Acadia Mountain

Hiking buddy: Becca

Mountain: Acadia (Acadia National Park)
Elevation: 681 ft
Trail up: Acadia Mountain Trail
Trail down: Acadia Mountain Trail and Man O' War Brook Fire Rd.
Miles of trail: 3.2

Total miles this year: 15.9

The bad news: Most ladder trails are now closed (or will soon be closed) until mid-August because of the peregrine falcons getting ready to nest. Precipice and Valley Cove are already closed, Jordan Cliffs and Beech Cliffs will likely follow suit soon. Booo!

The good news: Today was a BEAUTIFUL day and we hiked Acadia Mountain, one of my favorites. 

WARNING: The west face is basically an entire sheet of ice, wear your crampons! 

Trail Head

To start out, you hike about 0.3 miles to the Man O' War Brook Fire Road intersection with the Acadia Mountain Trail. Normally, I would walk down the fire road and ascend Acadia from the east. However, with ice, a dog in-tow, and the stubbornness of not wanting to hike the same trail up and down... we ascended from the west. We're talking multiple inch thick ice, covered in spots with water or snow. I would much rather slap the crampons on and hike up a sheet of ice, than slide on my butt the entire way down. With Pheebs, you know that is what would have happened!

Like a champ!

Holy ice. It is 1 mile from the trail head to the summit; a strenuous (if you're not accustomed to rigorous hiking trails) hike from start to finish. I love winter hiking; it gives old and familiar trails a different appearance, the snow and ice adds a little adventure and thrill for the avid hiker.

The view from the summit offers a breathtaking shot of Somes Sound and the Cranberry Isles. The ocean was a deep shade of teal, absolutely beautiful! There was a slight breeze, but it didn't hinder the need to snap shots and peacefully take in the view. As soon as Phoebe became antsy to get on moving, we packed up and started the descent.

I thoroughly enjoy the trail that winds along the Sound, the views are never-ending; each captivating enough for one to pause, breathe, and take it all in. There are a few steep scrambles along the way. Pheebs and I usually try and find a quick detour, there is only one spot where she needs to walk off the trail. Other than that, the trail is super dog friendly; if your dog enjoys hiking and is good at jumping! 

Just before the Acadia Mountain Trail ends, and the Man O' War road begins, there is a little trail that veers off towards the Sound. The sign on the post will say "overlook", and it is highly recommended that you follow. Large steps will take you down by the water. Straight ahead will take you to a low ledge just above the ocean shore. During the summer months you'll see boats roaming the waters and gulls flying overhead. However, during the winter the water and skies above are perfectly serene. Off to the left, there is a tiny trail that will take you to the waterfall. Today, the rocks were too slippery and snow covered for exploring.

The Sound

The trail down towards the east and the Sound was wonderfully dry; a nice break from the ice sheet of an ascent along the west face. However, once we reached the old fire road we discovered more ice and snow. Just under a mile, the old fire road leads directly to the main road, with the parking area to the left within a short distance. We opted out of taking the 0.3 mile trail back to the trail head, Pheebs appreciated the gesture.

Looks like we're in for a "Nor'estah" this week, with possible blizzard conditions. Boo. Enjoy the park while you can! Winter may never be over.