Introduction

You are about to enter the Lucy Sprague Virtual Trail. You can't get there from here has special meaning here. This trail emulates the Lucy Sprague Memorial Trail, a real trail. But if you want a trail map now, forget it. You can't get there from here. Instead you must follow the tracks at the bottom of each page and they will lead you towards the end of the trail. It is there you can get a copy of the trail map, and see where you've been.

A Naturalist's Log is being created and can be read prior to your trail walk; virtual, or not. At each spot along the trail, you'll find a description of the trail at this point and work that was done to create it. You will also be delighted to read about what has been seen along the trail, and find a sample of nature's treasures in a species profile section. Happy hiking.

Trail Beginnings

On a cold day in February 1998, Glen Evans, manager of Maine Audubon's Hamilton Sanctuary in West Bath, Maine, traveled to Scarborough to help the SLCT map out a trail on the Libby River Farm. Having completed trails previously, Glen carefully studied the topographical map and plotted a likely course that would take hikers through a variety of habitat types without getting too wet, or too tired.
      After trudging through the woods with SLCT Trustee Stephen Ferguson and his dog Libby, a trail was roughed out. The flagged trail was then to be completed in the spring by members of Americorps, a federally funded program that works through the Maine Department of Conservation. In the mean time a local boy scout, Peter Curley, contacted the SLCT in search of a possible project.
      Since there was no shortage of work, the trustees decided to have Troop 39 begin the trail work in May of 1998. Peter Curley wrote a proposal for his Eagle Scout Badge, gathered materials and labor and virtually completed the entire trail in one day. The team also constructed a small bridge which was placed over a brook.
      Six Americorps volunteers came in June along with the rains. It rained, and rained and rained. After several days of working tirelessly in the soggy weather, they pulled up camp and promised to return in the fall. Before leaving however, the Americorps team widened the trail, constructed bog bridging, and moved enormous stones to be placed at the start of the trail. Materials for the bog bridging was donated by Wally Fengler, who manages a small woodlot and is also a founding trustee of SLCT.
      While all this volunteer work was in process, Jeremy Wintersteen, another trustee, was in contact with a local family who had lost their adult daughter in 1997. The George Sprague family wished to contribute money to the Libby River Farm in their daughter's memory. In honor of Lucy Sprague, SLCT named the first public trail on the property, the Lucy Sprague Memorial Trail.

Bog Bridges / Lincoln Logs

As promised, Americorps returned in October of 1998: some old faces; some new faces. The crew mainly concentrated their efforts on constructing the bog bridges.
      For those who are curious, bog bridging is reminiscent of technology stolen from "Lincoln Logs". Essentially a log is cut in half, lengthwise and then placed on two "sills" which are notched to hold the plank in place. If it is still hard to envision just think to the days of playing with Lincoln Logs.
      Now, unlike those childhood toys, the plank sections likely weighed 300-600 lbs. each. Using large steel pry bars the Americorps volunteers used teamwork and brute strength to carry each section to the wet areas along the trail. Once at the site, the bridging was carefully leveled, notched and then joined with large 10" spikes.
      The Americorps team also worked with several Trustees to position a culvert over a portion of the brook which feeds a small pond. In the final hours of the last day, the group moved all bridging materials from the landings and placed them on the unfinished sections of the trail.
      SLCT hopes to enlist services from Americorps to finish the Lucy Sprague Memorial Trail and begin work on other trail systems on the Libby River Farm.

Naturalist's Log

Remember when you were in high school or college biology and you were required to take notes on different aspects of the environment? You recorded your name (and usually your lab partner�s), the temperature, your location, time of day, and you carefully noted your observations. Scientists use field notes to study plants and animals in their natural habitat.
      Our Field Notes page is intended to serve as a naturalist�s log, and will become part of a permanent record of that which is seen and heard on the Libby River Farm. We have started with the Lucy Sprague Memorial Trail, and invite you to enter your observations whenever you use our trail. Just type in your "notes" in our naturalist�s log, and we�ll do the rest. And thank you ahead of time for your participation.

December 7, 1998

It�s sunny and 72 degrees! No kidding. And yes, it is December. At the entrance of the trail we heard the characteristic ruffling feathers of a ruffed grouse we had startled. We didn�t catch a glimpse of it though. On the second bridge before the field, a small animal had cracked open some nut shells to eat, probably a squirrel or a chipmunk. Then on the bridge heading into the field, we found some scat; most likely fox, since there was evidence of berries. The cranberries in the field were huge. A half inch in diameter. (Sue Foley-Ferguson and Molly)

December 26, 1998

Found an animal skull on the trail. It appears to be larger than a mouse or a rabbit. We�ll take a photo of it and try to look it up. (Steve Ferguson, Sue Foley-Ferguson, and Molly)

December 29, 1998

It�s 32 degrees, and we just had our first big snow of the year - about six inches. We went over to see the trail with the new fallen snow, and wiped some of the bog bridges down, so that they wouldn�t become too treacherous. At the trailhead we heard and saw a Downy Woodpecker in the Poplar grove near the kiosk. (Steve Ferguson, Sue Foley-Ferguson, and Molly)

January 3, 1999

Today we took the dogs for a walk through the snow covered trails of the Libby River Farm. The temperature was around 24 degrees and snowing. We found ourselves lost in the beauty of a winter wonderland. We saw many different animal tracks in the snow. We enjoyed watching the dogs picking up scents and burrowing through the snow in hopes of finding the critters they smelled. The Black-capped Chickadees were singing along in a nearby tree by the bridge next to the stream. There was some cool shelf fungus growing on a tree where woodpeckers have enjoyed many meals. (Marlene Reidl)

Beginning the Trail Walk

After you park your car at the Camp Ketcha Outdoor Education Welcome Center off Black Point Road, head uphill past a small barn and white birch tree on your right, and an old, but beautiful, apple tree on the left. This small hill will take you to the foot path used by Campfire Boys and Girls, Hitinowa Council and the Scarborough Land Conservation Trust to access the Libby River Farm.
      The path starts out crossing ledge where you will find an abundance of juniper bushes, wild roses, and trees that don't require deep soil. There are some birches and small spruces. As you walk along the trail, you will be on Camp Fire property for some time. You will pass an old growth forest that Camp Fire calls their "Cathedral Pines" on your right. It is a very dark woods with extremely tall white pines, spruce, and hemlock trees. A deciduous forest composed of white pines, maples, birch and poplar is further ahead on the trail. Stay left on the trail, passing a brown wooden outhouse.
      Some of the bushes you pass on the right are mountain laurels and wild azaleas, blueberry and cranberry. In the clearing, you will notice an old gravel pit where the soil is very sandy. Continue straight across the opening past the pit on your left. The path turns 90 degrees left after an nice olive tree and heads up an incline. Sweet fern, junipers, and bayberry line the path along this knoll. As you take another 90 degree turn left, you will see some large stones and blue flagging that indicate you have entered the Land Trust property. The path slopes down here to the SLCT kiosk, which is made of white birch. Turning right at the kiosk will take you to the Lucy Sprague Memorial Trail (LSMT). Staying left takes you to the fields.
      If you would like to take a hike down our virtual trail, you can start here at the first animal sign you see. But remember to be observant and to take sufficient water and supplies for the journey.