Hanging Steps and Tilting Rock

I know my blogging came to an abrupt halt a number of months ago. Don't worry, even though my posts stopped- my hiking did not! I completed my 2014 goal of 200 miles, ending the year with a total of 258 miles.

For 2015, my goal is to hike 300 miles of trails and summits. I think I can manage that... I only have 94 more miles to go!

But, now on to the main reason for this post...

An adventuring buddy of mine took me on my first abandoned trail adventure today, and I have to say, I'm quite hooked.

Just sitting here at my computer with a world of knowledge at my typing finger tips accessible through the internet, I'm amazed by the resources that are available for old trails and wonders in Acadia National Park. Back in the early 1900s, the park didn't have the amount of funding it needed to keep all the trails maintained and groomed. Many trails were... abandoned... and left for nature to devour in its course.

There are The Great Caves of Champain, the caves of Day, Green Mountain Trail (near South Ridge), the old cog trail of Cadillac (Green Mountain), Dorr's bike path for his wife around Beaver Pond, The Bear's Den, Tilting Rock, Hanging Steps, the list goes on!

I've been given an old map of the East side of Mount Desert Island, from 1913, that shows all the original trail and peak names. After today, I think I'm going to need to study the routes and do some much needed exploring.

Here are some shots and proof:

"The Hanging Steps"

I made a promise that I wouldn't give away this little gem, but a little googling can tell you that this spot is along the East face of Champlain Mountain, starting just after the Precipice Trail off the Park Loop Road. You do some serious bouldering up and along a sheer rock wall. From the top of the staircase, you can see that the trail heads over in the direction of the Precipice, where exactly along that trail it connects, I'm not sure. I will have to go back and find out! For today, the trail was quite wet and slippery, so we turned around after playing around on the steps.

Beyond the stairs...

"Tilting Rock"

I'm going to give you the full disclosure on this one. Driving towards Seal Harbor, just before the Day Mountain parking lot, is a small dirt pull-off on the right. You'll find a few large chunks of granite in a semicircle, discouraging hikers from adventuring down the hidden path. Go for it!

The Tilting Rock is tucked under The Cleft of Day Mountain. In fact, while hiking along the trail, you will see an opening up on the left and the familiar granite stones marking the edge of the carriage trail.

Once you've started up the trail off of the road, keep your eye out to the right for a break off from the trail. You'll walk/bushwhack a few minutes and then, eventually, you will start noticing old cairns, and even a rusted shovel head, marking the way. Good luck!

Miles Update

Many hikes recently, not enough time to post accounts for them! Also, I've kind of gotten in the habit of not taking as many pictures while hiking... What good is a blog about the hikes on MDI without photos to back up the words, right?

Anyway, this girl has accumulated 165 miles thus far. Not too long until I hit the goal; 200 miles.

I'll be participating in a hike-a-thon fundraiser in October to help raise money for the Acadia Family Center. We are asked to see how many hikes we can get in during the 10 day period the fundraiser runs for, and we are to get support from our friends and family while we do so. Sounds pretty sweet! I've made a personal goal of hiking 30 miles for the fundraiser, that will put me in pretty close to the 200 mile mark. I think I'll be surpassing my year goal!

Here's the website for Hike for Mike: click here

I've hiked the Precipice Trail a couple times since I last posted, a hike up The Giant Slide of Sargent, as well as a solo hike up Beehive and Gorham. Arnie and Jamie helped me hike the last three peaks I needed to check off the list (Eliot, Flying, and Kebo); I've now hiked every peak on the island at least once this year! That's always a goal of mine with each new hiking season.

So, here are some photos for you... Stay tuned for more; I'll be taking a friend on the Precipice Trail tomorrow morning, and possibly going on my first night hike of the season tomorrow night!

Precipice

Gorham Mountain, looking toward Sand Beach

Gorham Mountain

Giant Slide of Sargent Mountain

This pup loves the water!

Water break

Sargent

We're now entering my favorite time of year for hiking on the island... FALL. Super pumped for some nice weather, fall colors, and quieter trails. Happy Hiking!

Pemetic and The Triad

Hiking Buddies: Arnie, Jamie, Kari, David, and Tarryn

Weather: Mid 60s, evening hike

Mountains: Pemetic and The Triad (Acadia National Park)
Elevation: 1,248ft (Pemetic), and 698ft (Triad)
Ascent: South Ridge Trail (Pemetic) and Triad Trail
Descent: South Ridge and East Cliffs (Pemetic) and Hunters Brook Trail (Triad)
Miles of trail: 4.0

Total miles this year: 143.9

Just over 50 more miles to go! 

