Mansell and Bernard

Hiking buddies: Alex, Arnie and Jamie

Weather: mid 70s and sunny 

Mountains: Mansell and Bernard (Acadia National Park)
Elevations: 949ft (Mansell) and 1,071 (Bernard)
Ascents: Long Pond Trail and Perpendicular Trail (Mansell) and Bernard Mountain Trail
Descents: Mansell Mountain Trail, Razorback Trail, Bernard Mountain Trail, Sluiceway Trail, Great Notch Trail, Gilley Trail, and Cold Brook Trail
Miles of trail: 3.9

Total miles this year: 98.8

 

Mansell and Bernard -two peaks, aka; Western Mountain. Located on the "quiet-side" of The Island, Western Mountain certainly lives up to its location's nickname. We didn't cross paths with too many fellow hikers while out on the trails winding through the mountain range.

 I love Sundays! Especially when the weather is absolutely gorgeous outside, like today. Jamie had requested last week that we hike Mansell Mountain and Bernard Mountain today. Jamie, you got your wish!

There is only one trail that you can do to reach the peak of Mansell, and that trail is... The Perpendicular Trail, aka; The StairMaster from Hell. We have a love-hate relationship. I make myself hike this trail once a year... and that is it. Just like the ladder trail of Dorr! One-then-done.

Ok, so there are actually many trails on this mountain range, but the only one worth doing is Perpendicular. Mansell and Bernard are not known for their fabulous views, but instead are known for their fantastic trails and stonework. 

Here we go...

The trailhead is located at the base of Long Pond, same place Alex and I parked for our Beech Mountain hike last week. The Long Pond Trail begins off to the left (if you're facing the water). The shot above shows the "little" nub that the Perpendicular Trail basically heads straight up; one mile to the top.

Now, Perpendicular Trail. What is your first thought? Straight up from the base? Pretty close.

Although the trail doesn't actually go straight up the side of the mountain, as the name suggests, it is still quite strenuous. Steep stones stairs make their way up and around a boulder field. Each steep section is followed by a pleasant, level trail along the cliffs. 

Eventually, the trails leads to a little stream. It crisscrosses the water a few times before veering off further up the mountainside. FYI, the stairs are never over.

The steepness of this trail offers a very good excuse for the hiker to slow down and really take in the surrounding wonders of nature in the area. For instance, we spotted this unusual tree arched over the trail like a canopy... a spotty one at that!

With about 0.2 miles to the summit, you will come to an overlook. Take your time in this spot, it's the best view you're going to get on Mansell. But, a wonderful view it is. Today we enjoyed a leisurely lounge atop the granite face at the overlook. There was a nice, cool breeze. And, with a clear day, the view was absolutely beautiful!

That's the lower end of Long Pond in the middle of the shot, with the bottom of the sound opening up to the ocean and the Cranberry Isles further back. The Western Mountain range is the farthest grouping of peaks to the west on the island. Hence the name; Western Mountain. I'm only assuming.

Have you ever tried kimchi? For those of you who don't know, and that will probably be most of you, it is a fermented cabbage dish. Before you turn your nose up at it, just listen. Kimchi is AMAzing. We picked some up at the farmer's market in town this morning before church, Alex brought it along with his lunch and shared... what a nice guy! It has a kick to it, so beware, but this girl loves spicy. After a quick lunch, possibly a little snooze, we continued to the summit.

See? Not much of a view there. Ha. You can step off the StairMaster at this point, the ride is over.

Onward to Bernard! It's a quick descent down to the Razorback Trail, through the evergreen and spruce forest. I love when the forest is so dense, that any beam of sunlight through the trees makes its presence clearly known.

After a quick scramble up to the top of the razorback granite ridge, you'll pop out of the trees for a short distance, so take in the view, snap a selfie...

