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VOLUME 34, NUMBER 12 AUGUST 20, 2009 FREE THE WEEKLY NEWS & LIFESTYLE JOURNAL OF MT. WASHINGTON VALLEY A State Park Summer: A2 Lake Umbagog State Park offers an enormous lake span- ning two states surrounded by wildernessand dotted with remote campsites and numerous wildlife viewing areas … Providing Essential Services: Each month, members of a group called Valley Outreach get together at Conway’s Tech Village to talk about how they can pool their resources to best help others … A 14 Let There Be Bach: The 21st Annual Bach Festival will begin its two-weekend run this Sunday, Aug. 23, with a concert by Ray Cornils on the Casavant organ at Christ Church Episcopal in North Conway … A 22 A SALMON PRESS PUBLICATION • (603) 447-6336 • PUBLISHED IN CONWAY, NH Page Two A State Park Summer seventh in a series of visits to N.H. State Parks A paddler navigates the waters of Lake Umbagog in his kayak on a windy, but sunny, summer day. (Photo by Melissa Grima) Birding, boating, fishing and camping at Lake Umbagog By Melissa Grima get a closer look at three juvenile bald Coos County Democrat eagles nesting on Pine Point — along n enormous lake spanning the eastern shore of the lake in Maine. two states surrounded by Our guide was knowledgeable and also wilderness and dotted pointed out locations of interest like a with remote campsites and farm recently acquired by the Umbagog numerous wildlife viewing National Wildlife Refuge, and homes of areasA — that’s what Lake Umbagog has year-round residents on some of the to offer. lake’s islands and inaccessible shoreline I traveled to the remote Lake areas. Umbagog State Park, located in During our boat ride we were also Cambridge between Errol and Upton, able to catch sight of plenty of other Maine, with my canoe, fishing poles and boaters in kayaks, canoes and even bass camera ready for whatever the popular boats paddling the lake and trying their spot was willing to offer. My husband angling skills on the many fish species Rick joined me for the day-trip as an that inhabit the waters. Fishing is extra pair of arms to help with the pad- allowed from the water with either a dling — something that would come in New Hampshire or Maine fishing Tents and canoes dot the shoreline at this remote campsite known as Molls Rock in handy as the wind across the lake kept license, but shore fishing requires a the Lake Umbagog State Park. (Photo by Melissa Grima) the canoe rolling during our brief excur- license from the state you are standing sion onto the water. in. We were impressed by the very help- The pontoon boat clipped along the “blue loo” by the park staff. It struck me Route 26 though Dixville Notch before ful staff at Umbagog — under the lead- water, easily carrying us the distance to that without an enclosure to offer priva- heading south on Route 3. Another ership of Mike Stewart— who, it R15 at the far end of the lake where we cy, other than the one provided by notable, our ride north through Berlin seemed, had just been waiting for this found a couple from Madbury, Mass., nature, campers would have to be very had us detoured in Milan due to a series to bring us to their door. No who said they were wrapping up their familiar with each other to be comfort- washout on Route 16. Thanks to the sooner did they find out my purpose camping trip and had been camping able. At the very least, they would be by detour, which had us rejoining Route 16 than they offered up a tour of the lake, remotely on Umbagog for the past 27 the time they headed back to shore. at the junction of Route 110A, we came complete with guide — Jimmy from years — talk about staying power. When we returned to the marina at out facing the osprey nest on the power Colebrook — who was on his way out to Jimmy explained that in his experience the base camp, Rick and I headed out in lines we might have otherwise missed. pick up some campers at one of the fur- it’s not unusual to meet people who have the canoe to get the paddling “experi- thest remote camp sites they offer. been camping at the lake for many ence” so many who come to Umbagog About Lake Umbagog State Park Between the base camp and remote years. People can reserve their sites in desire. We headed toward the Dead Lake Umbagog State Park is located locations this state park offers nearly 70 advance and often reserve the same site Cambridge River, just east of the camp- in Cambridge on Route 26, seven miles camp sites, including three cottages at annually, like this couple who said they ground, where we got a pretty view of a east of Errol and two miles west of the base camp to suit