Lynn Amber - Travel & Photography
sharing my thoughts through words and images
Thursday Thrills: Acadia
I’ve been watching these Pink Lady’s Slippers for a couple of weeks anxiously waiting for the blooms to appear. This morning I hiked up to my favorite patch of orchids in anticipation of finally being rewarded with their delicate flowers. I was not disappointed! Yesterday’s rain added to their allure by depositing tiny drops of water on the flowers and petals.
Wednesday Walkabouts: Acadia
It’s time to start my hiking series and I’ll be posting either on Tuesday’s or Wednesday’s – titled Tuesday Treks or Wednesday Walkabouts!! Today was a bright welcome relief after torrential rains yesterday dampened many a spirit including mine. I had planned on hiking the Gorge Path this week since it is one of the trails that I never experienced last year. Mapping out my way, I left myself open for deciding on a longer or shorter route part way through the trek. I was not sure I would be up for a long hike in the afternoon since I had spent the morning tromping around Little Long Pond taking photographs for a volunteer opportunity I signed up for this summer.
I parked at the Sieur de Monts parking lot (I got the one remaining parking spot and it’s only mid-June!) and started up the Jesup Path veering off onto the Hemlock Trail. My route would take me up to Dorr Mountain via the Gorge Path. This hike has it all – deep evergreen forest habitat, rocky stepping-stones trail along a raging stream in the gorge, the wide-open space of the Dorr Mt. summit and the cool, tranquil Maple/Oak/Beech forest along the south-eastern side of the mountain.
The climb up the Gorge Path was incredible – steep but manageable. The 1-mile long path is a marvel of trail engineering with stepping stone construction the entire length – including multiple stream crossings. The water was running high due to the previous day’s rain so some of the trail was actually part of the stream!! Glad I wore my water-proof Keen’s on this hike!
There were many small waterfalls along the way. I would have liked to linger at some of the more picturesque spots but the mosquitoes were murderous and out for blood so I had to keep moving. The Gorge Path is one a many paths that have memorials embedded in stone to commemorate early supporters of the trail system in Acadia. This trail is endowed by friends of Lilian Endicott Francklyn.
A short, steep cliff trail veers off of the Gorge Trail to ascend to the summit of Dorr Mountain. I had to fold up my hiking poles and stash them in my day-pack for this .3 mile scramble. The views on this rocky climb looking over towards Cadillac were magnificent. Once I reached Dorr summit, I relaxed and rested from the steep climb and enjoyed the solitude. I was alone at the summit and got a kick out of looking over at the throngs of people on top of Cadillac!! At the summit, I decided I had the energy to take the longer loop option back to Sieur de Monts via the Dorr South Ridge Trail, the Canon Brook Trail and the Kane Path. I’m glad I did because the descent was simply beautiful!
Descending Dorr via the south ridge is one of my favorite trails in the park. The views towards Otter Cove, Gorham Mountain, the Beehive and Champlain are spectacular. I love the pitch pine and blueberry bush habitat that dominates this ecosystem and noticed the huckleberry blooming along with the blueberry plants.
The final stretch of the loop takes me along the Tarn via the Kane Path. This is a rock scramble along a newly restored stepping-stone trail on the west side of the Tarn. As you leave the Tarn, the trail merges with the Jesup Path and another memorial plaque is found honoring Morris K and Maria De Witt Jesup.
The 5.5 mile loop took me about 3 hours to complete – with time out for photographs and a quick snack on Dorr Mountain. I highly recommend experiencing the Gorge Path – it was fun and magical especially after a day of rain!!
Photo Challenge: Acadia: May 29
Asticou Azalea Garden is one of the public gardens managed by the Land and Garden Preserve. As the name indicates, it is mostly centered around azalea and rhododendron plantings. There are a number of other unique specimen plants as well including a very nice Acer griseum, an aged Cercidiphyllum japonicum and a beautiful Stewart pseudocamllia. The Royal Azalea’s were all in full bloom today and with the rainy, cold, cloudy weather it was a great photographic subject.
Photo Challenge: Acadia: May 28
The walk around Witch Hole Pond on the carriage road was full of surprises today. The bog-friendly Rhododendron canadense was in full bloom all around the loop and absolutely wins the prize for outstanding bloom of the day!
We also saw many, many painted turtles basking in the sun in the marshy water, watched a black-and-white warbler making the rounds in a birch tree, and observed two bald eagles soaring high in the sky above us.
Other blooming plants included blueberries, Leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata) and Hobblebush Viburnum. A good day overall!!
