another (OT)thread: Fort Gorges Portland, ME

[Justin]

With the snow gone (well almost), i've resorted to other adventures. Took a trip out to Fort Gorges, which is located just off the coast Of Portland in Casca Bay (on an island of course). It's and old defense structure built in 1865 complete with turrent (sp?) and cannon bays.

Here it is off the East End of Portland.


We took a canoe, which normally i wouldn't reccomend seeing as you must pass through a major shipping channel. However, the day was perfect the wind was low and the traffic was very light.




Inside, this wall faces offshore (notice the cannon bays)


It is pretty creepy in parts...First floor cannon bays,



Scotia Prince of to Yarmouth Nova Scotia...



Pooch and Portland



Sundown over Portland



Really a neat piece of history and certaily could use some restoration but and interesting place none-the-less.

[M@]

KEwl - looks like it's still in excellent shape. Did you spend the night? Or canoe home in the dark?

M@

[RR]

Interesting city, that....once the home of one of New Englands best veggie restaurants: "The Hollow Reed". Been there many times before it closed....your post makes me conside returning with a boat and some bouldering gear.

Thanks

[el-bagr]

I love the Fort. It's straight out of Scooby-Doo. It's a nice short kayak from East End Beach here in town. I try to get out there every spring.

I'm looking at it right now out of my office window. I took this shot this April.



At low tide, the inshore part of Diamond Ledge is attached to Fort Gorges. The gravel beach between the two makes for a great landing site.



Three sides of the Fort contain gun casemates. It would have been deafening in here with the huge cannons firing.



The Fort is three stories high, with vegetated ramparts above. Apparently the ramparts are unstable, and climbing on them is technically forbidden (not to mention a dangerous proposition), although you can easily climb to their level.



Some of the inner passages of the Fort have crumbled into rubble; bring a light to explore more fully. I found ice in some of the upper levels in April 2003, but none this year. There is still a very cool octagonal spiral staircase.



The Fort is largely built of granite, and much of it is sound enough to boulder up. I explored the wooden officer's quarters located above the entrance, but found them to be very rotten and unstable.

Definitely worth a trip. It's about 0.6 miles out into the harbor. A good loop can be made including Little Diamond Island and House Island (trespassing technically prohibited), which is also the home to an old fort plus WWII fortifications).

[Justin]

Originally Posted by el-bagr

Definitely worth a trip. It's about 0.6 miles out into the harbor. A good loop can be made including Little Diamond Island and House Island (trespassing technically prohibited), which is also the home to an old fort plus WWII fortifications).

Ya, I'd like to get a skiff to cruise around the bay. I want to get out to little and big diamond...also cow! gotta get a boat, gotta hit the lottery

[ski&ride]

Nice trip! I was actually in Portland last weekend. Some friends of mine participated in an adventure race, and I went for support. I think it might have been in that same area??? Afterwards we ate at a little place called Silly's, which had a great menu.

ski&ride

[Justin]

Originally Posted by M@

KEwl - looks like it's still in excellent shape. Did you spend the night? Or canoe home in the dark?

M@

Well here's te deal. We asked around and everyone we talked said "Ya, it's a great place to camp ~insert nostalgia story here~"

so we figured we would get packed up and then cruise out there and if it was a nog we'd keep going onto another island were we knew we could camp.

No longer then 5 min. after we got there another boat showed up. A fisherman by the name of Dan stopped by with his dog and a couple of Geary's pale ales. we shot the hsit with him for a while and he asked if we were planning on staying....we stumbled over our words for a while and then he said "You Should...i do all the time!"

we asked if it was 'legal'. He said "well, It's owned by the city so it would be like pitching a tent in a city park so no...but the bums do it and you ain't bums so don't worry about"

Upon further investigation we found a desiganted fire place (fires are allowed) so we set up tent and hung out

I thnk as long as it stays clean, which it is the city will continue to allow it. I reall just sits out there unused.