#WEOUTSIDE Gets Back to Its Roots: Hiking

Way back in 2023 when the #WEOUTSIDE program was launched by MANA and MATLT, much of the focus was on the Appalachian Trail and other mountain hiking trails in Maine. Over time, the program has evolved to encompass so many different activities in Maine's outdoors. Hiking is a great way to experience the benefits and nature but there are different facets to outdoor adventures. #WEOUTSIDE branched out into canoeing, kayaking, and whitewater rafting. It took kids for adventures that dug deeper into issues like water quality, the mental health benefits of nature, birding, ecology, trail maintenance, Wabanaki sovereignty, climate change, access/equity, workforce training, and more. But we still love getting back on the trails! So for this most recent trip - the annual #WEOUTSIDE Mardi Fuller Experience - we hit Tumbledown Mountain, which is part of the Mount Blue State Park and Tumbledown Public Lands area just south of the Appalachian Trail (but still firmly within the A.T. landscape). Tumbledown Mountain is one of the premiere hiking experiences in Maine and is up there on the list of the state's most climbed mountains. It can get crowded on weekends and even though we went on a Tuesday, there were still many people enjoying the day. But the experience of Tumbledown is perhaps unique in Maine's mountain region. The trail itself is worn and well-used but our group persevered with Mardi's excellent leadership and encouragement. Swimming remains one of the integral experiences of #WEOUTSIDE, so the goal of getting up the mountain to swim in one of Maine's most beautiful ponds also helped! Special thanks to Mardi Fuller for leading us to glory. Additional thanks to the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands for keeping our public lands in good shape!