Where I Always Start My Day
You can’t possibly have a bad day after waking up to a view like this. This is the absolute definition of tranquility. The calm breeze cools down the morning sun. The loons on the water create a hypnotizing melody. Pure bliss. If I could wake up here every morning nothing could ever go wrong. Migis Lodge is a quaint cabin resort nestled in the woods on the edge of Sebago Lake in western Maine. This lakeside lodge was built in 1916 as a men’s-only fishing camp called National Camps and then transformed into a family retreat in the 1980s. Interestingly enough, through research, I found that it was renamed Migis (My’ gus) in 1924, which is an Abenaki Indian word for “the place to steal away to rest.” I truly couldn’t describe this place better.
Where I Congregate and Socialize
My great grandparents were one of the first visitors and are the main reason this place holds such a special place in my heart. Their favorite place to spend time was the communal hall which people attend to socialize with others. There is such a fascinating atmosphere in the hall. It is often full of people from all backgrounds and stories that are united by the tranquility of the landscape. The main lodge building was built by Charles Goodrich in 1916 and stands between the 35 cabins sprinkled among the lush greenery. The resort also includes tennis courts, a gym, and motorboats that are rented out. Which brings us to our next stop.
Where I Mindfully Explore
My favorite thing to do here is rent one of the available motorboats and explore the surrounding bodies of land scattered around Lake Sebago. There are a few islands that aren’t owned by anyone where you can stop and lay on the rocks, explore the tidepools, and meditate in the surrounding nature. There is one island that has a massive rock and many people visit it to jump off into the beautiful water below. My family and I routinely visit this jump spot when we are in the area and it is always a highlight of the trip. However, through research, I found a super interesting tidbit about this spot. It is actually called Frye’s Leap, named after Captain Frye, who is alleged to have jumped off of it onto the frozen lake to escape from Indigenous peoples. I can’t believe I had never heard this narrative, especially for as many times as I had been there and wondered why there wasn’t an informational plaque at the site.
Where I Embrace The Water On My Skin
I remember when I first stepped foot into Lake Sebago. I was shocked by the water's cool temperature and complete clarity. It was the most refreshing water I had ever felt on my skin. I always spent the majority of my days there on the water, either swimming, boating, or wake surfing. Lake Sebago, being the second largest body of water in Maine, makes me contemplate the role that this body of water played in the indigenous tribes that utilized the land. Because it is a freshwater lake, I am the utmost certain that this lake played a major role in the Indigenous tribes' food consumption.
Where I Take In The Beautiful Views
Our last stop is arguably our coolest. The top of Mount Washington. This hike is no joke. It takes about six hours on a good day to get up the mountain from the visitor center where one learns about the history of the mountain. The Algonquian Native American name for the mountain is G8dagwjo or K8daakwaj (Hidden Mountain Always in the Clouds). It could also have been known as Agiocochook (Home of the Great Spirit or Mother Goddess of the Storm), or Waumbik (White Rocks). In fact, the first European ascent of the mountain was performed in June of 1642 by Darby Field accompanied by two Native American guides. “It is said that Field wanted to prove to the local Abenaki Chief Passaconaway that he was not subject to the same rules as the Indigenous peoples, who did not climb the summit of the mountain believed to be the realm of divine powers. By climbing the mountain Field dismissed these Indigenous beliefs and assisted the colonists’ northern expansion.” I found this super interesting, while also disappointing as this information is not told to hikers. There is a lot of information about the history of the mountain at the top of the summit, but none about the indigenous tribes that used to live there.Citations https://indigenousnh.com/2018/12/06/the-wobanadenok/https://www.mainememory.net/artifact/17428 https://www.forbes.com/sites/everettpotter/2019/09/08/migis-lodge-maines-classic-lakeside-resort/?sh=52b294bc5882