The Caribou Parks and Recreation Department’s Take It Outside Senior Series recently returned from a “Trip In the Woods.” Participants were treated to guest interpretative guide and former Maine Game Warden Gary Pelletier, a true authority on the North Maine Woods.
Contributed photo
Take It Outside Series participants check out Red River Falls during their recent tour. From left are Don Goughan, Martin Parente, Rene Parente, Pauline Emond, Doris Nadeau, Bob Locke and guide Gary Pelletier.
Participants had an opportunity to see and ask questions about the turnstile in St. Francis, marking the end of the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad. From there participants traveled to the Deboullie Public Reserve Land Unit.
Deboullie’s low rugged mountains and scenic remote trout ponds are available for visitors using the 22,000-acre unit’s hiking trails and campsites.
The landscape of three-fourths of the Deboullie Unit is gently rolling, forested ridges typical of northern Maine, however, it is the southeastern quarter of the unit that attracts anglers, hikers and others who enjoy scenery with many small ponds and low rugged mountains.
At Deboullie, participants enjoyed beautiful fall foliage, a leisurely walk to Deboullie Pond from Pushineer, Red River Falls, a tour of Red River Camps, but the favorite by far was an old-fashioned hot dog roast over a fire, brook trout, and an amazing fish chowder, which was a welcomed staple as there was a chill in the fall air.
From there, the group traveled back to the Caribou Wellness and Recreation Center via the Fish River gate. For anyone wishing to participate in the Take It Outside Senior Series, call the recreation department at 493-4224.
Future trips are planned to the Amish Village in Smyrna, Putnam’s Pumpkin Farm/Ashland Lumberman’s Museum and a Swedish Colony Tour. All trips include transportation and lunch.
