A new Mainer’s guide to footwear

 

I can’t even remember the last time I saw the sun, let alone the grass! Given I sometimes have to dig through a few inches of mud to see it. I have been warned recently, of the imminent mud season fast approaching.

I guess four seasons just was not enough for good ‘ol Maine. Here we have Summer, Fall, Big Hunting, Winter, a Spring every fourth moon, and Mud. No matter which you happen to be in at the time, you still need the essential boots and a flannel if you expect to survive unscathed.

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This is a very important message that my out-of-state friend Courtney and I learned last year. We had decided one beautiful day, very early in the spring season, to go on walk about along the university’s trails.

Mind you — an actual Mainer DID accompany us — our mutual friend Cordell, a Houlton man. Even he was not prepared for the onset of mud season, to our utter dismay.

Half-way along the trail our sneakers were rendered useless, and only our bare feet would suffice if we expected to keep our shoes. We are women after all.

We also had not realized that the end of the trail, hidden yet by the towering pines, was still covered in sheets of ice along with the occasional freezing puddle. With no shoes left to save our soles from the icy encounters we traversed across the incredibly uncomfortable feet-numbing path.

Our reward: feet coated in iced-over mud (all except for Cordell who bravely — or perhaps not so bravely — kept his sneakers on for the duration of the walk and instead came back with sodden shoes later to be disposed of).

Our next few hours were spent huddled amongst blankets with cups of hot cocoa taken from the stores we had spent gathering up in the winter (also a necessity).

This just goes to show all us “Mainers-in-training” that above all else, lesson number one is boots, always, boots, not kidding – boots. Definitely a welcome addition to my ever growing wardrobe.

Hannah Noriega

About Hannah Noriega

An English major from Connecticut attending the University of Maine, Hannah decided to live in Maine for the adventure. Seeing as Mainers share her love for hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, and everything outdoors, it has proved to be the perfect fit.