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Tour of Mount Battie, Camden, Maine USA

Hotel based Trip

The Trip

Hiking Maine

Our annual Tour du Mount Battie Camden, Maine USA

Head for the hills! Camden Hills that is. After years of guiding hiking and walking trips in some of Europe's most beautiful areas, we turn to our own backyard for the venue for the annual fall gathering of Distant Journeys alumni, friends and family.

The coast of Maine is renowned for its beautiful rocky coast and offshore islands, its lighthouses and lobsters, quiet white-steepled villages and fiery fall foliage. Situated midway up the coast, Camden has been dubbed "The Jewel of the Maine Coast" and the town "Where the mountains meet the sea". Truly one of New England's most picturesque coastal villages, we at Distant Journeys are happy to call it home.

Though certainly not as grand as Mont Blanc or even the Matterhorn, and not even the highest of the "hills" in Camden Hills State Park, Mount Battie does boast the crowning view of Camden Harbor, which you might remember form the movie In the Bedroom or maybe Peyton Place, and heralds a wonderful network of hiking trails that stretch throughout the park.

Dubbing this weekend event "The Tour du Mount Battie", we hope to blend our shared experience of hiking in Europe with an introduction to some of the many riches this corner of the world has to offer. We'll hike to scenic overlooks of Penobscot Bay, get out on the water and do some island exploring, visit the Farnsworth Museum, and have plenty of time left to explore the streets, shops and galleries of Camden and Rockland.

So you have to come join us for a weekend of hiking in the Camden Hills, island cruising, potato racing, lobster eating, leaf peeping and reconnecting with friends and fellow hikers from some of your more distant journeys.

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Itinerary

Day 1: Independent travel to Camden. Please see getting there for travel information. Evening welcome party. Dinner on your own.

Day 2: We will gather at Simonton Hall at 8:30am to get ourselves organized for the day. Coffee, tea, juice and baked goodies will be served. Hiking options will be presented and as well as options for other activities.

HIKES:Hiking options for the next two days may include easy walks around scenic Beauchamp point, through the 66 acre private park of Merrysprings, or along trails of Fernald’s Neck Preserve on Lake Megunticook. More strenuous hikes may take us up Bald Mountain with its expansive views of Penobscot or along Camden Hills State park’s Ridge Trail from Maidens Cliff over looking Megunitcook Lake to Mount Megunticook, the highest land locked mountain on the Atlantic coast.

ACTIVITIES: A visit to Maine would not be complete without getting out on the water. This weekend will include a sail out of Camden Harbor on the Schooner Olad. Built in 1927 this 47 foot schooner has been sailing the waters off Camden since 1985. Owner and skipper Captain Aaron Lincoln, a local Mainer, will talk to us about the history of the area and the schooner trade as we sail through one of the corners of the world he loves the best. Out on the Schooner Olad you will have the opportunity to breathe that fresh sea air, cruise Penobscot Bay and experience some of the beautiful coast of Maine from the water.

For those interested in sort of a Euro-New England experience we will visit the Cellardoor Winery, the only vineyard in Maine that produces hand crafted wines from cool weather grapes. Situated on 68 acres at the foot of the Camden Hills, the grounds of the winery have been in the same Maine family since 1790. The views across the vineyard form the 18th century barn have been described as almost “Tuscan-like”. We are invited to tour the vineyard, taste the wines, and picnic in the garden.

For those still eager to get out on the water again, you will have the opportunity to kayak on Metgunicook Lake. Camden’s Lake Megunticook offers warm water for kayaking along with beautiful landscapes and fresh water wildlife. It’s possible to see loons, ducks, osprey, eagles, and turtles as you paddle past the protected waterfront toward the undeveloped shoreline of. At Fernald’s Neck it may be possible to leave the boats for a short walk where you may see wildflowers, other flora, and birds. This promises to be a relaxing paddle set against the backdrop of Maiden’s Cliff and the Camden Hills State Park.

For art lovers there is always the opportunity to visit the Farnsworth Museum. The Farnsworth Art Museum offers a nationally recognized collection of American art. The museum's permanent collection entitled Maine in America displays many well-known 18th and 19th century paintings. It has also opened four new galleries to showcase contemporary art. It houses the nation's second-largest collection of works by premier 20th-century sculptor Louise Nevelson, and the Wyeth Center, exclusively featuring works by N.C., Andrew, and Jamie Wyeth-- America's first family of art.

DINNER:Evening lobster dinner and festivities at Simonton Hall.

Day 3: Once again we will convene at Simonton Hall at 8:30am. Hiking and activity options for the day will be presented.

As is the tradition, weather permitting at some point during the day there will be rendezvous at the summit of Mount Battie to celebrate the closing of our weekend and to take our 4th Annual Tour du Mount Battie group photo. How corny! There are several hiking approaches to summit as well as park access road which is open to cars.

DINNER: Farewell banquet. More in keeping with our final trip dinners, tonight’s dinner will be a celebration of your good company through the years and of the many miles and trails we’ve shared near and far.

Day 4: For those who have not yet hit the road, there will be coffee, baked goodies, etc. at Simonton Hall at 8:30 am. And a last opportunity to say good-bye until we meet again.

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Additional Information:

Included:

welcome reception, continental breakfasts, lobster dinner, farewell dinner, guided hiking options, island excursion, guided tour of the Farnsworth museum

Not Included:

accommodations, lunches, travel to/from Camden, and around town to/from hiking and walking areas.

Accommodations:

Because of the variety of accommodations available and the potential number of participants who may attend we have not included accommodations.

In order to get started on where to stay and to find out more information about the Camden area please log on to www.camdenme.org.This site has complete information about accommodations, getting to Camden, sites, restaurants etc. There is a link called "Get our Guide". This free publication is called "The Jewel of the Maine Coast". This, too, has complete information about the entire mid-coast area. You may also call 800-223-5459 or 207-236-4404 and leave a message with your address and they will mail you information. The email is chamber@camdenme.org.

Please note that this is a very busy weekend in the Camden/Rockport Maine. We recommend you book your accommodations as early as possible

Travel:

Participants will be on there own to get to Camden. Camden is located on Coastal Route 1, 90 miles north of Portland, Maine. The closest airports serving the area are: Portland International Jetport www.portlandjetport.org ,90 miles from Camden; Bangor Airport www.flybangor.com about 60 miles from Camden; Knox County Regional Airport www.knoxcounty.midcoast.com/airport about 15 miles from Camden, the Knox County Airport is a very small Airport. At each airport there are car rental agencies.

You may find better airfares into Boston or Manchester, New Hampshire. Both airports are about a 3½ hour drive from Camden.

Meeting point:

Camden, about 6:30 pm for those who arrive early. Location to be announced.

Ending point:

To register: We ask for a $50 non-refundable deposit per person and a completed applicaiton. 14 days prior to the trip start we ask for the final payment. Please see the application on our web site.