Now, the Western Mountain range can be quite confusing. Please be sure that if you are going to be hiking in this area to bring a map! There are multiple nubs and stubs, as I call them, between the summits of Mansell and Bernard; Great Notch, Knight Nubble, and Little Notch. All three make the hiking trail more adventurous and uncertain at the same time. The trail ascends and descends numerous times before actually reaching the short 0.2 mile trail to the top of Bernard Mountain.

Funky shroom and a pretty flower along the way...

To the second summit of the day; Bernard.

To complete the loop, we headed down Sluiceway Trail on towards the Cold Brook Trail that takes you all the way back to Long Pond. Sluiceway is a bit of a doozy, very steep as it descends along a stream. I don't think I have ever hiked Western Mountain before when the trails weren't wet and slippery. So, be careful out there, folks. And, enjoy!

Can you spot the frog?

Happy Hiking!

Cadillac; North Ridge Trail

Hiking buddy: Marina

Weather: mid 60s and humid! 

Mountain: Cadillac (Acadia National Park)
Elevation: 1,530ft
Ascent: North Ridge Trail
Descent: Gorge Path and Park Loop Road
Miles of trail: 5.1

Total miles this year: 94.9

Almost to one hundred miles! Woot, woot!

The boss has me working later in the day today, so I took this perfect opportunity to hike Cadillac early this morning to watch the sunrise... and I was able to ring Marina into the plan. 

Hiking the North Ridge Trail of Cadillac is one of my favorites, and it absolutely has to be done to watch the sunrise. No other time of day works for this trail, in my honest opinion.

I picked up my hiking buddy around 3:30 this morning... yikes. We were on the trail by 3:45am, with our headlamp and flashlight out front and ready. The trails are so peaceful this time of day. The owls are hooting their goodbyes to the night, the birds are chirping in anticipation of morning, and there is not another soul on the trail. 

It took a few moments for my legs to wake up, funny how they don't like being used so early in the morning. And, very quickly, I shed my layers. It's going to be a hot and humid day today, folks. The breeze was warm, refreshing, instead of the cold chill the wind usually offers during sunrise hikes. 

The North Ridge Trail covers about 2.2 miles. A trail that has a good mix of tree cover and bare, open rock faces. You'll dive into the woods and pop out soon enough to a spectacular view. Something kind of like this:

 

That shot alone makes the early wake up call completely worth it. The trail can be quite steep at times, but there are sections that level off and offer your poor legs and lungs a little break. Each step brings a new perspective on the scene pictured above. There are few things I love more than seeing those islands and downtown Bar Harbor highlighted by the morning rise. 

I made the comment yesterday to my uncle that I usually point and chuckle at the cars driving up for the sunrise and call them "lazies". He quickly reminded me that not too long ago, I was one of those people driving to the top, instead of hiking. I was probably pointing and chuckling at the hikers calling them "crazies". Ha. Oh, where life takes you. It can be so surprising at times. 

Allllmost to the top at this point. The sun was just starting to poke its way above the horizon. 

Marina and I did a good job of booking it up this trail. I don't think I have ever hiked it in less than an hour, especially so early in the morning. Once we made it to the summit trail, we started walking down towards the sunrise. There were a ton of people huddled under blankets and jackets, sitting, watching God's masterpiece of a sunrise. I felt a little out of place with my tank top and sweaty limbs! 

We decided to head down the mountain via the Gorge Path. The Gorge path starts off of the summit path, heading down the east side of the mountain. It's a very steep trail, but offers wonderful panoramic views of the sunrise. 

We got a little creative...

I wish every morning could start like this. 

My favorite morning jam ("Good Morning" by Mandisa) always pops into mind during a sunrise hike up Cadillac:

"It's a good morning!
Wake up to a brand new day
This morning,
I'm stepping, stepping on my way
Good morning,
You give me strength,
You give me just what I need
And I can feel the hope that's rising in me.
It's a good morning"

One more shot before we headed down into the trees of the Gorge Path...

