Ranger Ride

First, I'd like to apologize for the hiatus in blogging. Life has presented many inconveniences to creation: end of semester wrap-up, graduation, partying after graduation, wedding tasks, and so forth. Summer has begun, however, and so the adventures will most definitely come more frequently, and include more details and personal accounts. I am changing the angle ever so slightly in this perspective of topic. From now on I plan to write specifically of the adventures I have encountered this summer, while incorporating many, many more photographs!!! :) Who doesn't love a visual?



I begin this new take on Aroostook Adventures with a Sunday afternoon Ranger ride. First, for those of you who are unaware of what a Ranger is, it is a similar to a four-wheeler, but it rides six people instead of one or two. It is a grizzly looking machine, resting roughly three feet off the ground on massive rough tread tires. It has no window shield and a sturdy metal frame for the worst case, a tip over or roll scenario. In addition, the Ranger can reach a speed of roughly 71km/h and is capable of making its way through almost any type of land.



On this particular occasion, six of us piled into the Ranger. This was only my second ride in the machine, and I was very excited to be exploring the rear area of Cross Lake, nestled right beside Square Lake. First, we took a journey through what must have been a snowmobile trail in the winter time. It was narrow and full of small hills that jolted up and down along the way, with murky puddles of mud and rainfall complicating the path.



Next, we explored multiple large rock pits, climbing almost straight up the sides. At the top we enjoyed the view of lakes and mountains as far as the eye could see. Northern Maine, incidentally, is heavily littered with such lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, mountains, and hills. The view was amazing! All people should see such a sight at one point in their lives.




I wish I could have a Ranger of my own. Perhaps some day I will, but for now it is exceptionally nice that I have access to one belonging to my cousin. Off-roading is the best! Sure, the mud will probably ruin those jeans, and wind-tangled hair may be tough to comb out, but it is well worth the hassle. In a four-wheeler or Ranger, it is possible to drive almost anywhere. It makes exploring the wild a more personal experience! The sounds are all around, louder and clearer than usual. There is a certain thrill about encountering animals, candidly thriving in the forest as the Ranger rounds a corner. The adventures are plentiful when civilization is left in the dust, and the experience is breath taking.

King of the Mountain

Northern Maine provides great opportunity to individuals who enjoy hiking. Near the Limestone area there are a wealth of nature trails created surrounding the former location of Loring Airforce Base. These are made up of wildlife refuge territories, which nearly circle the site. Within this land there are several man made features which can be found appealing to the adventurer. Among these are man made lakes and ponds, bridges, rivers, and sitting areas. It is a fantastic opportunity to see animals in their own habitat, by way of bike or foot.
Aside from the obvious vast woodlands which can be accessed readily from many points, one can find multiple mountains to pursue for adventure as well. In the Presque Isle area alone there are Quoggy Joe and Haystack, both of which offer great trails for activity. Haystack is a smaller climb, taking roughly a half hour to reach the top, but it is steep in many places. Further north one can find Mt. Deboullie, nestled in the deep woods. At the foot of the mountain sits a lake and there is great opportunity for camping as well. Campers can enjoy the luxury of camping at the bottom, hiking up the mountain, and stopping for a swim to cool off along the way. At the top of the mountain victory awaits with a tower, climbed by many to see the awesome view from above.


The best time to climb one of these mountains is in the beginning of fall. As the leaves turn magnificent shades of every color the hike becomes much more memorable. People enjoy gathering a sample of the most beautiful colorations.
These are only a few of the specific mountains located in the Aroostook County area. Others in close proximity offer similar positive attributes and are beloved by many adventurers alike.

Oh the Seasons...

Even before I moved to Maine, I was forewarned of the climatic conditions I would soon face. In California, my brother and I wore socks on our hands when flurries fell from the sky. Having never seen snow prior to this experience, we were delighted - yet unprepared. We wore over sized sweatshirts and socks for mittens; the snow accumulation was very minimal.
When my father sent photographs of our new home in mid May, my brother and I were shocked to see snow! Not merely snow, there were foot high banks around our new home. Having lived in Idaho for the past several years, where school was canceled if an inch accumulated, this heavy snowfall was unimaginable. Shortly after moving to Maine someone explained to me the workings of Northern Maine climate.
"There are three seasons," he explained matter-of-factly. "There is winter, which is longest of all. Then before and after winter is mud season, and for a short-lived period mid way through mud season you will find the third season- July."
So there you have it. Winter, Mud season, and July. Some years we really don't even have July, or as some would refer to it, "summer".



Our winters are hard for some faraway-living people to grasp, and hard for some Northern Maine inhabitants to withstand. Winters can certainly vary. A few years back, in the winter of 2007-2008, Northern Maine broke record snowfall. In Caribou snow fall for the season was 182.5 inches! In the spring it caused a great deal of damage in the north part of the county when flooding destroyed homes and businesses. This is not how all winters are though.