campers of any had a perfect view of both the sunset and pine forest and a row of lakefront Upton, Maine, on the south end of temperament. moonrise from their isolated location homes. We got a few casts in from the Umbagog Lake. We paid our day use fee ($4 for each just south of Sunday Cove. canoe before we tired of being tossed The park is open from Memorial adult) and Theresa and Lisa in the camp A few sites are kept out of the reser- around by the steady wind, which was Day weekend through Columbus Day office helped us locate where we might vation pool so that they can be rented on blowing us in toward shore. It took a weekend and campground reservations be able to spot some moose or osprey a first come-first served basis to walk- good stretch of hard paddling for us to can be made by calling ReserveAmerica from our canoe by highlighting the ins. The majority of the sites accommo- make it back to the marina, but we man- at 1-877-nhparks (1-877-647-2757) or locations on a map of the lake when we date up to six people, with seven sites aged to stay dry. online at www.nhstateparks.org. first arrived. We put our canoe trip on able to accommodate large groups. No trip through Errol would be Day use of the state park facility costs hold, however, and headed out with We got off the boat to tour the site, complete without a stop at L.L. Cote, a $4 per adult. The base campground Jimmy after availing ourselves of the one of the smaller camp areas. A picnic store we had both heard about but never boasts beach access to the lake, canoe, facilities in the base camp’s bathhouse. table and fire ring were the only items seen. We browsed for about half an kayak, rowboat and motorboat rentals, a On the 10.5-mile boat ride to the not in the pine needle-carpeted clearing. hour, grabbed lunch at the Subway camp store, flush and pit toilets and coin R15 camp site, Jimmy pointed out local A short distance into the woods was a pit inside, and then headed home — this operated showers. Pets are permitted. wildlife hot-spots and brought us in to toilet — affectionately referred to as a time completing our loop by taking ▲ On the Cover Inside Index Dueling Top Two Put a little spook into your life! Arts & Entertainment ........................Page A21-28 Defending champion Phillip Gaimon, of Cranmore Mountain in North Conway celebrates Calendar ...................................................Page A26 Tucker, Ga., has all he can do to keep ahead of Halloween every weekend in October with the return of 53-year-old bicycle racing legend Ned The Ghoullog. PageA 24 Entertainment..........................................Page A21 Overend, of Durango, Colo., as they competed As the Wheel Turns.................................Page A11 in the 37th Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle As The Wheels Turn Hillclimb on Aug. 15. Overend never did catch Peter and Sally take a camping trip to Bradbury On the Rockpile.......................................Page A32 the 23-year-old Gaimon, who went on to win Mountain State Park in Pownal, Maine, for some single Real Estate..............................................Pages A19 with a time of 54:37. Overend was 16 seconds track riding on tricky trails. See Page A11 for more. Sports .................................................Page A8-A10 behind at 54:53. (Dennis Coughlin Photo) Page A2 - The Mountain Ear, Thursday, August 20, 2009 In the News Giving wildlife room to roam in Tamworth Whites-to-Ossipees Connectivity Initiative proposed The Gilman Forest land that is to be preserved (the land is the side of the hill in the middle-ground of this photo). (Courtesy Photo) TAMWORTH — The Tamworth already contains much protected and the land, in perpetuity, from develop- For details and updates about this Conservation Commission (TCC) is working forest land, including ment. However, the Forest Society will exciting initiative, check the web site, working with the Society for the Hemenway State Forest. The Gilman continue to pay local taxes. Activities http://www.tamworthconservationcommis- Protection of New Hampshire Forests Forest is part of the scenic ridge visible to such as forestry, agriculture, and public sion.org/specialprojects.html. (Forest Society) to help preserve high the south from Cleveland Hill Road and access for hunting, fishing, hiking, and Alternatively, forward questions to quality wildlife habitat in Tamworth. The is contiguous with several other con- skiing will continue in the Gilman [email protected] TCC, which has for many years worked served properties to the north. The proj- Forest.

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