Arnie is trying to cover as many trails on the island as he can before he leaves the end of August for school... He's done pretty well this summer. Sunday evening we set out with a group of friends, old and new, to cover a section of trails Arnie hadn't yet hiked; South Ridge and East Cliffs of Pemetic Mountain and The Triad.  

I wish I had taken more photos, but I was enjoying the company and the workout too much and didn't take my camera out to snap away at the trails. We did have a photo shoot session at the summit... where I might have had a little accident. Here are the photos first, I'll tell the story after...

See that fabulous jumping shot above? Yup. Jamie asked beforehand how we were going to capture this image. I explained and demonstrated; I'll count to three and then we all jump like this... Can you guess what happened next? This girl did not land correctly. Thank goodness the summit sign was below me and I was able to grab onto it and stabilize my body. I banged my legs up pretty badly though... no more hiking for me for the week. Was it worth the shot? I'm not sure! We'll see how well they heal while I rest and stay off the peaks. That is going to be very hard to do... 

Huguenot and Champlain

Hiking buddy: Myself!

Weather: High 60s 

Mountain: Huguenot Head and Champlain (Acadia National Park)
Elevation: 731ft (Huguenot), and 1,058ft (Champlain)
Ascent: Beachcroft Trail
Descent: Beachcroft Trail
Miles of trail: 2.4

Total miles this year: 139.9

... Also did a solo hike up South Ridge of Cadillac this past Friday, that added 7.1 miles to the total! Lots of people out on the trails today. Enjoyed a run down the mountain, it felt quite freeing. 

South Ridge of Cadillac

Thursday, I did a solo hike up Huguenot Head and Champlain via the Beachcroft Trail. If you had asked me earlier this year, or even last year, whether or not I liked this trail, I would have answered with a definite "no." Beachcroft is another one of those trails that I have dubbed a "butt-buster." Well, I guess with all the hiking and biking I have done this summer, I must be in better shape, because this trail was a piece of cake for me. I actually enjoyed it! 

I did some Google research and discovered that there are approximately 1,500 chunks of granite that make up the numerous steps of the stairs and flat stone pathways along the switchbacks en route to Huguenot Head and Champlain... holy cow. 

Huguenot is a "little" nub just off the west shoulder of Champlain. For most of the trail, about half a mile to the top of Huguenot, you have open views. It's actually quite stunning, even on a foggy day such as it was during this hike (at least for the way up). We had just had a couple days of hard rain, the trail was a little wet!

The switchbacks lead to the ledges that eventually wind around toward the south side of the Huguenot "dome", and then the trail dips down into the woods before ascending towards the summit of Champlain. 

Looking toward the north end of the Island...

Looking toward the south side of the Island...

After Beachcroft Trail skirts the summit of Huguenot, and dips down into the woods for a short distance, you are quite quickly welcomed by the west face of Champlain; steep, open granite faces. The amazing views are always a good excuse to take a break from the scramble, turn around and look at the beauty to be seen. 

Looking back at Huguenot Head

When I had reached the summit, the ocean was covered in a blanket of fog. With not much to see, I didn't waste anytime taking in the sights. I found my little quiet spot, hunkered down, and started writing a letter to a dear friend living on the west coast. 

There was a moment when I happened to look up after a long period of time, and boy, did everything look different! The fog was gone and the water was a beautiful blue-green. 

I finished writing my letter and started heading down the same trail. Stopped and snapped a few photos along the way...

What a beautiful afternoon it turned out to be... you know, I'm getting quite used to these solo hikes. The solitude, time to reflect and be quiet; it's quite wonderful!

Happy Hiking!

Busy week of hiking...

Ok, so... summertime is busy, and there is no way I can recap all the hikes I've been on these past couple weeks.

But, here is the total miles of trails to date: 130.4

And, the peaks I have recently accomplished: Penobscot, Sargent, Huguenot, St. Sauveur, Valley Peak, Acadia, and Cadillac. Phew.

And... some photos!

Jordan Cliffs

Jordan Cliffs, view of Jordan Pond, The Bubbles, and Pemetic Mountain

Sargent summit

Valley Cove Trail... Amazing!

Looking toward Acadia Mountain

Waterfall by Acadia Mountain

Reading on top of Acadia Mountain... such the life!

Sunrise hike up Cadillac, the moon was HUGE and bright!

... and there you have it, this girl has been busy. Let's throw in a 20 mile bike ride around the Park Loop Road. That has been on my bucket list for years! This girl is checking things off her list left and right.