Posted: 10/5/2009 2:36:17 PM EDT
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I was going to combine pics of this climb with another in northern Maine, but it would just be too many pics. Stay tuned for that one if you're interested I guess, the pics are cool, much better than these IMO.
Anyhow, here's the scoop. Had a day off from work, September 21 as I recall. Weather was fair, hopped on the bike and rode to Acadia National Park. I had intended to climb this trail last Spring, but had forgotten Peregrine falcons nest there till Mid-August and the trail is closed until they've done their thing. Here's a link describing the trail. http://www.acadiamagic.com/precipice-trail.htm This is the most challenging and well known hiking trail in Acadia National Park with an exposed and almost vertical 1,000 foot climb up the east face of Champlain Mountain. The trail is only recommended for physically fit and experienced hikers who have no fear of heights. The Precipice parking area is at the base of the Precipice cliff on the east side of Mount Desert Island about 1 mile north of the Schooner Head entrance fee station on the Park Loop Road. We suggest that you do not hike this trail alone and that you verify weather conditions before the climb.
The hiking trail has many rungs and ladders along the trail's length and is approximately 1.6 mile/2.6 km round trip. It can be closed late spring through mid-August due to the returning and endangered peregrine falcons so check with the National Park Service on this. Often, during this time, (Monday through Friday) there will be a Park naturalist at the Precipice parking area leading discussions and allowing people to view the falcons through a telescope. I enjoyed it tremendously, it was a pretty unique climb. 
twice, had to crawl through and under boulders 
ALL kinds of iron rungs and ladders, pretty cool implements 
side trail, closed 
The "stairs" like this are pretty sweet 
paging VaCaver. We don't have much for caves around here, I've climbed around through "slab caves" in Western Maine, very cool, but not exactly cavernous. 
As I'm typing this, I'm realizing I uploaded more pics of the climb than the view. Dumbass 
bwahahaha I made it. 
the critters were just destroying pine cones all over the mountain. Little hoarders.  Winter is coming 
I'll create a thread with pics from Big Spencer Mountain soon. Very cool mountain, very different than this one. Check ya later. |
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Quoted:
Very nice pics. Have you been through Mahoosuc Notch? I don't believe so. Not entirely sure actually. I had an awesome science teacher that took a class of us all through Grafton Notch S.P. about 15 years ago, and we climbed Old Speck, went through a whole bunch of caves, but I haven't hiked in that specific area too much since. Just short jaunts when I'm passing through there on the motorcycle. I want to pretty bad now though. For a long time I've wanted to hike the length of the Appalacian Trail, but I've come to accept that it's not a very feasable scenario for me financially. My new goal, occurred to me earlier this year, is to section hike the length of the AT in Maine, and maybe go from there. |
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Nice...........very nice.
That looks fun as hell. I bet right about now , and in the coming couple weeks , the views over the countryside with the changing foliage will be priceless. 
Dianne (GS67) just sent me some foliage pics she took over the weekend and its getting really pretty up there...Im homesick. 
This is the best time of the year to be in Northern New England. |
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Quoted:
Nice...........very nice. That looks fun as hell. I bet right about now , and in the coming couple weeks , the views over the countryside with the changing foliage will be priceless.
Dianne (GS67) just sent me some foliage pics she took over the weekend and its getting really pretty up there...Im homesick.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y214/ultramagbrion/Foliage2.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y214/ultramagbrion/Foliage10.jpg This is the best time of the year to be in Northern New England. It is gorgeous. http://www.maine.gov/doc/foliage/report/index.shtml Sometimes I'll just be driving down the road or something of that nature and it'll hit you like a brick wall how pretty a treeline across a field is, or the view across a pond. The simple things. |
Nope, nuh uh.
