We were so high

The trail guide labeled the hike as “strenuous.”

View from Acadia's South Bubble

 

 

 

Not that the description was inaccurate, but it certainly wasn’t complete. Other words, such as “perilous” or “potentially fatal,” might have been good to include.

 

Kim (wife) and I were climbing the Beehive trail in Acadia National Park, when we reached a certain point that separates the wannabe hikers from the truly adventurous. The narrow ledge of rock we had been hiking disappeared, temporarily. And in its place was a smooth, slippery (and somewhat downward sloping) rod iron step that could not have been much more than 1 foot in width. The drop-off to the right was sheer. The rock wall to the left was solid, plain and far too smooth to give any meaningful grip to hikers passing over the manmade bridge. Wide gaps between the iron prongs of the step allowed us to look straight down at the nasty fall awaiting the unlucky hikers.

 

What to do?

 

These are the times when you really evaluate your gear. And I’m not talking about your hiking boots or rock climbing harness. Moments like these make me happy for making the right call on which camera to pack. I have a Canon 1D, which I love. But it’s not the sort of thing I want strapped around my neck when I’m on a trail that requires all available hands, feet and teeth for survival. I really don’t want to worry about my camera swinging wildly into a granite mountain face while I’m trying to save my own ass. Plus, trails like the Beehive have a way of making you want to shed all nonessential weight and/or bulk.

 

For days like this, I’m quite happy to make do with the iPhone’s camera.

 

Of course, not every trail was as demanding as the Beehive. There was the (car) trip to the top of Cadillac Mountain…

 

View from Cadillac Mountain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…the walk through one of the park’s many carriage trails…

 

Carriage trail bridge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…the amazing Gorham Mountain hike…

 

Part of the Cadillac Cliffs, off the Gorham Mountain trail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some serious sunscreen atop Gorham Mountain (with Cadillac Mountain in the back).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…the walk around Jordan Pond…

 

Jordan Pond

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…and the short but quickly ascending trail up South Bubble.

 

Another trail, another victory!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From South Bubble

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And luckily we conquered the Beehive, too, for views like this:

 

Looking down on Sand Beach from the Beehive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seen from narrow ledges like this:

 

And this was an easy section of the trail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To see larger versions of these and other Acadia shots, head over here, and look for the “shooting from the hip and iPhone” gallery.

The Beehive, viewed from a safer vantage point