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On
future camping trips to Maine's public islands, we will have to
come to terms with the reality of growing numbers of people wishing
to camp as well. We'll still have to rely on our paddling and navigation
skills; we'll still have to hope the tent doesn't leak and that
someone remembered to pack the cook stove. But the experience often
will be less one of solitude, and more one of cooperation.
If we arrive at a public island and the camping capacities have
already been met, we'll need to determine whether we can safely
reach our second-choice island. When we arrive at our second-choice
island, we'll need to consider the possibility of another group's
arriving later at "our" island, and leave room for them
as we set up our tents on one of the designated or hardened campsites.
Even when we are day-tripping, we may paddle past a BPL island because
there are already boats pulled up on shore. We'll also continue
past islands that would seem to offer good landing spots, because
they may be privately owned or they may provide nesting seabird
habitat. Instead, we'll plot a course to one of the other islands
that have been specifically identified as suitable for low-impact
day use. Visitors are welcome at certain islands owned by The Nature
Conservancy, Acadia National Park, and local land trusts. (Fires
and pets are either prohibited or discouraged on these islands,
and camping is not permitted.)
Finding
solitude
As more and more people head out into Maine's coastal waters, there
are still ways to find solitude. My paddling partners and I plan
some of our paddling trips for the off season. While it can be windier,
we do avoid the crowds. It is surprising how few recreational boaters
are out before the middle of June and after Labor Day. Kayaking
midweek also helps, except in vacation destinations such as the
Deer Isle/Stonington area and Muscongus Bay.
Harder-to-reach islands can be much quieter than those closest to
launch ramps. With the exception of congested Jewell Island, the
most heavily used islands are within four miles of a put-in. When
we travel "down east" beyond Maine's population centers,
we spot far fewer kayaks on roof racks.
The private islands on the Maine Island Trail may provide the wilderness
experience lacking on some of the public islands. Members of the
association have permission to camp on these islands as well. The
MITA guidebook provides information regarding the special conditions
for use placed on the private islands by their owners.
We can spend a peaceful morning or afternoon exploring a day-use-only
island, leaving in time to head home or back to a mainland campground
or bed and breakfast. Islands that are popular with campers can
be delightfully uncrowded at midday.
Changing
expectations
Ultimately, what may serve us best is to change our expectations.
We can be pleasantly surprised when we are the only campers on an
island, or when we stop for lunch and no one else is around. We
can look forward to meeting fellow travelers and hearing their paddling
tales. We can reduce our demand on the islands by focusing on day
trips instead of camping trips.
Assuming boaters heed the Maine Island Trail Association's ongoing
education efforts and comply with its usage management guidelines,
we should be able to enjoy the privilege of visiting Maine's public
wild islands for many years to come. Even though the islands may
provide a slightly diminished sense of wilderness, these precious
natural resources still offer an enchanting experience well worth
preserving.
Lee
Bumsted is the author of Hot Showers! Maine Coast Lodgings for
Kayakers and Sailors, a guide to 152 coastal B&Bs, inns,
and similar lodgings, and 30 campgrounds. She is a former editor
of the Maine Island Trail Association's newsletters and guidebook,
and now works as a sporting goods product support specialist for
a major outdoors retailer. She lives in South Portland, Maine.
Resources
Maine Association of Sea Kayak Guides and Instructors
www.maineseakayakguides.com
Maine Island Trail Association, 41A Union Wharf, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 761-8225, www.mita.org
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