This year has proven to be an oddity. Without bearing strict statistical values, let's just say it's been quite warm and snow-less. This bears many diverse reactions among those living in Aroostook County. Some individuals are having the best winter in years: feeling in great spirits, full of energy, and not terrified to drive. Others are devastated by the loss of time to pursue their beloved winter activities. Sled Heads still today cling to the dirt ridden trails, scarcely sprinkled in snow. Ice fisherman still take residence in their ice cabins over weekends, stirring little over the creaking, shifting ice at night. Those who love to ski and snowboard felt the loss by way of rugged trails: grass poking out in random places and snow thinly packed over rocks and ice.
While the lack of snowfall has made this winter less than exciting for most, it bears the fact that mud season is nearby. With mud season occurring so early in the year this could mean huge things for Northern Maine. It could mean the addition of something that has not been experienced in the area for quite some time-- a fourth season. At this quickened rate of seasonal change, Aroostook County could see its first August in years! It will be interesting to see how this situation develops in the coming months. This could mean big things for summer enthusiast who call Maine home.

Road Rage: Part II- The Conditions

At virtually any location in the United States bad drivers can be found by the handful. They aggravate us and make us late on a daily basis. We honk. We cuss. We hold up our middle fingers in dismay. Yes, bad drivers are universal, and there is nothing that will change this. What is not likely to be found everywhere in the country however, are the terrible driving conditions occurring in Northern Maine.
The biggest menace regarding road conditions is the notably inclement weather faced every year. Snow is piled high along both sides of the road, appearing like bumper lanes in a faded, old bowling alley. It stretches itself in tendrils across roadways in windy areas, creating drifts sometimes a foot high in places. The drifts jut across the lanes, daring approaching vehicles to crash through them, often jerking cars about as they cross the way. Beneath the snow is most always ice. Black ice, scarcely noticeable across the dark tarred surface. It causes many accidents yearly, sometimes fatal.
Often when the snow really comes, it comes hard and long. It will snow for many hours and when the flakes cease to fall, varied thicknesses of snow claim the land. It takes effort to even leave the house. One must plow or shovel to leave the driveway at all, and then the conditions that greet them thereafter are not always smooth.
It is really not an unusual occurrence to come upon multiple vehicles in the ditch or snowbank on the way to a destination, following a snowstorm. Most individuals who have lived in the area have ended up there at least once in their lives. Routinely people pull each other out of the ditch rather than call for a tow truck which will cost them.
Aside from snow, other dangers await the northern traveler. Moose will make their way into the middle of the road regardless of who is approaching. Then, they will continue to stand there, or run further into the way of traffic. Typically they are not considered, by locals, to be the brightest members of the animal kingdom. Aside from moose there are deer and skunks and raccoon, which increase the likelihood of colliding with an animal.
Though conditions arise in all areas that create dangerous situations for drivers, Aroostook County citizens must tirelessly watch for moose and icy conditions. Anxiety fills many when leaving the house each winter day, or when driving at night in the case of moose. Yet commuting is an essential part of the lives of people in Northern Maine. Locations are more distant from one another, towns often spread many miles apart as well. Drivers in Maine must drive smart to avoid the hazards that await them every day.

Road Rage: Part I- The People

In almost every geographic location, horrible drivers and horrible driving conditions can be found. Whether the circumstances are blamed on the weather or not, it can be incredibly frustrating to find yourself stuck behind the individual who is driving twenty miles below the speed limit. From the time I first found myself taking residence in the area I was impressed by the great number of wildlife and natural conditions. What I did not realize was that the area of Aroostook County is also heavily saturated with terrible drivers and driving conditions. To begin this short series regarding the wondrous conditions of driving in Northern Maine I touch upon those who take to the roads daily, seemingly in effort to irritate the heck out of all those who share the road with them.

There are several "types" of drivers who can be easily spotted roaming dirt roads, interstates, and town roads alike. They are the ones who pull over at the slightest inconvenience. Usually they are seen pulled to the side of the road (breakdown lane), still driving, as if it were an actual lane to be used for regular traffic. Sometimes it is rainfall that causes them to sideskirt, other times it may be snow or sleet, but often it can also be caused by fear in general. An older woman becomes frightened by the rapidly increasing number of cars following closely behind her, as she drives fifteen below the speed limit. In a storm it makes it much more difficult to swerve around unsuspected cars that slightly loom into the lane.

My least favorite type of driver in Maine is the person who rides an inch from your bumper the whole way home. A friend of mine from out of state pointed this out incredulously after dwelling in the area for a few months.

"I've never seen anything like it!" He said, "there are miles and miles and miles of open road, but the only TWO cars on it MUST ride on top of each other?"

