Poplar Stream Falls: Popular in my book

By Kate Erickson

Published on examiner.com, February 2012

It’s Friday afternoon. John and I are on the road and making our way up to Sugarloaf, trying to beat the storm while listening to The Moth, a free podcast that we’ve both grown very fond of over the past couple of months. If you’ve never listened to it before, I highly recommend it. Tag line: True Stories Told Live.

We made it up to Sugarloaf with day light to spare and immediately made our way to the hot tub, Landshark in hand. As we approached the hot tub, we noticed a family of three soaking their tired muscles and had a very pleasant conversation about their day on the mountain and their plans for the remainder of the weekend. The father started talking about a hike that they had done the day before, and he seemed to be quite pleased with their experience- cold weather and snow covered paths included. This prompted John and I to instantly ask for more details, knowing that although Saturday would bring great snow conditions on the mountain, our season passes were once again blacked out due to vacation week. The father continued to describe the hike as a part of the Poplar Stream Falls trail, (accessible on foot or cross-country skis) , and he talked of a quaint “off the beaten path” hut that offered cozy surroundings and a very tasty, reasonably priced meal for anyone who made it to the front door. John and I both being big fans of anything referred to as “off the beaten path” made it our plan to embark on this journey the following day.

After our new found friends departed, John and I sat in the hot tub with a cloud-obstructed view of the face of Sugarloaf, snow crashing south and at times blasting our heated bodies with a refreshing coolness that encouraged an extended stay. After our dip John worked hard to start what he called “a fire by miracle”, (due to the soaked wood we were forced to use), while I queued up The Help, which we ordered on Netflix just in time for the Oscars. Our evening ended with a crackling fire and snow falling outside.

We awoke on Saturday morning in no rush- knowing that our hike was only two and a half miles each way. We were slightly disappointed that we wouldn’t be making an appearance on the mountain with reports of almost 10” of snow on the ground and the news that they had just opened Brackett Basin, Sugarloaf’s newest terrain, for the first time this season. Alas, we geared up for our hike and headed out with high hopes of beautiful scenery and what we knew would be great company.

The scenery on this trail was absolutely breathtaking. Hiking was a bit challenging due to the soft snow on the ground, but we were both happy to get in a good workout and arrived at the Poplar Stream Falls Hut with an appetite ready to be quenched! On the menu of fully home cooked items: Beef Chili, Chicken & Rice Soup, PB&J, fresh Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, and finally, melt-in-your-mouth Cornbread. We decided to give it all a try and ordered one of everything (with the exception of the cookies- we had four of those.) The food was hands down amazing, and honestly, I’m still consumed with thoughts of when we can hike there for dinner. What I would fondly describe as a comfy haven for the hungry hiker, the Poplar Stream Falls Hut has it all: an upstairs library with books, puzzles and games to keep you busy for hours; a warming room provided to dry your boots, jacket, pants and soaked soaks; lounging chairs, couches and picnic –style tables for sitting, talking, eating or just hanging out; a staff full of friendly, informative people; and a kitchen that’s got it going on- big time.

Next time you find yourself at Sugarloaf with a few hours to spare, check out this awesome hike and hut: it’s truly a hidden gem nestled amongst the trees of the Carrabassett Valley.

Big city, little time: How to see Boston in 1 day

By Kate Erickson

Published on WorldTravelBuzz, February, 2012

I have good news for the on-the-go traveler who doesn’t have a lot of time: I did Boston in only one day!

Obviously, if you have more time, Boston is worthy of more than just one rushed day, but in a pinch, you can do it all on the fly.  The secret is to stop at one of the 60 New Balance Hubway stations. They provide a quick and easy transportation option that will have you zipping along the Freedom Trail in no time.

The Hubway is a bike sharing system in Boston that allows you to rent bikes in one part of town and then drop them off at any one of the 60 stations without ever having to walk inside of a store, which makes it a hard deal to beat. The reliability and hassle free convenience of these two wheeled transporters, while a little on the pricy side if you’re not careful, are without a doubt a thumbs up in my book. Biking the city is also a great way to make up for all the savory calories you’ll enjoy at the great restaurants along the way!

