Jump into a Maine lake during the summer and no matter how warm the water feels on top, there is always cold water lurking below. The reason behind this is a physical phenomenon known as stratification.
During the 1950s, when his family used to stay at a camp in Fryeburg, David Morine and his brother had to haul their water from a spring in the woods. And it wasn’t easy.
The Rangeley Lakes Region is known as the Land of Fishing Legends for a reason: Its lakes and streams teem with fish, and the many camps that cater to visitors have been there for decades.
Back in the late 1800s, summer people coming to Maine called themselves rusticators. But natives rusticated too, going “up to” camps on remote lakes like East Grand on the Canadian border.
People are drawn to Maine's whitewater rafting trips for the adventure and to be surrounded by nature. The river guides are key to the success of these expeditions, as the author learns on an eventful rafting trip.
Loons are a triple-threat in the bird world: they are stunning to look at, possess a supernatural voice, and are skilled predators of fish. Their presence on a lake means it is healthy.
The earliest Rangeley Lakes recreational establishments were fishing clubs, where members had access to rustic accommodations and to guides. Then came resort hotels. These offered a more genteel experience, but also focused on outdoor activities and appreciation of nature.
Maine has a thriving oyster growing industry. Until recently most of these oysters were raised from commercial seed. As the industry has grown and coastal water temperatures have inched up, cultured oysters have begun to multiply on their own, particularly in the brackish waters of the Damariscotta River.
Cottrell Boatbuilding of Searsport, Maine, built a pair of custom classic Moths for a customer who had raced Moths when he was young. His charge to the Cottrells: “Design and build me two identical Moths within the classic Moth rules.”