Yes, I'm the terribly spiteful car in front of that driver who taps the breaks to scare the daylights out of them. Although I do not recommend this practice for safety reasons, it has proven to be immensely helpful in providing a hint. They usually back off for fear of ending up in my back seat. :)

On a side note the way people park in the winter time is quite ridiculous as well. Just because there is snow does not mean one can not use common sense when parking a vehicle. Instead, when pulling into a parking lot, it appears that chimpanzees were responsible for parking the cars. Several vehicles end up diagonal, spread across three lanes. It is excruciating to see many many parking spaces that are just barely not wide enough because someone couldn't park slightly to the left... a foot perhaps.

I don't mean to sound like I believe the driving customs of Aroostook County are anything severely profound. These drivers exist everywhere, annoying thousands of other drivers like myself. Perhaps, if we work together, we can rid the roads of these terrible drivers by encouraging them to revisit driver's ed, or take the bus or taxi. As one mass, we have the power to change the world of driving, one parking space at a time.

A Taste of the North

Every geographic area has its own flavors and traditional foods. Likewise, Aroostook County hails many unique dishes that are not generally accepted as universally American cuisine. Two of my personal favorites, which can be found at many restaurants further north are poutine and ployes, both of which are foreign by origin.


Poutine is composed of french fries topped with cheeses (usually mozzarella) and then covered in gravy. Sometimes people will add hamburger to the mix or change it up with some curly fries. Another variation is called the "italian mix", and it features spaghetti sauce rather than gravy. The original poutine dish was borrowed from the province of Quebec, and then made its way into the hearts of many Mainers.


Another of my personal favorites is the ployes are pancakes made of buckwheat. Unlike their counterparts, the original pancake, they are not designated as breakfast food. Often they are served with dinner and topped with butter rather than maple syrup. Acadian ployes are commonly featured in the County through an entire Ployes festival located annually in Fort Kent.
Every area has its native favorites when it comes to food and beverage. Ployes and poutine are two delicious options from the north.

Potato Harvest

One of the most interestingly different events I encountered after taking residence in Northern Maine was the phenomenon of Potato Harvest Break, which occurred, to my knowledge in every school in the northern portion of the state. Having already lived in a "potato state" (Idaho), I was no stranger to spuds, but the practice of child-involved cultivation was quite surprising to both my parents and I.

Every year each participating school allots typically two to three weeks in the fall, usually beginning with the last week of September, for a break from school. One of the oddities of this act can be found in that students have only begun the school year a month or so prior to the hiatus. Seldom do the students complain of having to miss school however. As I recall we were deeply delighted to experience the break.


Potato Harvest Break has been a tradition of Aroostook County for many, many years. Middle school and high school age students look forward to the chance to earn a hefty amount of cash for their age. They work in a variety of settings. Some pick potatoes from the ground, by hand, and fill barrels all day. Other individuals work in a potato house, carefully working to separate the harvest and store them until they are called to a purchasing location. Teenage harvest employees sometimes drive burly, rickety trucks through potato fields. The trucks move alongside the potato harvester machine, filling the truck with potatoes fresh out of the ground.

The worst job by far is working on the harvester machine. All day individuals stand on the machine as it creeps up row after row of harvest ready potatoes. The machine pulls them up from the ground and they are carried across a conveyor belt into the back of the waiting potato truck. The task of the student who works on the potato harvester machine is to stand beside the conveyor belt and pick items out that do not belong. These items can be rocks, dirt chunks, and even rotting potatoes.

This was the job I experienced during my years working Potato Harvest Break. Ask anyone about their experiences on a potato harvester, and they will likely describe it the same way. The temperature dwindles rapidly... beginning with cold in the early morning, then warming up in the afternoon, then going back to chilly again as night falls. There is a constant swirl of dust in the air as potatoes are torn from the ground, some of which ends up in the mouth, eyes, and nostrils. The machine is always moving, creating some dizziness at times. The worker is always standing, and if they have to pee... find a tree.

Work days typically begin around six AM and continue on after darkness, weather permitting. Individuals will work for many consecutive days, even on weekends, as the time they will be available to farmers is quite short in the large perspective, and there is always the threat of rain, which will cause a hiatus in productivity.

As horrifying as I may have made this experience seem, I believe it is a necessary part of this society. Many youths learn lessons about hard work and focus while working the fields. It is also evident that individuals from "the county" have quite a record as being very hard workers. Children and teens learn about responsibility and earning money, rather than being handed it. Potato Harvest workers can walk away with a good chunk of change too. Often they will make well over a thousand dollars, earned by their own hard work. This can have a positive impact in a variety of ways.

In recent years schools have begun to consider doing away with Potato Harvest Break. Many adolescents are no longer interested in putting in the hard work associated with the breaks. Long ago when larger families made up the north, it was necessary for farmers to make their own children available for help on their farms, without facing repercussions from school for absence. It will be interesting to see the direction taken in the future.