I invite you to follow the itinerary I took on my day in Boston and nab some great ideas on scenic stops, yummy eats, and the perfect night cap.

We started the day on foot in South Boston with a pleasant cruise around Castle Island, otherwise known as Pleasure Bay. Although it was rather windy, seeing the city from across the bay provided views that were nothing short of breath taking. Shortly thereafter, we made our first Hubway stop to pick up our wheels and biked along the ocean to the infamous Dorchester Heights. We then went to Charlestown and rode directly to the Bunker Hill Monument, the site of the first major battle of the American Revolution, where we climbed 294 stairs to relish the invigorating bird’s eye view of the city that anxiously awaits your arrival. I won’t lie: it’s a tough trek up to the top, but the view is worth every step, and you’ll not want to skip this activity.

From there we biked along the Charles River, gazing across the water at MIT and Harvard. On the left stood the Prudential Building, as well as Boston’s tallest skyscraper, The Hancock Tower. There are numerous amazing photo stops along the water here, so be sure to have your camera handy! Next we biked down “the 5^th Ave of Boston”, otherwise known as Newbury Street, where a stop at Sonsie’s for tasty appetizers and one of their famous Bloody Marys was exactly what we needed to continue our voyage. Going back out to Boylston, we circled Fenway Park, where the crack of Ted Williams’ bat is still audible on Lansdowne.

Biking through the Back Bay into the Commons was an experience in and of itself, followed by a grueling peddle up Beacon Hill to the Golden Dome of the city’s capital. Cresting the top, it was all downhill to Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall, where a cold beer was waiting for us at The Black Rose, recent winner of the “Best of Boston” for Irish Pubs. Amazing live music and a top notch crowd graced the two-story pub, which proved to be a perfect night cap. It’s all in a hard day’s work, folks, but we made it happen and you can too!

Andy Andrews at the Merrill Auditorium in Portland, ME

By Kate Erickson

Published on examiner.com, January 2012

I’ve been looking forward to attending An Evening with Andy Andrews for weeks now, and last night I had the pleasure of experiencing this one-of-a-kind presentation at the Merrill Auditorium in Portland. Added incentive: PROPEL, a local networking organization aimed at enriching Portland by connecting and developing the young professionals who thrive in this community, was offering a 2 for 1 special on tickets. Count me in!

Jill Wheaton, President and creator of Begin Doing, the organization that put this fantastic night together, introduced Andy Andrews. Andrews came out gushing success, confidence and clarity- and with great reason. Acclaimed as a New York Times Bestselling Author, Andrews is truly a wealth of what some might consider “common” knowledge. However, it can’t necessarily be all that common if people aren’t using it to their advantage, right? What makes Andrews so unique is that he takes notice of ordinary decisions and proves- from personal experience- that making these decisions a part of your every day will equal big success.

Andrews spent just under two hours discussing The Seven Decisions: Be responsible, Seek wisdom, Take action, Have a decided heart, Be joyful, Show compassion, and finally, Persist without exception. Originally introduced in his book The Traveler’s Gift, Andrews refers to the seven as “life-changing decisions”- what he believes have the ability to determine ones personal success. He states that these seven decisions are ones that each and every one of us has the power to make, and after hearing the ways in which Andrews has put these decisions to work in his own life, I’m not only convinced that I’m capable of doing the same thing, but also that I’m really going to enjoy doing it.

Andrews began his presentation by telling the audience that he wanted us to “feel at home”, as if we were hanging out in our living room and having a conversation with him, adding “I’ll go first!” Andrews definitely made me feel at home, and as he concluded by firmly stating, “Everything that we do matters”, it seemed as though he was somehow making direct eye contact with the entire audience at the exact same time. An Evening with Andy Andrews: powerful, intriguing, inspiring.

