Hello All,Wow! The holidays are over and although they were fantastic, it feels good to start moving forward and begin the new year. I have so much to say but am going to try not to overload you with words as I can sometimes do 🙂 I am practicing living in the moment, and trying to focus on the now, and what is happening here before jumping ahead. So I bring to you first a blog about the Maine Huts & Trails Retreat.
I have booked for Saturday, February 9th, and have allocated for 20 ppl. I need at least 10 (I think) to make this happen, and so far I have 3 definites (including me, hahaha). So here I am with a gentle reminder in case this is something that is right up your alley…two days, one night, of an energizing yet relaxing, cold and snowy yet warm & cozy, quiet yet with lots of laughter (and maybe a little snoring, which creates more laughter), experience with some old and new friends.
If you don’t know about Maine Huts & Trails, you can research it on their website at www.mainehuts.org, or stay here with me and I’ll give you a little wrap up. Maine Huts & Trails is a trail system that winds through a section of the woods in Maine, following lakes, rivers and streams, passing by mountains and waterfalls, climbing uphill and down, which are meant for hiking, trail running, biking, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing, but not for snowmobiling or 4 wheeling. The trails are beautifully built with bridges, and rock steps, by a handsome man 🙂 and are well maintained for your daily enjoyment despite the season. The trails are free for day use for all, but are extensive, running total mileage at this phase of the project of about 40+ mi. There are four checkpoints along the way, which are the Huts. These are available for lodging, and are where MH&T make their money back.
The Huts are gorgeous lodges, built off the grid and are self sustaining. Each Hut hosts a kitchen/dining room where you can savor a warm home cooked meal after your hike, ski, or such. They are located geographically in some of them most pristine sections of woods or mountains, or lakes in the state. My favorite and where we will stay for this Retreat is the Flagstaff Hut. The Flagstaff Hut is located and surrounded on three sides by Flagstaff Lake up in the north country. Each Hut also has a bunk house that contains several rooms. Each room sleeps different amounts, and have heat, and beds with mattresses and pillows. You, the guest, are expected to bring your own bedding and other personal amenities, but do not need to worry about food or drink, (other than what you want for your hike/ski/etc). There are also flushable toilets, and hot (coin operated) showers.
We, the Happyknits group, will aim for leaving fairly early Saturday morning, and take a nice leisurely ski/walk/snowshoe (your preference) beginning at the trail head meant directly for the Flagstaff Hut, which is roughly 2 miles in. The trail is flat, and easy, even for beginner skiiers, and beautiful…bordering, for a good portion of the way, the Lake with views of Bigelow Mountain range. We can coordinate via emails to convoy, carpool, or meet up, or if you prefer, go on your own and unite at the Hut later in the day for knitting and dinner. There is no real agenda planned other than spending as much time enjoying ourselves as possible, and hopefully that means, lots of knitting and crocheting, laughing, and drinking(!) or not. Each Hut serves beer and wine, but it is okay to hike in your own, as long as the bottle stays in your bunkhouse with you gear. Sunday’s schedule looks a lot like Saturday’s but beginning with an early morning breakfast, (included in the fee), and following with more knitting and then at your leisure, a ski back out to your car, and a reflective drive home on the Long Falls Dam road, to ultimately rejoin the real world feeling refreshed and rejuvinated!!!!
The fee for this trip is $110. I will need to give MH&T a payment as soon as possible and no later than Wednesday, January 23rd, I think. Please stop in with any other questions and to sign up. I will then be sending out follow up emails including more detail; packing list, contact list, and arrangement plans for travel, etc. We had a great time in October at the Poplar Hut, I expect this to be even better, and more neccessary. *sigh* Sometimes winter needs a little pick me up…
I sincerely hope you all consider this trip…this RETREAT. Bring a girlfriend, give yourselves a gift. You do not need to pay for all of this at once, and I will hold post dated checks. We can make it work for you if you are interested but can work out the logistics right now. Email me with questions as well: Julie at peacelovehappyknits@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you, and I hope I haven’t made any typos because it is now time for me to go home and I will not be proofreading this 🙂 hahaha
I want to go this year…