Hiking Diary - Acadia (Oct 14/15)
I am lying spreadeagled like a spider woman on a rock unable to move a muscle and ready to scream my head off. No, this was not a dream but a quick hike up the Beehive trail at Acadia National Park on October 14th.
Let me start from the beginning. A couple of us from our Desi Meetup hiking group were traveling to Maine, specifically to Acadia National Park to hike. We had just driven almost 12 hours from New Jersey to Acadia National Park and I thought that we would be stopping at Sand Beach and Thunder Hole to take some quick touristy pics before we went to the Hotel to check in.
But no, our hike lead - Harry mentioned that we would be doing a quick 3 mile hike on a trail called Beehive trail. Now I confess, I had not checked the itinerary for the day but I thought 3 miles is not bad, I can do it. I say that till I cross the Loop Road and look up to see exactly where we are going. You can see people climbing up the mountain and they look like tiny ants! My feeling of doom and gloom intensifies when I see the Warning sign posted at the foot of the mountain. We get started on this trail and it soon starts winding up through sheer cliff faces with a straight down drop. The views are panoramic but your stomach churns all the way up. Harry helped a lot and my traveling partner, Jolly, had to come down and give me a hand twice. Even thought it was evening, the day was still crisp, clear and visibility climbing up was terrific. Acadia's granite mountains make it super difficult to get a a good toehold and the metal rungs going up do get slippery.
Not once, not twice but a million times I gave thanks that I was able to make it to the top of the mountain without getting hurt. One false move and you would either be dead, disabled or maimed for life. The hike coming down from the back of the mountain was super easy. And this is how I got my first taste of Acadia and it's granite mountains.
Harry mentioned that we would be hiking the Precipice Trail the next day and I promised myself to read up about it that night once we checked in. The next day after a quick drive to see the sunrise from Bass Head Lighthouse and a drive up Cadillac Mountain, we all drove to the trailhead at the base of Mt. Champlain. I had decided to forego my hiking pants for running leggings and decided to climb up without a jacket or my backpack (no food or water). Harry ticked me off for that but I remembered the climb up the Beehive trail and did not want a repeat.
Mt. Champlain looks innocuous from far away but when you look up the sheer granite cliff face from the bottom of the parking lot/trailhead, you are almost tempted to walk away. I had told Harry during breakfast that I would probably skip this hike as I did not think I could do it. Jolly told me not to be foolish and to take it easy and slow and she was sure we would be able to ascend.
The Precipice trail is dangerous due to the fact that it is a climb designed to test not only your nerves, but your ability to concentrate and pull yourself on the metal rungs dotted all the way up. People had died after slipping and falling off of this trail. Again, we had a beautiful, clear, crisp and sunny day to thank for this climb and we all started off the ascend through the rocky boulder field. Now this hike is not a hike but a climb where you are actively engaging all your limbs and continuously thinking of where to grab the next rock and toehold. There are a couple of tricky climbs designed right at the base to ensure that only the fit and fear free individuals will continue. Most people turn back if they are unable to figure how to continue.
We keep going and are soon making the vertical ascent with sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean. At every step of the way, the views are majestic but I was glad my cell phone was in Harry's backpack so that I could not take pictures. Whoever designed the trail, made it challenging. The metal rungs and handrails help but are embedded in the granite in such a way that you are always stretching and extending to reach. Not a hike for the fainthearted as it zig zags up the super slippery granite cliff face. The sweat from your hands makes the metal rungs slippery and there were times I just had to keep wiping my hands down on my pants or shirt to get a good grip. People behind you waited quietly and patiently while you climbed ahead of them trying to figure out where to put your foot. Everyone was aware of the need to give you the privacy to do the climb. Some even helped others figure out what to do. There is no turning back on this hike/climb. There is just no way you can climb down the same way you came up.
We reached the top within 2 hours or less and it was only a mile up! The feeling of exhilaration and rush of adrenaline once you swing your leg past the last hurdle was amazing. We all finally sat down and enjoyed this moment which will be etched in our hearts and minds for a long long time. The views were fantastic and Acadia I will not forget these two climbs. These memories will be taken out of my memory chest and enjoyed as you would a precious heirloom for years to come.
A big thanks to Harry, Jolly, Charu, Chitra and Aravind for making this trip interesting.
Inspired to write and blog by - Makarand Utpat.
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