Oct 18-19, 2012 (Thu-Fri).
I was checking the weather for Bar Harbor, ME for the last few weeks - but it was always raining. Finally, the weather cooperated for this week and took the opportunity.
Left Thu 18th early morning (6:30ish) for the 300+mile journey. Thanks to Arpita (who pushed me to leave early) I coasted without getting stuck in traffic on I495 corridor. I made good time and reached Acadia around Noon. At the entrance station, I put the annual park pass to good use (free entry).
I realized that my campground (Blackwoods campground) is quite far from the Hulls Cove entrance and I have to pass through Bar Harbor to reach the campground. So, decided to have lunch and proceed. So, far all my gastronomical experiences in Bar Harbor have been great (i.e. during last visit to Bar Harbor, ME). This didn't change and I had great omelet -- esp. the biscuit and strawberry cream was awesome!!
Finally, set up the tent and decided to knock out the big hike - south ride trail to Cadillac Mountain mainly because this trail can be accessed directly from campground. Although the trail is listed as 7miles (RT) from Route 3, the trail from campground adds between 1.5 to 2miles (RT) more. I got quite a late start (relatively) around 2:15 pm. The initial part of the hike is through woods (with great fall colors) and about halfway up the trail, there are beautiful views of Atlantic. The bonus is the fall colors - I wasn't expecting fall colors as it is supposed to be past peak for fall colors. The hike itself is quite gentle and had plenty of opportunities to take pics. Summit was busy (as you can drive up to the summit), enjoyed some more views, got pics - including pic of my campground all the way from summit (tiny spec). The way down was quite tiring and by the time I reached Route 3 trailhead it was getting dark. I wished I started the hike from this point - I rushed back to the campground as night was approaching rapidly. Finally reached the camp and took a pic of tent before it got too dark. To close out the day - went into town, gobbled up a pizza and used paid shower (outside the park) and crashed out.
My initial plans were to leave on Sat. early morning, but decided to leave Fri. afternoon itself as it was supposed to rain Fri. night and also there was no point in staying over and leaving early morning on Saturday. For Day 2, I was ambivalent about hiking Precipice trail - online videos of which are quite hair-raising. Got up quite early to see sunrise from Cadillac mountain, but realized that the summit road to CM is quite a ways off (due to one way in the park) -- so enjoyed the sunrise from Park Loop road. The Park Loop road itself is quite great early in the morning (saw deer, buck etc.).
I thought of hiking Beehive trail first to see how I like it and then proceed to Precipice trail (as Beehive is considered a good intro to Precipice) - but due to one way on park loop, I missed the trailhead for Beehive. Before taking one doing one more loop of Park road, decided to have breakfast and had great blueberry pancakes.
After breakfast, I decided to ditch the Beehive and tackle Precipice directly. Luckily, I met Chris (from Seattle) at the trailhead. I am so glad - because the precipice trail is difficult to tackle alone. Also, it was quite overcast and the trail was quite wet. This was a real test of my hiking shoes and I realized that they don't have good grip. There were places where a slip would have sent you over the cliff - however, made it all the way up. The top of the Champlain mtn was in clouds and didn't provide the views the trail is known for -- took the easy way down to parking lot.
I had time for one more hike and decided to go to the west side of park and hike Acadia Mtn - as it is provides views of Somes sound (supposedly, the only fjord on east coast). The hike was not that impressive as till the top of Acadia Mtn., there are no views and the hike is through woods. Roughed up my elbow as I took a fall on a steep section of granite (careless + issue of shoes). Eventually reached the Acadia Mtn and enjoyed the views and had uneventful way back to parking lot.
Around 1pm Friday, decided to head back home - had fast food in Waterville, ME and reached home after 7pm.
Pics:
Pics from Chris (Acadia NP)
Pics from Acadia NP
I was checking the weather for Bar Harbor, ME for the last few weeks - but it was always raining. Finally, the weather cooperated for this week and took the opportunity.
Left Thu 18th early morning (6:30ish) for the 300+mile journey. Thanks to Arpita (who pushed me to leave early) I coasted without getting stuck in traffic on I495 corridor. I made good time and reached Acadia around Noon. At the entrance station, I put the annual park pass to good use (free entry).
I realized that my campground (Blackwoods campground) is quite far from the Hulls Cove entrance and I have to pass through Bar Harbor to reach the campground. So, decided to have lunch and proceed. So, far all my gastronomical experiences in Bar Harbor have been great (i.e. during last visit to Bar Harbor, ME). This didn't change and I had great omelet -- esp. the biscuit and strawberry cream was awesome!!
Finally, set up the tent and decided to knock out the big hike - south ride trail to Cadillac Mountain mainly because this trail can be accessed directly from campground. Although the trail is listed as 7miles (RT) from Route 3, the trail from campground adds between 1.5 to 2miles (RT) more. I got quite a late start (relatively) around 2:15 pm. The initial part of the hike is through woods (with great fall colors) and about halfway up the trail, there are beautiful views of Atlantic. The bonus is the fall colors - I wasn't expecting fall colors as it is supposed to be past peak for fall colors. The hike itself is quite gentle and had plenty of opportunities to take pics. Summit was busy (as you can drive up to the summit), enjoyed some more views, got pics - including pic of my campground all the way from summit (tiny spec). The way down was quite tiring and by the time I reached Route 3 trailhead it was getting dark. I wished I started the hike from this point - I rushed back to the campground as night was approaching rapidly. Finally reached the camp and took a pic of tent before it got too dark. To close out the day - went into town, gobbled up a pizza and used paid shower (outside the park) and crashed out.
My initial plans were to leave on Sat. early morning, but decided to leave Fri. afternoon itself as it was supposed to rain Fri. night and also there was no point in staying over and leaving early morning on Saturday. For Day 2, I was ambivalent about hiking Precipice trail - online videos of which are quite hair-raising. Got up quite early to see sunrise from Cadillac mountain, but realized that the summit road to CM is quite a ways off (due to one way in the park) -- so enjoyed the sunrise from Park Loop road. The Park Loop road itself is quite great early in the morning (saw deer, buck etc.).
I thought of hiking Beehive trail first to see how I like it and then proceed to Precipice trail (as Beehive is considered a good intro to Precipice) - but due to one way on park loop, I missed the trailhead for Beehive. Before taking one doing one more loop of Park road, decided to have breakfast and had great blueberry pancakes.
After breakfast, I decided to ditch the Beehive and tackle Precipice directly. Luckily, I met Chris (from Seattle) at the trailhead. I am so glad - because the precipice trail is difficult to tackle alone. Also, it was quite overcast and the trail was quite wet. This was a real test of my hiking shoes and I realized that they don't have good grip. There were places where a slip would have sent you over the cliff - however, made it all the way up. The top of the Champlain mtn was in clouds and didn't provide the views the trail is known for -- took the easy way down to parking lot.
I had time for one more hike and decided to go to the west side of park and hike Acadia Mtn - as it is provides views of Somes sound (supposedly, the only fjord on east coast). The hike was not that impressive as till the top of Acadia Mtn., there are no views and the hike is through woods. Roughed up my elbow as I took a fall on a steep section of granite (careless + issue of shoes). Eventually reached the Acadia Mtn and enjoyed the views and had uneventful way back to parking lot.
Around 1pm Friday, decided to head back home - had fast food in Waterville, ME and reached home after 7pm.
Pics:
Pics from Chris (Acadia NP)
Pics from Acadia NP