The gorge was quiet this morning... and buggy! Phew. My arms and hands got an exercise in. As usual, I enjoyed listening to the running water of the brook as my boots stomped the granite stepping stones on my way down. We came out on the Park Loop Road and had to backtrack about a mile to the car. Completely worth it.

What a beautiful morning. It's going to be a good day. Get out and hike!

Day Mountain and The Triad

Hiking buddies: Marina and Jamie

Weather: mid 70s, sunny

Mountains: Day and Triad (Acadia National Park)
Elevations: 583ft (Day) and 698ft (Triad)
Ascents: Day Mountain Trail, Triad Trail
Descents: Day Mountain Trail, Triad Trail, Carriage Road (via The Cleft), and Day Mountain Trail
Miles of trail: 3.9

Total miles this year: 89.8

It's Sunday, so you know what that means? This girl goes hiking. Now that we're getting into the hustle and bustle of the busy tourist season, I take my one day off and go on a nice, looooong hike. Away from the crowds. Away from all the cars and transports. Away from all the people on vacation who are glued to their electronic devices. I mean, seriously? You're on vacation. On a beautiful island. With a beautiful National Park calling your name, begging you to drop your phone and get outdoors. Seriously. 

Rant over. 

Today, I set out with no agenda. I just wanted trail under my feet. The weather was too perfect to really care where to hike, it only mattered that I take full advantage of the sunshine and go on a hike. Usually, I have a trail in mind days before Sunday arrives. Not today. I let Marina and Jamie decide! The consensus was... Day Mountain. 

This is a great hike for families with younger children (fyi); simple, fairly easy, with the excitement of crossing paths with the horse-drawn carriages on the carriage roads.

There are also some really cool caves, that I have only heard wonderful stories about, somewhere near the summit. I happened to come across a hiking book this evening on a walk downtown and saw "the caves" marked on the map. I'll have to do some bushwhacking and venturing around there soon. 

The trail starts out pretty level, easy going, with my favorite... planks! It's just under a mile to the summit from the trailhead.

We heard some bustling in the bushes, wondered what it could possibly be, turned the corner and... TURKEYS. A whole group of them just chillin' out on the trail. They scattered quite quickly. 

The first glimpse of scenery from the trail. Day Mountain is certainly not the best peak for sweet views. The experience of the trail and the surrounding wonders of nature make up for what it lacks in views. The birds were chirping like crazy this afternoon... not just the crazy turkeys. 

Every time the trail intersects with the carriage roads, I love looking at the flowers sprouting along the side of the road. Most of the buds I do not know by name, but these guys are easy ::wink::

The trail opens up to the sky momentarily. Take your scenic photos here, that's the best view you're going to get! 

The last section of trail to the summit is a bit of a scrambling doozy! For me, that's when the fun starts, get those lungs burning. 

We took a quick snap at the summit and then decided to continue on along the trail to The Triad. This would be another peak with a not so great view, but awesome trail work! The Day Mountain Trail descends over 0.5 miles until it reaches more carriage roads. Directly across the bridge is the trailhead for The Triad Trail. The post said 0.3 miles to the summit... I don't think we were anticipating gaining as much elevation as we did. In 0.3 miles the elevation gain is around 500 feet. Yikes. 

Look at that scramble! 

We might have gotten slightly lost/off trail at one point. The blue blazes were scarce, quite hard to see, so be careful. Not to mention, there was a mound of leaves covering the trail. They can be slippery little buggers. 

Need a good workout? Run up and down this section a few times... you'll feel it. I think it was at this point I asked, "who's idea was this?" Oh, yeah. Mine. 

I think that is the largest cairn I have ever seen... Don't worry, there are five rocks forming the structure, the fifth one is hiding out in the back, we checked. 

We stopped at the summit for a quick breather before heading back down. I'm slightly regretting not putting sunscreen on today. 

