Summer in Maine is getting up early, loading the backpack and kids into the car, and driving to the base of a mountain. We enter the trail with only the excited sounds of the kids breaking the silence. They are amazed by everything at the start and we look at the trees, leaves, plants, and, if we are really lucky, animal tracks and droppings. Their noise ensures that any wildlife will be gone long before we arrive. The further on we go the less the kids talk, except for the constant, “Can I have some water?” and “Can we go home now?” Just before we reach the top the complaining turns to, “I’m too tired, I can’t go any further.” Finally, we reach the summit. They are no longer tired as they look out over what they have accomplished. They are amazed by how high they are and how much they can see. We sit and eat a snack, there is always a snack at the top, while we look at the view through our binoculars. The sounds of complaining have turned to, “Look Daddy!” Do you see that Daddy?” As we pack up and start back down they chatter excitedly again about the things they saw and who reached the top first. By the time we reach the car they are tired and drag themselves into their seats. You know summer in Maine is great when, just as we are pulling away, they say, “Daddy, can we come here again?”