Aroostook County, Maine – Far Removed from the Crowds | Travel News

Regardless of the starry sky above, it was pitch black on the ice-covered lake and all I may see had been just a few bobbing lights of snowmobiles racing far forward of me within the distance. Solely twenty hours earlier I had left dwelling on the Spanish coast to fly for my first winter go to to the far northeastern nook of Aroostook County, Maine. I landed within the small regional airport of Presque Island, nonetheless greater than an hour from my remaining vacation spot on Lengthy Lake. No sooner had I arrived after I was suited up and seated on a snowmobile after hasty tutorial classes. Midway throughout the lake my machine sputtered so I slowed down as an alternative of dashing up by means of the slushy snow topped ice. I feared I used to be happening not realizing there was nonetheless two toes of thick ice underneath the slush. I used to be quickly rescued, however we did need to return the following day with an ax to cut my machine out of the ice.

I definitely didn’t notice it on the time, however that was the start of a real love for this somewhat distant nook of the USA. At nearly 7,000 sq. miles, Aroostook County is the second largest county east of the Mississippi, is dwelling to some 67,000 everlasting inhabitants and is known as “The County” by Mainers.

Through the two years of Covid many extra individuals than traditional from all around the United States visited the state of Maine to expertise a much less worrying and peaceable setting. This final summer time, when all the pieces opened once more, it bought so busy on the gorgeous coast of Maine that it was exhausting to seek out lodging anyplace. The key is to go away the coast and journey northwest by way of Piscataquis, the smallest county with simply over 16,500 inhabitants, in the direction of Aroostook County. The street affords a chance to take pleasure in a powerful view of Mt. Katahdin, the best mountain within the state at an elevation of 5,269 toes. It’s right here the two,190-mile Appalachian Path, the world’s longest mountain climbing path, begins winding its means south to the northwest mountains of Georgia about two and a half hours north of Atlanta. Our drive from the Maine border to the far north of Aroostook County introduced us to Ft. Kent on the Canadian border. It’s right here that US Route One originates, ending 2,369 miles south in Key West. 

Additionally it is doable to drive I-95 North by way of Portland and Bangor, partially parallel to the Canadian border so far as Houlton, the county seat that was established again in 1807. So far as I do know from Bangor north it’s the solely Federal Freeway on the East Coast of america with a velocity restrict of 75 miles per hour and there may be so little site visitors that you’ll seemingly encounter sections with none vehicles in any respect. By itself that could be a worthwhile expertise for anybody used to driving I-95 anyplace else. Nonetheless, it nonetheless takes six hours on a great day. The potential hazard on the street is moose crossing the freeway. Their enormous our bodies can abruptly seem crashing out of the woods onto the freeway wreaking havoc on transferring autos leading to critical driver and passenger accidents.

The county has over 2,000 named lakes, rivers and streams and a part of the Canadian border is roofed by one of many final official wilderness areas in america. 

The 93 sq. miles of the Allagash Nationwide Park was established in 1966 and affords tenting, canoeing, and mountain climbing experiencing nature and wildlife more than likely with out assembly quite a lot of different like minded individuals. 

Aroostook County helps potato rising and the manufacturing of paper within the northern woods of Maine. Till after WWII the wooden pulp trade was such an necessary a part of Maine that the Eagle Lake and West Department Railroad was constructed there to move pulp. Trekking by means of the Allagash Wilderness and actually in the course of nowhere I found the one stays of that railroad: two deserted locomotives.

The identify Aroostook originates from the Native American Micmac Tribe phrase for “lovely.” The primary Europeans got here right here from the Vendee Area, which is part of the Loire River space in Western France on the Atlantic coast. Across the 12 months 1600 this was one of many poorest areas of France and the federal government provided the individuals the chance to to migrate to southern Canada, and what’s now Maine, to colonize the lands for the French king. In 1604 they fashioned “Acadie,” what’s now Nova Scotia, and spilled over into northern Maine. Between 1604 and 1755 there was an unlimited inhabitants progress because the French immigrants had been used to massive households, though as a consequence of tough situations on this in any other case undiscovered a part of the nation they needed to take care of a fifty p.c toddler mortality fee. The remnants of that historical past can nonetheless be felt in northern Maine as many unique descendants converse a type of French as their first language. The Acadian flag remains to be flown; each summer time options Acadian Festivals and though instances are altering, there nonetheless are just a few households with greater than twenty youngsters. The borders between america and Canada was extensive open and locals didn’t want to indicate passports to cross forwards and backwards. However in view of the political state of affairs on this planet, that modified, and the 2 years of Covid resulted in whole closure of the borders and an incredible financial burden for cities on each side. At present Individuals can freely cross once more exhibiting their passports, however Canadians nonetheless have restrictions. Nonetheless, surprisingly there are various crossings between the 2 nations, and this would possibly sound astounding in view of the unlawful immigration our nation offers with, however in northern Maine one can drive throughout paved roads from the USA to Canada and again and is unlikely to be confronted by any border brokers. It’s unlawful to cross and indicators alert individuals to it, however solely an occasional border patrol will hinder passage. 

Simply outdoors the town of Ft. Fairfield, there even is a golf course and nation membership that straddles the border. The bar is in Canada and the restaurant is in america.

The state of Maine affords solitude, lovely rolling landscapes, craggy picturesque white birch and evergreen studded granite bluff, distant fly fishing streams, nice searching alternatives, brisk crusing and browsing, rustically charming coastal villages, early morning puffins within the harbor mist, stalwart individuals and naturally Maine lobster! Aroostook County is the crowning jewel.

Ewout Rijk de Vries and his spouse, Jill, introduced America Journey Preparations to Marco Island nearly 40 years in the past. They specialize on excessive finish small journey excursions and small safari teams for clientele all around the world, but in addition are specialists on excessive finish cruises with the assistance of longtime assistant and good friend, Michelle Wegman. Together together with his writing and pictures, Ewout has visited near 100 nations. Please direct your feedback or inquiries to ewout@photodevries.com as he likes to listen to from readers.