Once we made it down the 0.3 miles back to the carriage roads, we decided to take a walk along the Day Mountain carriage road until we met back up with the Day Mountain Trail. This way, we didn't have to summit the peak again. We ended up walking for about a mile and half, but I'm not complaining. It was quite peaceful and beautiful. 

We had a few encounters with these guys! Boy, were they huge. The horses pull carriages up and around Day Mountain to the summit and back down. I can't imagine how they are feeling on a hot day like today! 

The carriage road eventually met up with the Day Mountain Trail, at its first crossing with the road. So, we didn't have too much trail to hike down to get back to the starting point. Luckily, the planks are part of this first section of trail, so you know I was pumped to tramp along those again. 

Beech Mountain; West Ridge and South Ridge

Hiking buddies: Alex and Pheebs

Weather: low 70s, sunny

Mountain: Beech (Acadia National Park)
Elevation: 839ft
Ascent: West Ridge and Beech Mountain Loop
Descent: South Ridge and Valley Trail
Miles of trail: 2.5

Total miles this year: 85.9

I love morning hikes. Nothing gets you more pumped and energized for the day than a nice hike on a sunny, summer morning. Of course, good company helps, too. 

I had mentioned in a previous blog entry on Beech Mountain that I had never hiked the South or West Ridge Trails before. You can read that entry by clicking here. I was encouraged by a friend of mine to give them a shot sometime. Well, that sometime was this morning! 

Phoebe can always tell when I'm getting ready to go out on a hike. It's quite hard to get out the door without her noticing and wanting to tag along. This time around, I just couldn't look into those sweet, puppy dog eyes and tell her "no." Therefore, she had to come. Alex didn't mind; they're new bffs. 

The West Ridge Trail heads straight up to the summit as it overlooks Long Pond. I'm sorry to say that I really don't remember too much about the trail- just that it was steep, I huffed and puffed, and the views overlooking the pond were breathtaking. Alex does a pretty good job distracting me. 

This trail is another fine example of the dedication it took from volunteers to build the trails in Acadia, and the dedication it continues to take to keep the trails well maintained. I can't even begin to fathom the man power, sweat and time that went into cutting, lugging and placing those stone steps. Kudos to all involved! 

We took a nice long break at the top. Pheebs was going nuts with all the hikers around today. Beech Mountain was a popular place to be. 

I love the fire tower on top of Beech. The observation deck offers a spectacular view of the surrounding area. 

It took a little convincing to get Phoebe to climb the metal stairs, but she did it! Although, she wasn't quite sure what to do while up there...

Don't jump!

All tuckered out...

We took a quick snapshot selfie before heading back down the tower, I suppose we had to let others enjoy the opportunity the fire tower provides.

I probably could have stayed at the summit all day long. The weather was gorgeous, sun was shining, people were coming and going. It was so peaceful sitting on top of the world. But, alas, I had to get on down the mountain to go to work. Whyyyyyyyy. 

Fancy cairn

We took the South Ridge Trail down the mountain. Now, this was a nice trail winding through the thick forest, full of open granite faces, stone steps, and (again) wonderful views of Long Pond. 

Fini. 

A beautiful start to my day, in so many ways.

"The Four Peaks"

Hiking buddy: Marina

Weather: high 60s, foggy

Mountains: Bald Peak, Parkman, Gilmore and Sargent (Acadia National Park)
Elevations: 974ft (Bald), 941ft (Parkman), 1,036ft (Gilmore), and 1,373ft (Sargent)
Ascents: Maple Spring, Bald Peak Trail, Parkman Mountain Trail, Grandgent Trail, Maple Spring Trail, Sargent South Ridge Trail
Descents: Bald Peak Trail, Parkman Mountain Trail, Gradgent Trail, Sargent South Ridge Trail, Hadlock Brook Trail, Maple Spring
Miles of trail: 5.4

Total miles this year: 83.4

Guess what? Marina is back from Indiaaaaa. Woot! Woot! And, randomly, the boss gave me a weekday off. That doesn't happen often... So, I ran with it. Or, shall we say, hike? Out of a forecast for the week full of sunshine and warmer temps, Wednesday was looking pretty grim in comparison; rain showers. 

