Ashland Boy Scout Troop 179
has outing at Baxter State Park
ASHLAND NEWS
by Susan Feeney-Hopkins
Ashland Boy Scout Troop 179 recently spent three days visiting Baxter State Park. On the first day, they traveled to Ledge Falls where they had lunch and the boys swam in Nesowadnehunk Stream. They set up camp at the Bear Brook campsite.
The Scouts climbed Katahdin via the Chimney Pond and Saddle Trails the next day. Lucky enough to have a beautiful, clear-weather day, they were treated to the spectacular and amazing views offered from the summit.
The boys had such a great time during their first day at Ledge Falls, they decided to stop there again on their way home. Looks like everyone had a fantastic time!
Photos courtesy of Polly Libby
ASHLAND BOY SCOUT TROOP 179 recently climbed Katahdin during a camping visit to Baxter State Park. Pictured are, clockwise from left: Peng Cheng, Assistant Scoutmaster Polly Libby, Scott Libby, Andrew Libby, Airin Harmon, Isaac Wortman, Sean Robertson, Adam Sessoms, Scoutmaster Linda Milligan and Tyler Golden. On the trip, but missing from the photo were Kurtis Henderson, Garrett Graham, Zach Carr, Wyatt Carr and Ted Carr.
PENG CHENG, of Boy Scout Troop 179, stirs up the spaghetti supper at Bear Brook campsite at Baxter State Park. In the background, Airin Harmon and Linda Milligan help prepare for the meal, while Tyler Golden reads.
The educational boat tour held on Portage Lake Saturday, Aug. 14 turned out just as the organizers had hoped. The weather was perfect, and each tour was filled with curious and motivated participants. Organized by the Portage Lake Association and given by the Maine Lakes Conservancy Institute (MLCI), this was the first time an event such as this has taken place on the lake.
All of the scheduled tours were full and the participants all agreed they learned a little something from the experience. My tour group departed at 8 a.m., the first of the day, to glass-like conditions on the lake. The morning air had just a touch of autumn crispness to it making for a very delightful start to the day. Our instructor, Phil Mulville, who is an employee of the non-profit, piloted the boat and offered a wealth of knowledge concerning the lakes and waters of Maine.
The boat was indeed a “floating classroom” equipped with all sorts of useful, informative and fun-to-use equipment. Our instructor gave demonstrations and lessons with some lively discussions between the instructor and students. A (water) clarity test was performed and in the area in which we tested, Portage Lake was clear 13.6 feet down in 17 feet of water. That is a good thing! This test is performed with a “secchi disk” and “aqua scope.” The test is performed with two people. One person slowly lowers the disk, which is circular resembling a plate, into the water that is mounted to a vinyl measuring tape with a reel. The other person lays on the deck of the boat using the aqua scope, which is a scope device used to peer into the water, partially submerged underwater. The aqua scope is used to watch the disk while being lowered into the water until the pattern on the disk is no longer visible. At that time, the measurement is read from the attached measuring tape giving the depth of clarity. The “secchi disk” test has been in use since it was established in 1865 by Pietro Angelo Secchi. Though not the most scientific or precisely accurate way to read water clarity, it is the most inexpensive and straightforward method of measuring water clarity and which is why it has retained its popularity.
Another test performed was a collection of plankton via a fine net which is then seen with a “ken-a-vision” monitor. The plankton obtained in the net is placed in a bowl with the lake water, and magnified onto a screen for viewing. Daphnia plankton, which resembles rice, was found with a good population. Having the Daphnia plankton present is a very positive thing for the lake as they provide essential vitamins A and D along with protein, carbohydrates and fat. Because they are “live,” they also activate the fish’s instinct to hunt. The absence of Daphnia plankton in a body of water would indicate there was trouble in the ecosystem.
The most popular test and equipment was the “video ray” underwater camera. Run by a generator, the camera is attached to a cord, placed in the water, and then submerged via hand controllers. A laptop-like screen on deck displays what the camera sees underwater. The participants were allowed full operation of the camera. My nephew, Jonathan, who was visiting from Rhode Island, thought this was the best part of the trip! I think most of the adults on board would agree. We all had a blast trying to move the camera along the lakebed to see what we could find.
Thanks to the Portage Lake Association and the Maine Lakes Conservancy Institute for providing us with such a wonderful educational experience on our beautiful lake.
JAN CYR-CORMIER and Ray Cyr, both of Portage Lake, work together to test the lake’s water clarity with a “secchi disc” and “aqua scope.”
PHIL MULVILLE, the Maine Lakes Conservancy Institute instructor and boat operator, was most knowledgeable and provided the tour participants with a wealth of information about the lakes and water of Maine and Portage.
JONATHAN MESSIER, 8, of Hope, R.I., works the underwater camera with the help of Portage resident Ray Cyr.
Susan Feeney-Hopkins is the correspondent for Ashland, Portage Lake, Oxbow, Masardis, Garfield, Nashville Plantation and surrounding townships. She can be reached at 435-8232 or feenhop@aol.com.
