Thursday, June 25, 2009
A year ago, Larry Warren’s decades-old dream of creating a 180-mile trail system through Maine started to take shape with the opening of his first backcountry lodge near the Sugarloaf Ski Area in Carrabassett Valley. Now Maine Huts & Trails, a non-profit membership based organization, has just opened their second of twelve huts, on the shores of Flagstaff Lake. Other huts are soon to follow, each 10 to 12 miles away, or a day apart for the backpacker or backcountry skier. Each lodge contains heated bunk rooms, showers, and a hot meal, similar to the AMC huts in the White Mountains. Yet, unlike the Whites, the terrain is much gentler and more accessible. Instead of climbing 5,000-foot peaks, you’ll be hiking along the shores of rivers and lakes. This being central Maine, the wildlife is sure to outnumber fellow hikers as you’ll have the opportunity to see moose, beaver, and foxes.