Since Marina is only home for a couple weeks, I gave her the honor of picking the peak to hike. She suggested Sargent, so I suggested we do what I call "The Four Peaks". That would be Bald Peak, Parkman Mountain, Gilmore Mountain, and Sargent Mountain. Four peaks plopped in a little grouping on the way into Northeast Harbor. 

This can be a strenuous hike, but it is a must do in Acadia. 

We parked in the Norumbega Mountain pull-off, crossed the street, and started in on Maple Spring for about 0.2 miles. Just before the carriage road, there will be a trailhead on the left for the Bald Peak Trail. This trail follows a little stream before reaching another carriage trail. At this point, you're above tree line and can catch your first glimpse of the surrounding landscape and waters. 

Well, we couldn't really see through the fog!

There's a pond over there somewhere, I swear. 

Marina shared stories from her trip to India. Travel stories make excellent trail conversation. I love hearing about all of her adventures!

We finally made it to the summit of Bald Peak... I know there is a summit marker up there somewhere...

From here, it's only 0.3 miles to the next summit; Parkman Mountain. Piece of cake. The trail heads down a few hundred feet, quite abruptly, and then quickly gains elevation back to 941 feet. The fog was still rolling in. 

After the slight scramble of about 0.2 miles, you are at the Parkman summit. Again, not much of a view today...

Now, this is where the trail gets super fun... it's time to get back into the forest full of vibrant moss, fiddlehead ferns, wild flowers and spider webs!

From the summit of Parkman to the summit of Gilmore, the trail covers about half a mile. Another loss and gain of around 300 feet in elevation. Not too shabby! A quick snapshot at the summit of Gilmore, and then we continued on our way toward Sargent.

The fog just wasn't going anywhere. 

Here come the fiddlehead ferns!

The trail looks a liiiiittle wet, no? It was a very muddy adventure. Eventually, the trail comes to an end, and there are two options for getting to the summit of Sargent. The quickest, hardest option would be to take the Grandgent Trail. It's a bit of a lung buster. The second option takes a little bit longer, but is also easier; Maple Springs Trail. I had actually never taken the Maple Springs Trail up to the summit before, so we went with that route for this adventure. After all the rain we had had, the trail was certainly living up to its name...

Not too far up the trail we ran into this little guy...

We totally weren't sure if it was real or not. Seriously, I made Marina poke him with a stick! I mean, she did it gently and in the nicest way possible. Sure enough, this guy was alive and real. Onward...

Marina is terrified of ticks... Today's hike was full of narrow, bushy trails; not her favorite kind.

Which way to go? Ha...

Once we had reached the summit, the fog had decided to roll on out and the sky opened up to a beautiful sunshiny day!

To head down back to the car, we took the South Ridge Trail down to the Hadlock Brook Trail, back to Maple Spring and to the main road. Phew! 

Hiking down the South Ridge, you can see the summit of Cedar Swamp in the near distance. I don't think I had ever noticed that peak before. Although, I didn't know Cedar Swamp existed until last year! Whoops. Apparently there is an old plane wreck somewhere over there. Must bushwhack and see!

Snapshots from the Hadlock Brook Trail...

The trail crosses the stream numerous times, which after all the rain was gushing water and roaring up a storm. Thankfully, neither Marina or I fell in. The stream eventually leads to a stunning waterfall with a carriage road bridge just beyond, conveniently called "Waterfall Bridge." 

Standing on Waterfall Bridge

A little under a mile left to go at this point, and you're back to the parking area. What a beautiful day it was to be out in the woods. Heavy rainfall always adds a nice touch to the soundtrack of nature on a hike like this one. I love hearing the rushing water.