Four days, two mountains

By Kate Erickson

Published on examiner.com, January 2012

Happy New Year friends! As we stroll into 2012, it’s time to get geared up (and get pumped up) for an amazing ski season on the mountains of New England. New Year’s weekend was a perfect start for me, and today I find myself reminiscing of ringing in the New Year on the slopes of Saddleback Mountain with an amazing group of friends. Since I couldn’t bear the thought of spending my first ski experiences of 2012 at just one mountain, Sugarloaf was also a high priority on my agenda.

Saddleback welcomed us with a crisp four degree thermometer reading at 10pm on Thursday evening. In theory this seemed like a great thing, but by Friday afternoon the weather had hit 37 degrees and it didn’t really budge during the day time for the remainder of the weekend. I spent Saturday on the slopes, and I have to admit that waking up to rain and still making it out for multiple runs was a very pleasant surprise. I also spent Sunday on the slopes, but this time with one of the Ski & Ride School Instructors, Dave, who helped me get back to the basics- something that I’ve never bothered to do prior to being the proud wearer of a Sugarloaf season pass. With top notch ski instructors and the best student to instructor ratio in North America, I’d highly recommend the Ski & Ride School at Saddleback for all levels of skiers. After only one hour of instruction I was feeling much more confident and comfortable heading down the slopes.

On Sunday night we made our way over to Sugarloaf to prep for a full day of skiing on Monday. Once again, not the best ski conditions, but it was by far the most favorable I’ve seen this year. My first visit to Sugarloaf back in early December afforded me runs on only two trails; on Monday I had my choice of over 11 trails and three lifts, all while gliding in and out of some pretty consistent snow flurries. I’m looking forward to logging at least 40 hours on the slopes of Sugarloaf, and with almost 10 hours under my belt I anxiously await the snowfall that will bring me above and beyond my goal for the season.

If you’re looking for a great deal that will help get you up to Sugarloaf, then check out the Groupon Getaways deal for Portland, ME; only four days left to grab this wicked good deal!

Published on examiner.com, January 2011: http://www.examiner.com/skiing-lifestyle-in-portland-me/two-mountains-four-days

A goal (not a resolution) worth keeping

By Kate Erickson

Published on examiner.com, January 2012

As we wave goodbye to 2011 and welcome 2012, many of us are busy exchanging what we like to call “New Year’s Resolutions”. This year I decided not to make a resolution, but instead to focus on a few goals.

During the initial days of 2012 I’m turning my immediate focus to the winter weekends that lie ahead. We’re in New England, close to some of the most famous ski resorts in the States, yet there is still one thing missing: where is all the snow? With temperatures continuing to drop and ski resorts working hard to keep as many lifts and trails open as possible, I decided to head up to the mountains to celebrate the New Year. I couldn’t guarantee snow, but I could guarantee that I’d make it out to the slopes, that I’d be with a great group of people, and that come the end of the day I would be taking part in some great après activities. Oh yes- and these goals that I’ve mentioned- one of them has something to do with skiing as well.

If you’ve been following me on examiner.com, then you know that I’m a season pass holder at Sugarloaf, which happens to be the biggest ski area east of the Rockies- no doubt, something to brag about. You also know that this is my first ski season on the East coast and my first time skiing consecutive days and consecutive weekends without several months separating my downhill time. Thus, one of my goals this year- which I must admit was initially prompted by an unexpected challenge- is to hit a minimum of 40 hours on the slopes at Sugarloaf: an amount of time that will no doubt make being a season pass holder worthwhile. I currently have 9.5 hours of snow covered bliss to record, and I will continue to write about my progress for those who would like to join me on my initial journey down the New England slopes.

To me, this is a goal (not a resolution) worth keeping.

