bassoon lick of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring was whistled instead! It was scary but the reverb was awesome!

Hauntingly beautiful!

Returning to the ferry stop, we passed by marshes and a beaver house.

Further info

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_Steele

http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/batterysteele-peaksisland

http://www.peaksislandlandpreserve.org/history-of-battery-steele

http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/maine/remnants-of-battery-steele-me/

Hemlock Hills (scouting out the new loop, etc)

On Saturday, starting from the Ned Mountain Road parking lot, I hiked much of the southern and western part of Hemlock Hills, GPSing trails and taking snapshots of trail intersections.

Part One

Heading South on the Fire Road (Blazed Orange)

Here is the first intersection (trail enters on the left)

On the right is the side Blue Trail

Ah -at the Yellow...

 Up the Yellow

Part Two - At the Hub

Slick Rock

South up the slick rock is now blazed Blue and Green

Heading East at the Hub  - it's now Green (actually a Yellow Green)

The trail on the right is the descent to the Red 

I first headed south over the slick rock and hiked the green loop (which includes the new FCNEMBA-built trail).

Heres where it makes an abrupt turn to the right (new trail!)

Green Blazes...

Intersection

Intersection

Intersection

 Part Three - Back to the Red

Intersection (where the Ryan-led section was built [4-8-17] )

Intersection (where the Dave-led section was built [4-8-17] )

Heading north on the Dave-led 4-8 trail it meets the XC trail.
This will be blazed pink.

 Back at the Hub  I took the trail that descends to the Red

Looking up towards the Hub

 The Big Rock on the Red

Freakin' Awesome here - its like you are in Middle Earth!

Along the north of the Lake

Parking Lot

 Ascending

Joining up with the Orange

 Part Four - West Side of Hemlock Hills

Turning Left onto the Green-Yellow Fire Road

Trail  on left joins Fire Road
Fire Road (blazed Green-Yellow) is straight ahead

GreenYellow Trail (Fire Road)

Here is where the trail on left joins the FireRoad

First trail off to the the right is blocked

Tree Down!

 Turning right off the FireRoad

Here's the turn off on the right to get back on the single track going north

Looking back at the first next intersection

Looking bro the side at the next intersection

The side trail (photo above) parallels the main trail and joins it ahead near the rocky hill

Here's where they join (looking back)

Footbridge #1

Footbridge #2

A couple of panoramas taken on the Green-Yelow Trail (not blazed) heading north

Blue Offshoot

This is the decent on the Blue offshhot

I finally finished up back to the Ned Mountain Road parking lot and headed home.. I will rebuild the trail map inventory, updating it with GPS tracks taken today...