Checking out raw land in winter? (Bangor, Fort Kent: to buy, school, camp)

[LizzyBB]

Hi, I am a new poster but have been reading for a couple of weeks. We are looking to buy some land in Maine to get away on weekends in the summer, and possibly retire there in the long run. We are from Massachusetts and are pretty sick of all the regulations here, but need to stay for our jobs and the kids' school, for now.

My question is, is it crazy to go look at raw land in the winter? We are looking at large pieces of land (>20 acres) with some sort of stream/brook frontage. My husband feels that we won't get to see where the wet spots are. On the other hand, I would like to see what the stream looks like in the winter and make sure it doesn't freeze over. I am not really concerned about wetlands too much, as long as there is one little spot we can put a camp on.

And if you have any ideas of a good small town where land is cheap and they leave you alone, I would appreciate suggestions too!! I'm currently looking online at land in Burnham, Hartland, Abbot, and Bradford. Thanks!

[AustinB]

I wouldn't mind seeing the land in the winter, but you do need to be able to see the wet areas. Late spring would be a good time to take a walk around, especially the Bradford one.

[bangorme]

The stream doesn't freeze over? I don't think I've ever seen a stream in Maine that doesn't usually freeze over during the winter.

[Submariner]

Our land borders the Penobscot River, and we have two streams that flow across our land.

Soon you will be able to walk across the river. You can already walk across our streams.

Four inches of ice and 2 foot of snow will tend to do that to a stream.

[LizzyBB]

Ah ok, sorry, my inexperience is showing, LOL. Thanks for the responses, I think maybe waiting for spring is a good idea then... So what month would you say I could see the streams not frozen and detect wet areas? Thanks!

[Nor'Eastah]

By August, whatever is going to dry up, has done so. Any area that is truly wet, will be wet in June and possibly July. This is only if you want to know for sure what *could* be wet, at any time of year. If you are looking at land that has a brook or stream, the land next to the water could be wet well into May and June. Usually, knowing wetland botany (can look up online) will tell you where to delineate any wetlands. Good luck!

[Maineac]

I was in Fort Kent yesterday morning, jumped out of bed and the thermometer said 32 below zero FFFFFFFF. The breeze undoubtedly kicked it down to the high 50's below zero with windchill. And the Aroostook was still flowing. Boy, the Piscataquis is going to be a problem, I commented, this spring, as we drove over it headed back to the Bangor area. And yeah, you really should see what's up in the alders when its at its worst. Not when it's hidden by snow and ice.

[Submariner]

Follow the forums, when fiddleheads pop-up in the spring, that is a prime time to get out and look at land.

[cebdark]

Originally Posted by AustinB

I wouldn't mind seeing the land in the winter, but you do need to be able to see the wet areas. Late spring would be a good time to take a walk around, especially the Bradford one.

I would second this. My husband once owned a hunting camp in Bradford. It is on a discontinued town road that was a real mess in the spring. He had to haul our tractor up and do a lot of work on the road. The rest of the land was good, but the road in was a mess.

[BillieUSA]

Aside from a stream, I would not buy any land unless I were able to see it when the ground is clear, to check out boundaries and perhaps strange things you might see when there is no snow on the ground. Make more than one trip... different seasons... don't rush into something.... and get a survey. Good luck! Have fun!