Tales From Misery Ridge
Paul Fournier
Islandport Press
Paperback, 195 pages
A select few lead lives so interesting, they just have to tell their story. Paul Fournier proves in his new book “Tales From Misery Ridge”, that he is one of those few. From catching big salmon and flying small planes to the historic attempt to reintroduce caribou to Maine, the former guide, sporting camp owner, bush pilot and Inland Fisheries and Wildlife communications director will captivate readers with stories of his many adventures.
Paul Fournier has lived quite a life. He’s had the motivation and capability to do things that most outdoors enthusiasts can only dream of. His stories in “Tales From Misery Ridge” reflect an appreciation and love for the Maine outdoors, as well as keen observatory skills. While others share experiences similar to Paul’s, few can so effectively describe these adventures with others through writing. I found myself captivated by each story, and in the end, wishing there were more. Fournier reports that Islandport Press plans to publish another book of his next year, so readers can expect more tales of adventure and observations of Maine woods and wildlife.
Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll find in the pages of “Tales From Misery Ridge, One Man’s Adventures in the Great Outdoors”.
Introduction
Misery Ridge is the name of a small mountain in the Maine woods west of Moosehead Lake, where Paul Fournier and his wife ran a set of sporting camps on Brassau Lake for nearly ten years. The ridge and its surrounding forest and waters hold a special place in Fournier’s heart, and provide the inspiration for much of his writing.
The Seductive Canoe
Fournier explains his love affair with canoes, and the opportunities they offered him to explore less known places as a youngster with his first canoe. Most of us who grew up using canoes can relate.
Trophy Salmon
There is a place and time in many anglers’ past that sets itself apart from most other fishing memories. It’s an experience of magic, where under the right circumstances – time, place and other conditions – the fishing is epic. Paul recalls the time and place where he experienced fishing magic as a guide. It was the mid 1950’s and the fish were landlocked salmon in the West Branch of the Penobscot River. The story, while true, rivals fictional angling tales in its setting, plot, and execution. And it sure ends with a “wow!”
Bush Flying
Many only dream of flying or owning their own plane, not to mention being a commercial bush pilot. Fournier has experienced it, and lived to tell some captivating accounts of close calls and dangerous situations.
Rampaging Black Bears
Anyone who has spent much time in Maine’s north woods has bear stories to tell. Fournier is no exception. He recounts a few of the more interesting ones.
Giant Wild Trout
This essay is the most well-described piece on spawning trout that I’ve ever read. Fournier visited Misery Stream during the brook trout spawning run in the 1950’s and documented what most folks have never seen: brook trout spawning in the wild. His description is fascinating, and includes pictures of large trout jumping a set of falls. But the chapter is a sad one as well. As part of a log driving operation, the stream was bulldozed that winter, and the trout habitat destroyed. This story reminds us of the stream habitat that’s been degraded throughout the state in the past, and the need to restore it in order to return quality fisheries to more streams.
DIFW Days
Fournier explains his transition into a long career with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, as the agency’s communications director. He worked hard to improve the agency’s relationship with the media and its image to the public. Several incidents involving the Warden Service and the media are recounted in detail.
Flying Wardens
As a former pilot himself, the author could relate well to the brave and dedicated pilots that have worked for the Maine Warden Service. He explains several of the duties these men do as department employees.
Foster Eagle
This story documents the first ever attempt to transfer bald eagle eggs into Maine nests as part of efforts to save the species. Efforts were successful, and the story behind this work is well worth reading.
Trek to Allagash
In another first, Fournier was part of the first group to take a 300 mile snowmobile expedition through Maine’s north woods. It was 1961, and Polaris Industries was testing their new snow machines, which would soon revolutionize snow travel. The account makes for a truly enjoyable read.
Moose Antics
Moose do some really strange things during their annual fall rut. Fournier tells a few stories of moose acting crazy.
Crystal Harvest
Before modern freezers became widespread, the ice harvesting industry was huge in Maine. The frozen surfaces of many of the state’s lakes and streams would become hubs of activity during the annual ice harvest, which provided ice to keep things cool throughout the following summer. Fournier tells some history of ice harvesting and recounts an ice harvest at Nugent’s Wilderness Camps in the Allagash.
Return of the Caribou
I had always been aware of a failed attempt to reintroduce caribou into the state of Maine, but never knew the details of the ordeal. Paul Fournier was on the front lines to document the recovery effort with experts from Maine and Newfoundland as they captured caribou and brought them to Maine.
After providing some background of the caribou reintroduction project, Fournier takes the reader through every detail of the trip to Newfoundland, the exciting capture of the caribou, transport, battles with weather and bureaucracy, and the sad demise of the caribou that held so much hope in the eyes of many Mainers. It’s great to finally get the detailed story on how things went down. This is both the longest, and in my opinion, most interesting story of the entire book.
What Do They Do All Winter?
This short essay chronicles the activities associated with spending the winter off the grid in a cabin in the Maine woods. It’s a fitting end to a great collection of stories.
“Tales From Misery Ridge” is certain to establish itself as a must-have in any Maine outdoor book collection. Pick up a copy for yourself, but be warned, you’ll have a tough time putting it down!
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