♥Gorham mountain trail to the Bowl Acadia NP

Howdee all,

♥

Our last full day in Acadia NP :(

We started the morning bright and early with a ranger led birding program.

Black throated Blue, Chestnut sided warblers, Common Yellowthroat, Hermit and Wood thrush, Cedar Waxwings, Crows, Peregrine Falcon and more seen and heard that morning.

 

 

Jeff and Samarrah were tired after the early bird walk so we went back to camp so they could nap.

We were all excited about the first family..the Obamas being in Bar Harbor.

We thought there might be a possibility of seeing them, but we  didn't go out to pursue them.

If we had we may have seen them.

Instead we decided to hike Gorham Mountain, a hike that Jeff and I have done several times,usually in the fall. We prefer going to the island then..much quieter.

 

Gorham Mountain

Difficulty-easy-moderate

Miles- 3 mile round-trip

 

 

 

This is not a difficult trail. You will be hiking uphill for most of the hike..but the elevation at the summit is only 525 feet.

There are many ways to get to the summit.

We took the trail from the Gorham Mountain parking lot, a bit past Thunder hole.

Rocks, Rocks and more Rocks

The trail starts out on slabs of rocks…

    The trail lined with Conifers and blueberry.

If you visit in July and August, you have the extra bonus of ripe Maine blueberries.

This is for you sicksta Dell

More rocks than you can fit in your yard.

  

“…..a plaque honoring Waldron Bates - Pathmaker. He was the first to utilize stone stairways and iron rung ladders in the trails to help hikers traverse cliffs, talus slopes (the sloped mass of rocks at the base of a cliff), and other steep areas.”

   More rocky uphill

A view of fog starting to come in.

   Follow the blue blazes..

   I always enjoy this trail..

Not very difficult

  Stone steps…

Thanks Walden Bates..

Oh..are we there yet?

Jeff and Samarah wait..I am a much slower hiker  This is Gorham Mountain's false summit where you will have an open view of Otter Cliff, Otter Point, Baker Island, and the Cranberry Island.When its not so foggy..

the fog was just starting to roll in at about 4pm.    We continue to the summit Still more uphill… Follow the Cairns. Which cairn do you like?I liked them all.. 

So you are forced to look at them.. close your eyes or speed thru this part…  I am putting them all here…ok..you need a cairn break..

how about some nice paving stones.. Or boulders to follow..  Or..

More Cairns..  Yep..not at the top yet..

follow the Cairns..   I know what you are going to say..

OH NO..NOT MORE CAIRNS! Yep..turn the page if you don't want to see them :):)

I personally think they are lovely!

  The fog getting thicker.. And guess what…

Summit! We are all hungry. Luckily we packed Peanut butter and Jelly sandwiches. This little fella smelled them and decided to wait until we were done.We didn't feed it, but it still looked around after we left. It found a few granola bar crumbs.       OH NO..

oh yes…Cairn..

We take trail toward the Beehive trail. Toward the Bowl

This time we walk downhill… Past large slabs of rock.. Sorry Sickstas..I couldn't carry these back for you. This looked like wild cranberry to me..but, I am used to it growing in a bog.

This was a wet area..but not a bog. Growing along side this were theses huge blueberries..much larger than most found on the trail.  This area is very damp..mushrooms growing out of moss.  We walk along a watery path. Tiny red mushrooms..To the pond..at the Bowl.

The pond was getting fogged in as well.  We followed the trail part way around the lake. We had distant views of a Beaver..taking a freshly cut log to its home.We saw small beetles..

Anyone know who this is? It was time to head back.. It was getting late.. We had more Cairns to follow..Rocks to pass.. Boulders to look at… Did I say more cairns?We hiked up.. Past more of these Rock thingys… And trees coming out of rocks..

And water resting in rock..   And more..humm..fog..

(did you see the cairn?)

Fog getting thicker..   Ha..last cairn..  Almost at the bottom..    Another wonderful hike in Acadia National Park..

A week was not long enough in this wonderful park.

We had no time to kayak, bike, go on a whale watch…etc etc..

We will be back..for more fun and frolicking.

and…

More Cairns!

♥I love Acadia National Park♥