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!

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!

Champlain; The Precipice!

Hiking buddy: Arnie

Weather: mid 70s 

Mountain: Champlain (Acadia National Park)
Elevation: 1,058ft
Ascent: Precipice Trail
Descent: North Ridge Trail and Orange and Black Trail
Miles of trail: 2.4

Total miles this year: 114.6

I wasn't in the best of moods this past Friday morning. But, let me tell you what brightened my morning rather quickly; The Acadia National Park Facebook page had posted a status saying that ALL trails are now OPEN. That means... The Precipice Trail is free to climb! Now that put a smile on this girl's face. 

The Precipice was a goal of mine a couple years ago; coming from a girl who is quite terrified of heights, this was a big goal that I didn't actually accomplish until last Fall. After that first experience on the trail, I was hooked and in love. The thrill, the views, the diversity and intensity... make this trail an absolute must for any avid hiker finding themselves in Acadia and wondering what trail to possibly do. Look no further than the Precipice. Seriously.

Too bad I had to deal with a flat tire before heading out on my adventure with Arnie (who at the time still thought we were hiking Cadillac; the original plan). Dealing with that little hiccup made this hike even more of a necessity.

I was soon filled with the determination to take the Precipice by storm... and drag Arnie along with me. He might have been a little hesitant at first when the idea was first "suggested", but he agreed nonetheless. 

The Precipice Trail is nestled along the east face of Champlain Mountain. With an elevation gain of 1,000 feet, the trail is almost nearly vertical and very well exposed. Now, there are definitely some areas on the trail that are not for the faint of heart. There will be plenty of iron rungs and ladders, cliff hanging views, tight squeezes, narrow ledges, and overall exhilarating climbing obstacles.

For the first day of the trail being open to hikers, there were quite a few people already "in the loop" about the good news. The parking lot was packed! I was worried that the trail would be rather congested, thankfully, it was not. We didn't even cross paths with hikers trying to hike down the trail. FYI, it's not a good idea, and can actually become quite dangerous in places; that's when accidents happen. 

I know, that I know, that there are many words I could use to describe my favorite trail to you, the reader (yes, I have officially dubbed The Precipice as my #1 favorite hike in Acadia), but I've decided to let my photos take you on the hike, enjoy...

The first glimpse of iron!

And the first glimpse of the cliffs... intimidating!

Short boulder field

View from the top of the boulder field

The first exposed cliff!

Don't look down...

The last challenge of the trail...

We made it!

The blueberries were HUGE.

Proud of his accomplishment...

The view was much more clear today!

 So, there you have it; The Precipice Trail from a lens.

What amazed me on this attempt, was that there was a very tiny little dude hiking the trail with his father. We're talking no older than 6 or 7 years. And he had no fear in his eyes. I watched him hike a stretch with determination and then casually take a seat and say to his father, "it's time for a little break." They would rest a moment and then the boy would get up bound and determined once again and attack another stretch of trail. I wish I had that amount of bravery and guts when I was younger. Truly, the little man took me by surprise. And he was really rather short! I wonder how much the father had to lift and boost the little guy... 

After a quick look around at the summit, and a snack of plantain chips from Ecuador (thanks, Arnie!) we headed down the North Ridge Trail. We turned onto the Orange and Black Trail and took that all the way down to the Park Loop Rd. After a short walk along the road, we made it back to the car, and the hike was done. Absolutely perfect. 

There might have been a discussion about possibly biking the entire Park Loop Road this coming Friday. Stay tuned!