Photo Challenge: Acadia: May 27
In search of Cypripedium acaule – Pink Lady’s Slipper! This evening, I returned to a patch of native orchids I had discovered last year and was excited to see that there are some emerging plants and they will soon be in bloom! Can’t wait for the show!! Stay tuned – I plan on getting some shots when in flower 🙂
Photo Challenge: Acadia: May 25
I promise this is the last Moosewood Maple photograph for at least a month! I have just really enjoyed watching this native tree wake up this spring and put forth it’s unique leaves and flowers. Due to the crowds that have descended upon Acadia this holiday weekend, I was not enthusiastic about venturing out on the roads in the park after work. So, I just wandered close to home and that was enough for me!
Photo Challenge: Acadia: May 22
The leaves are really popping out on Mount Desert Island now! Today, I hiked up to The Triad via the Day Mountain, Triad and Hunter’s Brook Trails. The forest is definitely coming to life now. The bright green growth of the tender young leaves is refreshing and welcome!
Just below the summit of the East Triad is a memorial plaque naming the trail as The Van Santvoord Trail. A little history is in order here. John V. Van Santvoord was a summer resident of Seal Harbor and a leading member of the Path Committee for the Seal Harbor Village Improvement Society. In 1912, he laid out the trail leading up to The Triad from a starting point off the old Wildwood Farm Road (near the present day Wildwood Stables). Construction was started on the trail in 1916, three years after Van Santvoord passed away from a heart attack. He never walked the trail that was named in his honor. Eventually, the original trail disappeared and parts of it became incorporated into the trails that are used today – the Triad Trail and the Hunter’s Brook Trail. Throughout the park, there are trail memorials to those who had the foresight long ago to create an enduring place for all to visit and enjoy. I love happening upon these memorial plaques!
Heard and got a visual on another Yellow-rumped Warbler near the top of Day Mountain. I think I have this one committed to memory now! I am making an effort to carry my binoculars around my neck (along with my camera) – instead of it’s usual resting place inside the daypack and inaccessible when most needed!
Photo Challenge: Acadia: May 21
Enchanting forest
With cascading rock gardens
Of soft moss and ferns
~ Lynn Thomas Amber
That pretty much describes the Valley Trail that leads from the Beech Mountain parking lot and defines the first leg of a clockwise loop hike up and over Beech Mountain. I love this mile-long hike along Valley Trail through large moss and fern- covered rocks and cliff faces. I feel like I’m walking through an enchanted forest – a modern day Forest of Fangorn and would not be surprised to hear the Ents – shepherds of the forest – start talking to me! I expected fairy-like creatures to emerge at any moment from behind the rocks to guide me along the path! 🙂
It was windy at the summit of Beech Mountain. And, in the distance, localized rain clouds were visible. I did not linger long at the top – and it was a very gusty descent down the ridge trail to the parking lot. The views of Long Pond were just as magnificent as ever – wind and all.
Photo Challenge: Acadia: May 20
The Jesup Path in Acadia National Park traverses through a unique ecosystem – incorporating forest, wetland and meadow habitats all in one small area. Much of the path is comprised of hemlock and birch forest and a short section includes a boardwalk through the wetland area. I strolled along the boardwalk late afternoon – looking for birds and trying to capture my “photo of the day.”
It’s a great birding destination. Last year I often observed Barred Owls in the early evening. Today, I was able to spot some downy woodpeckers, a magnolia warbler and an oven bird. I’m hoping to improve my birding skills this summer – off to a good start! 🙂
More pictures of the Jesup Path:
Photo Challenge: Acadia: May 19
Since ancient times, people have bestowed names on each full moon of the year. Different cultures had unique labels for the full moons – usually designated by characteristics of the particular month in which each occurs. The descriptive tags often refer to the tasks carried out by those who lived off the land including – planting of crops, important flowering/fruiting plants, or harvest time. May’s full moon is called the “Flower Moon” as a tribute to all the flowering plants that we enjoy during this month. You remember that age old saying – “April showers bring May flowers.” I read where this nomenclature may have been sparked by all the lupines that bloom during this month in North America. Well, they are not yet blooming here in Downeast Maine although their leaves are stretching skyward.
While perusing the internet, I was confused when I saw reference to this moon as the “Blue Moon.” Isn’t that when there are two full moons within one month. And, this had not occurred in the month of May. Time to do some research. It turns out that when there are 4 full moons within a “season” – the third one is called a “blue moon.” Hence, the reason why there have been so many references to this month’s moon as the “Blue Moon.” Personally, I prefer “Flower Moon.” 🙂
Lynn Amber - Travel & Photography 