Mic Mac Lake Tettegouche State Park

Each spring there is a short window of opportunity when the snow starts to melt during the day and refreezes at night. The melting and freezing provides a hard skiable surface over the forests and bogs. That is when I grab my skis and head for one of the most pristine places on the North Shore, Tettegouche State Park.

micmaclake

Tettegouche Lake Tettegouche State Park

The backcountry of Tettegouche has five mountain-like lakes. They are surrounded by cliffs and connected by cedar bogs and creeks. Skiing over the hard spring snow is something I look forward to each year. I have been doing it since 1979.

tettegouchelake

Wolf Tracks

This week I spent several hours skiing with friends following wolf tracks, checking out beaver houses and just looking at the huge white pines that cover much of the Tettegouche backcountry.

wolftracksice

Spinning on the Ice

Harley is spinning on his skis over the newly formed ice. There is still two feet of old ice under him.

spinningice

White Pine

Tettegouche has hundreds of ancient white pines where you can listen to the breeze blowing through the needles.

whitepine

Cedar Roots

We came across several uprooted cedar trees along the shore. Their weathered roots take on a beautiful gray appearance.

cedarroots

Beaver Cuttings

Between Mic Mac and Nipisiquit Lakes, the beaver has cut several birch trees to resupply their winter storehouses.

beavercuttings

Sunrise Over Split Rock

But of all the photos I took during the trip, the early morning sunrise over Split Rock Lighthouse was the most memorable.

splitrocksunrise