Sugarloafers: Welcome to winter

By Kate Erickson

Published on examiner.com, December 2011

Last weekend proved to be a huge success on the mountain. Saturday was my first visit to the lifts, and even though the trails weren’t perfect, the atmosphere and the company was top notch. There were only five trails open over the weekend, but you better believe that the snowmakers were working hard, and thanks to the low temperatures the powder was plentiful. If you didn’t make it up to Sugarloaf last weekend, here’s what you missed:

Hundreds of loafers were able to try out an open-ended supply of skis both Saturday and Sunday for only $5, compliments of Demo Days. Yes, that’s right: Demo Days featured the likes of Volkl, Fischer, Salomon, Swix and more—unlimited demos both Saturday and Sunday for only $5! The fun didn’t stop there: after my first après beer I was also able to check out a very impressive Holiday Gift Bazaar, where over a dozen vendors showcased some of their best goods. From jewelry to candles and clothing to art, walking around this bazaar afforded me some great local holiday gifts.

If you weren’t up top last weekend, then get ready for what’s ahead. Today’s Daily Report on Sugarloaf’s website is reporting that their total trail count should be up to 9 by tomorrow! Also on the radar: mark your calendars for December 29th and you can be one of the first in line to score a free autographed poster from Seth Wescott himself, who will be onsite at the Sugarloaf Board Room from 3pm – 5pm.
Stay tuned for exciting news on events and more, coming to you direct from the best ski mountains in New England!

Sugarloaf Mountain is ready for you

By Kate Erickson

Published on examiner.com, November 2011

After reading yesterday that Sugarloaf will officially open for the 2011-12 ski season at noon today, Tuesday, November 22, I thought to myself, “Why, oh why didn’t I pick up that 3-in-1 jacket at L.L. Bean yesterday?!” For a whopping $29 per lift ticket you could be one of the first to glide down the slopes of Sugarloaf: cool wind in your hair, snow on your nose and hot cocoa waiting for your frosty lips at the lodge.

Not quite ready for your first lift? If you’re thinking of waiting until December to visit Sugarloaf, then you might want to check out their amazing vacation package “Christmas On Us”- this deal is guaranteed to make your Christmas that much merrier. Sugarloaf’s “Christmas On Us” can be booked anytime between now and December 18 and offers a wicked generous free night stay on Christmas day with a reservation of three or more days over December 25.

You’ll have to excuse me; I’m headed back to Freeport to the L.L. Bean Outlet to purchase my 3-in-1! But before I go, I’d like to share a couple of my favorite shops right here in Portland that will help you prepare for what winter in New England holds:

Renys- A Maine Adventure has been offering quality goods at a great price since 1949. Today Renys proudly boasts 14 locations throughout Maine, one of which is right here in Portland on Congress Street. Check out their website for great Web Deals!

Also of interest is Eastern Mountain Sports, which is also located right on Marginal Way in Portland. Through today only Eastern Mountain Sports is offering 20% off one full-price item on online orders. Hurry to their site today to check out snow gear, boots, jackets and much more!

Ski Saddleback for free

By Kate Erickson

Published on examiner.com, November 2011

Looking for something to do on a Thursday night that will quench your thirst and give you the opportunity to score a free lift ticket to Saddleback Mountain Ski Area? Come one, come all to the Powder Keg event happening tomorrow night, 12/1/11, from 4pm – 8pm at all Sebago Brewing Company Locations: Portland, Scarborough, Kennebunk and Gorham!

Be one of the first 3,000 to register at one of the four Sebago Brewery locations and you’ll receive a free lift ticket valid for an early season lift. Early season lift tickets are valid 12/17/11 – 12/25/11 and 1/2/12 – 1/13/12. This is your chance to be one of the first skiers on the mountain, (and in case I didn’t mention it already, this is a free lift ticket!)

Does the idea of this sound too good to be true? Well, that’s not all folks. There will also be a drawing for a chance to win a Solomon Drift snowboard, a Smith Hole Evolve snow helmet and other great prizes! Don’t miss out on this great event, happening one night only, and don’t forget to enter your name in the drawing between sips.