Beginning as a kettle hole created by a stranded glacial
fragment over 10,000 years ago, the ever evolving forces of nature
produced an environment ideally suited to the growth of that tart,
but succulent and misunderstood fruit, the cranberry. Early
settlers of the area began harvesting the natural crop and by the
mid 1800’s, the bog became a source of commercial endeavor
whereas the normal course of the plant’s existence was
altered for maximum production. Each year up through the 1950s, the
berries were hand cultivated for market, after which the plot was
flooded to protect the delicate plants during the winter
freeze.
Through the generosity of Portland resident, Helen Carlson, the
property was purchased and subsequently donated to the Mattabeseck
Audubon Society to protect it from the destructive exploitation of
peat mining and likely development. With the help of students from
Long Lane School, a nature trail and boardwalk was created and the
sanctuary was opened to the public. The MAS continued maintaining
the Cranberry crop for a spell, until the beavers took charge. The
bog has been a popular skating area for many years... home to some
memorable “jungle hockey” games if I may reminisce. For
pictures and more information, go here:
http://www.audubon-mas.org/pages/fbog.htm
Parking is located roadside at N 41*36.494 W 072*34.603 and the
trailhead is located just past the sign booth which is nearly
impossible to see from the road. You may park on the grass near the
cluster of large spruce trees and you will find the sign
booth/trail entrance easily once out of the car.
The boardwalk through the bog has effectively expired and the
actual trail is sparsely evident. The good news is that the going
is pretty easy anyway. Take a counter-clockwise approach. The bad
news is that since we first placed this cache, the beaver has
expanded the under water acreage to a point that it is now one way
to and back from the final. The journey remains about one mile
total.
But back to the original hunt....
The beaver has squirreled away some food just a hop, skip and a
tail slap off what once was the trail and it just may lead you to
the final cache, that being an ammo can that has has held up very
well through the years.