Life in Maine more times than not will lead us off the beaten path and into the woods, over rivers and streams, and even high atop some spectacular mountains. On a recent outing with good friend and fellow photographer, Milt Inman, we packed up Milt’s son’s Mule and headed for two destinations – Patch Mountain in Greenwood, Maine and Noyes Mountain, also in Greenwood.

Tom Remington photo

Our journey led us from Greenwood City over the Patch Mountain Road. Eventually we would end up near Hutchinson Pond in Albany where we ate lunch at Hunting Camp. Our first detour took us into Oversett Pond.

Tom Remington photo

Few will venture into Oversett as the ride in isn’t conducive to ordinary vehicles and it’s an ambitious walk. If we hadn’t been driving our Mule, it is certain we would not have made the trip. In the photo, Oversett Mountain and the ledges show up nicely behind the pond. Oversett Mountain is often called Elephant Mountain by the locals. From a distance, the mountain resembles an elephant’s back and head.

Tom Remington photo

For some who like to fish Oversett Pond, they make the journey in at some point and leave a canoe partially hidden in the woods. Most of these boats where locked and trust me when I say they were not the most prized of boats. That’s why they are left in the bushes.

Tom Remington photo

Among the living creatures that inhabit Oversett Pond is this big old bull frog. He just rested lazily atop the water seeming to stare directly into my camera lens.

We beat our way over the rough terrain and left Oversett heading further into the woods for a place called Willis Mills, once inhabited by locals. Now all that stands are a handful of small houses and camps. Milt explained to me, while trying to find the remains of a big tree stump, that town meetings were held under the shade of the big tree many years ago.

We made our way up and over Patch Mountain. Along the way there were many things to see, catching glimpses of birds, butterflies and we also had our fair share of deer flies.

Tom Remington photo

This butterfly looked like he was posing for me. I took several shots as I tried unsuccessfully to snap the shutter just at the moment he had spread his wings wide apart. Neither I nor the camera’s shutter was fast enough but needless to say quite impressive just the same.

Having eaten our lunch in Albany, we decided to retrace our footsteps and head back to Greenwood City. From their we turned to the opposite side of the Greenwood Road and headed for the top of Noyes Mountain. I had never been up there before but Milt had talked a lot about it over the years. I am appreciative of the opportunity to get up there and to do so by vehicle and not have to make the long walk.

Getting up the mountain required us to first traverse the pastures of the Holt farm. Often I have driven past these absolutely stunning fields dreaming of someday being in the midst of them and wondering what kind of views must be waiting those fortunate enough to be there.

Riding up through the tall grass, I had to turn around to take in the scenery. I was advised by my tour guide, Milt Inman, to wait on the photographs until we returned from the mountain top. That we did but I’m not going to make you wait. I took several breathtaking pictures and had trouble finding only one that captures it best.

Tom Remington photo

From the fields above the Holt farm, we got onto an old road that lead to the top of Noyes Mountain. Once again, if we hadn’t had the Mule, I would have missed out on the things I saw.

As Milt yelled orders to “hang on”, we banged a left-hand turn off the “main” road and began to sort of bushwhack our way through young growth trees and came to rest at the top of a rock-faced knoll. “Come on!” Milt said. “I want to show you something!”

And show me something he did. While bushwhacking in, I was distracted enough that I didn’t look around me. If I had, I might have seen some of what he was about to show me.

Tom Remington photo

Sitting where seems to be the middle of nowhere, are the remains of what Milt explained was the “Hunter’s Cabin”. It is remarkable to find virtually nothing left of the wooden structure, yet standing tall, strong and picturesque is the field stone fireplace which was once part of the cabin.

I moved around as best I could in an attempt to take it all in. Looking around at the relatively young growth of trees and the lot being situated at the top of a knoll, the views from this cabin had to have been some of the most spectacular that you would find anywhere.

Milt always tells me that someday man will invent a machine that can take a piece of wood from an old fallen-in cabin like this one and extract stored-up sounds so that we will be able to one day listen in on the conversations that took place centuries ago. That would be something.

We still had a journey ahead of us, so we ventured on. At the top of Noyes Mountain, the views are incredible. If you move to the south ledges, you can easily see toward the Atlantic Ocean. The day we were there was very hazy and so our views were limited. Milt believes on crystal clear days, you could see the ocean.

Tom Remington photo

One of the things that first jump out at you from high atop the ledges looking south, is this view of Norway Lake or more formally known as Lake Pennesseewassee.

Also at the top of the mountain are old mines, something that is common around mineral rich Maine. Overlooking one of the open mines, I found this wooden Adirondack chair sitting all by itself, perched on the sheer rocks and facing the northwest.

Tom Remington photo

Undoubtedly a place where any sane person, or at least anyone seeking to find some sanity, some purpose in life, would want to sit and sit for hours, perhaps days. Whoever put that chair there sure knew what they were doing.

From this chair, I could look to the west and drink in the skyline, that through the haze, revealed the Presidential Mountains. Not so far away, I was directed to the Patch Mountain Overlook, Lovejoy Mountain and Long Mountain. Further to the north, I easily found East and West Baldpate and just to the west of those lay Old Speck and Goose Eye.

If you are traveling the Appalachian Trail, one of the toughest parts of the entire length is known as the Mahoosuc Notch Pass, through Goose Eye and Speck Mountains.

The only thing I would have traded on this day was to rid the sky of the haze in order to get a clearer view. Other than that, I can honestly say there are fewer places more beautiful than some of the ones I visited on this day.

Make sure to check out all the other parts to Maine – The Way Life Is

Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part VI

Tom Remington