Prosciutto and Brie at 5000 feet

Jason and friends hiking at Baxter State Park

On June 13, a group of friends and I went to Baxter State Park in Maine for what has become our annual mountain climb. We all love to hike and climb, but especially at Baxter. It is a pristine recreational area made possible by the foresight of the late Governor Percival Baxter who left this large tract of land in trust to the citizens of Maine. As such it has been left virtually untouched: dirt roads only, no pets allowed, no electricity or generators, no water or sewer hookups, a garbage in/ garbage out policy, and no motorcycles. It really simplifies the experience and gets you focused on the tasks at hand. We cooked food over an open fire, got our drinking water from an ice cold brook, slept in a cabin with a woodstove and lantern, saw all the stars the night sky had to offer, and heard many things go bump in the night. The simplicity of the experience makes each of these moments better: it’s a little like peace and quiet but amplified.

A few things I learned this trip…

First, some of my best meals are a combination of great ingredients, good company, and pleasant surroundings. Smoked salmon, goat cheese, and red pepper on a bagel is a fabulous lunch when eaten on the porch of a cabin overlooking Kidney Pond, with good friends close at hand. Prosciutto, brie, red onion on baguette makes a great dinner at 5260 feet looking off of Baxter peak, surrounded by strangers with the same sense of accomplishment.

Second, you are only as old as you feel. At Baxter Peak we met a man named Tom Harty who had just summitted with his son and was sitting down to lunch. He had climbed 67 peaks that are over 4000 feet in the eastern US, hiked the entire Appalachian Trail, and climbed Mt. Katahdin six times. Tom is 88 years old and I have never met a man younger than him!

Third, slow down and enjoy the simple things around you.  Take moments with loved ones, unplug the television and computer, read a book, savour each and every meal in the company of others, and remember to laugh out loud.  I can’t wait to get back to Baxter to get some more practice.