Mount Will – over60hiker

(Author’s note – With recent blogs of our summer trips to South Dakota, Wyoming, and the northern Rockies taking priority, I am now posting new blogs from the late spring of 2025 that have been itching to be read by the world at large.)

Four years ago, with the Covid vaccination finally available for all Americans, Hannah and I were guests of Donna and George, our Maine friends who have morphed into Tar Heels (i.e., in North Carolinians). That late September day in 2021, they met us at the Dunkin’ in Bethel, Maine for sublime hot coffee and to-die-for coffee cake muffins. They then introduced us to Mount Will. (As those who know us well know, Will is our favorite son).

This late June 2025 morning, Hannah and I are again in the Newry/Bethel/Sunday River area for the 2025 Great Maine Scavenger Hunt. Driving through Dixfield, Maine, we just can’t we pass up this photo op below. The short answer is that we can’t, but sadly we do, and then get lucky. Let me explain.

As we are tooling north to Clifford’s Donut Stop in Philips, Maine (click here for that blog), we pass this sign. Our rule of thumb is that whomever is driving decides when and where we stop. With Hannah thinking she’s going too fast to stop, we motor on. With a twelve-hour, 300 miles of backroads ahead of us, we let our hell-bent thinking dissuade us from going back to this sign. Within two miles, we are kicking ourselves for not stopping! For what, at most five minutes!

We motor on and do get donuts at Clifford’s and return by the way we came on Route 142 south toward Frenchman’s Swimming Hole. We aren’t sure where we saw this sign. And then minutes before turning onto Route 2, there it is. The Universe sends this message – Next time, go back and have a moment. What’s the hurry! Geez, Louise, kids! You’re 77! In retirement, schedules and deadlines are mere suggestions.

Message received.

As usual, we plan a hike when we are out seeking Great Maine Scavenger Hunt 2025 destinations. Today it’s Mount Will in nearby Newry.

With parking for eight to ten, we easily find a spot on this 74F late morning with less humidity. Let me take you on what will go down in Maine trail hiking history as a “wonderfully challenging” three plus miles of mountain hiking.

Just off Route 2 in Newry, Maine in the Bethel Town Forest

We start from the trailhead parking lot and hike clockwise up and down Mt. Will.

We start out on sole/soul loving pine needles.

Suffering from poison ivy from head to toe, here, there, and everywhere, I could have used a little Jewelweed. The redness and swelling from the poison ivy got so itchy and alarming, I went to York Walk-In Clinic and received an eight-day regimen of prednisone.