moose work

I had such a good time at Daicey Pond in Baxter State Park, under the shadow of Mt. Ktaadn, that all my pics are quite cheerful...enjoy...

Ledge Falls is a series of wonderful, gentle falls over very smooth granite ledges. They are crowded with people sliding down them in the summer. This day on late September, they were gorgeous, warm and sunny, but not tempting to swim down.

This is Sandy Stream Pond looking up at the two great basins of Ktaadn. Pamola Peak, named for the Abnaki's evil god, is on the left, and is the northeastern end of the Knife Edge.The Knife Edge goes from there to the middle peak, which is the tallest and is named Baxter Peak, though the Abnaki's called it Ktaadn, for the good, kind god. The Saddle extends along the western side of the mountain.

I was painting this little pic when the bull moose came upon me. I remain very grateful that he did not choose to destroy me and the painting! But it is good moose territory!

This is Ktaadn as seen from our Daicey Pond campsite. It is much more representative of what the mountain actually feels like. It is very big, like the moose, and is often very intimidating. Its weather is unpredictable and highly changeable. But Percy Baxter did a wonderful thing for us State of Mainers when he preserved it forever wild. We are responsible for ourselves when we are visiting the Park, whether climbing or fishing or painting. We pack everything in and everything out.

I remain a bit anxious over my encounter with the bull moose, though I know they are generally not aggressive. Even so, all by myself, in rutting season, I felt quite vulnerable and definitely not in control - which is what the Park is good for remembering!