Author Archives: sarahtrailhunter

Portaging and Paddling the Debsconeag Lakes Loop

The Abenaki word Debsconeag, meaning “carrying place,” aptly describes the Debsconeag Lakes Wilderness Area, located southwest of Baxter State Park. Managed by The Nature Conservancy, this pristine parcel of land is home to remote ponds linked by a network of portage trails winding through mature forest. After years of dreaming about paddling here—inspired by theContinue reading “Portaging and Paddling the Debsconeag Lakes Loop”

Embracing Slow-Motion Travel

//a paddling journey with friends on the US-Canadian Border// “Will the campsites be obvious?” The question comes from one of the canoes at the back of our little flotilla and has been directed at me—I planned this trip. I assumed they would be, but I admit, after paddling for several hours and not seeing any, I’m not entirelyContinue reading “Embracing Slow-Motion Travel”

7 Reasons Why Your Next Backpacking Trip Should be a Paddling Trip

This article was originally published on goeast.com. There’s no question that hiking and backpacking offer rich rewards, but they come at a cost. Sore feet, muddy trails, and long days wearing backpacks. Why not switch it up? A paddling trip offers a lot of the same benefits as backpacking (nights in beautifully wild places, movingContinue reading “7 Reasons Why Your Next Backpacking Trip Should be a Paddling Trip”

Backpackers Trade Trekking Poles for Paddles

This story was originally published on goeast.com. “Are you planning to hit that rock for a reason?”“Tell me where to go; don’t tell me where not to go!”“You have to speak louder!”“The glare! I can’t see!” Dodging rocks on a river takes practice, and learning is a trial-by-fire situation. My friends and I are allContinue reading “Backpackers Trade Trekking Poles for Paddles”

8 Steps to Planning a Family Bike Trip

This article was originally published on goeast.com. Family bike trips can be a terrific way to reconnect with the people you love most. They nurture a healthy sense of adventure, build grit, and often provide plenty of opportunities to problem solve together. They require some flexibility and a willingness to embrace the vulnerability that comesContinue reading “8 Steps to Planning a Family Bike Trip”

White Rim Trail

3-day self-supported tour on Canyonland’s 100-mile White Rim Trail This story was originally published on goeast.com. As I struggled to the top of a gentle, rolling hill on Mineral Bottom Road, I was sure we had made it.  It’s only 12 miles of riding from the top of the canyon to the parking area and surelyContinue reading “White Rim Trail”

Losing the Green Mountain Stage Race

There’s a unique sound that vibrates from a peloton. It’s something like a purr or a hum or a whir, but it’s not quite any of those. As I was thinking about this while concentrating on and adjusting to the subtle, nearly imperceptible movements of the cyclists around me, it dawned on me from myContinue reading “Losing the Green Mountain Stage Race”

My 16-year-old and His Friend Hiked Vermont’s Long Trail…By Themselves

This story was originally published on goeast.com. As I watched my 16-year-old son and his friend walk into the woods at the Massachusetts/Vermont border to begin their northbound thru-hike to Canada—alone—I fought the urge to run up the trail with them. Despite my beaming smile and outward excitement, I was still conflicted about whether orContinue reading “My 16-year-old and His Friend Hiked Vermont’s Long Trail…By Themselves”

Biking Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument

This article was originally published in the Summer 2018 edition of the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Wilderness Matters. In mid-May, a group of Appalachian Mountain Club trip leaders visited the KWWNM, some for the first time, to explore and learn about the recreational opportunities it holds. When I pulled into the parking lot at the Matagamon Gate with my twoContinue reading “Biking Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument”

The AMC Winter Hiking Series Leads to New Adventures

This article was originally published in the Summer 2017 edition of the Mountain Passages. In the pre-dawn hours of Christmas morning, my sons are leaving their warm beds, not to creep downstairs to check their stockings but to don their hiking clothes and collect their pillows to prepare for the trek to Grafton Notch StateContinue reading “The AMC Winter Hiking Series Leads to New Adventures”