Bird Watchers Digest - May/June 2011

of cutting and regenerating of the forest is what makes the area so diverse in bird life. Since these are working forests, extensive networks of privately owned and maintained roads criss-cross the landscape. All of these roads are dirt, and some are more traveled than others. In all, there are thousands of miles of these “tote” roads throughout the state.

Possibly the best known of Maine’s logging roads is the Golden Road, which stretches nearly 100 miles from the small town of Millinocket west to the Canadian border. The Golden Road is the superhighway of Maine logging roads. It’s wide, relatively smooth, and level. Most of the area serviced by the Golden Road is part of North Maine Woods, Inc. This organization comprises large and small commercial landowners and encompasses more than 3. 5 million acres of working forest. Although the area is open to recreation, you must pass through one of the many checkpoints to access the forest, and pay a small fee. Visit northmainewoods.org for more information.

SPECIAL
CONSIDERATIONS

A word of caution for anyone venturing into Maine’s logging country: These roads are not public roads. The timber companies own and maintain them in order to get wood from the forest to the mills.

Therefore, anyone traveling these roads must be aware that log trucks always have the right of way. This cannot be stressed enough. A fully loaded log truck can weigh 100,000 pounds. In a collision, there’s no question which vehicle will come out unscathed. When you encounter a truck, pull off the road and let it pass. Always stay attentive to truck traffic. If you stop to watch birds, make sure you find a spot where you can pull completely off the road. If you see a road that looks like it is being used actively for timber harvesting, play it safe: Pass it up and find another. There are plenty!

Another road hazard in this area is moose. Maine has a large, healthy moose herd, and you will inevitably encounter these animals at some point. Pay special attention if you are driving in the early morning or late evening. Moose are most active during these hours, and their dark coats and lack of eye shine make them extremely hard to see.

One essential item you should always have in your vehicle is the most recent edition of the DeLorme Maine Atlas and Gazetteer. You cannot rely on a GPS unit in your vehicle, because the majority of northern logging roads will not be on the map. The atlas shows most of the major and minor tote roads, making it an invaluable tool.