Saturday, December 19, 2020

ReMAINEder

By Jen.

Because driving 4 hours back down to Portland didn’t appeal to us and we figured Josh & Brit could use a day to themselves, we stayed overnight in the Acadia NP area. The next morning as we maneuvered to be closer to Portland in case Josh & Brit wanted to do something northwards, we came across this really cool bridge.

 

P06_USA ME Waldo-Hancock Bridge_ 2020-10-03_Jen_IMG_20201003_080416057_HDR

Turns out it was a replacement for the “most beautiful steel bridge” 1931. You can see one of the cross-sectional pieces there in the foreground.

 

After some research, we decided we wanted to check out Baxter State Park, which is a backcountry park that tries to keep the wild “wild.” No paved roads, plumbing, or electricity. There aren’t even any scenic pull-outs on the park road.

 

P003_USA ME Baxter SP Park Tote Rd_ 2020-10-05_Jen_IMG_20201005_085711222_HDR

Fall foliage is beautiful.

P008_USA ME Baxter SP Slide Dam_ 2020-10-05_Jen_IMG_20201005_090428516_HDR

When we started off the day, it was rather foggy. We were hoping it would clear by the time we got to the top.

P006_USA ME Baxter SP Slide Dam_ 2020-10-05_Jen_IMG_20201005_090410332_HDR

That mountain in background is the mountain we will be hiking later, Doubletop Mountain. Fortunately the fog was clearing off.

P016_USA ME Baxter SP Ledge Falls_ 2020-10-05_Jen_IMG_20201005_091212656

These are called Ledge Falls, and in the summer, people slide down them!

P044_USA ME Baxter SP Doubletop Trail_ 2020-10-05_Jen_IMG_20201005_104047997_HDR

Precariously perched…

P059_USA ME Baxter SP Doubletop Trail_ 2020-10-05_Jen_IMG_20201005_104759037

Up until the creek, we had managed to stay pretty level…

P064_USA ME Baxter SP Doubletop Trail_ 2020-10-05_Jen_IMG_20201005_104912066

Which meant that the trail would be super steep at other points.

P068_USA ME Baxter SP Doubletop Trail_ 2020-10-05_Jen_IMG_20201005_110428362_HDR

P072_USA ME Baxter SP Doubletop Trail_ 2020-10-05_Jen_IMG_20201005_111611987_HDR

When I had picked this trail, I was under the impression that there would be great views, but we were nearly to the top and the trees weren’t thinning into an alpine zone at all. I was afraid there wasn’t going to be any more view than this.

P222_USA ME Baxter SP Doubletop Trail_2020-10-05_JML_IMG_20201005_115329020_HDR

I was still enjoying the hike, but was feeling increasingly uncertain that I would get the views that I was hoping for.

P099_USA ME Baxter SP Doubletop Trail_ 2020-10-05_Jen_IMG_20201005_115216052

All the snails!

P118_USA ME Baxter SP Doubletop Trail_ 2020-10-05_Jen_IMG_20201005_123843533_HDR

P130_USA ME Baxter SP Doubletop Trail_ 2020-10-05_Jen_IMG_20201005_124826406

There was a rickety little ladder to get us to the boulders at the top, which was better than the slippery rock (found out the hard way).

P133_USA ME Baxter SP Doubletop Trail_ 2020-10-05_Jen_IMG_20201005_125124737

Finally, lo and behold, I had my panoramas!

P144_USA ME Baxter SP Doubletop Trail_ 2020-10-05_Jen_IMG_20201005_125849010

P152_USA ME Baxter SP Doubletop Trail_ 2020-10-05_Jen_IMG_20201005_130506000_HDR

While we were resting and enjoying the views, a bold mouse decided it should try for our granola bars.

P225_USA ME Baxter SP Doubletop Trail_2020-10-05_JML_IMG_20201005_130525361_HDR

It came right up to Jonathan’s boots!

Another mouse shortly joined it, but we made it out with no more holes in our bag and our granola bars safe.

P168_USA ME Baxter SP Doubletop Trail_ 2020-10-05_Jen_IMG_20201005_145313231_HDR

P172_USA ME Baxter SP Doubletop Trail_ 2020-10-05_Jen_IMG_20201005_150022597

We came across a ptarmigan on our back!

We were pretty tired after our trek, but Jonathan managed to do some maintenance on the van when we finished. The next day, we had planned to canoe in South Branch Pond, but the weather was not as nice as the day before and we didn’t want to brave the cold on the water. Instead, we did a few hikes.

 

P186_USA ME Baxter SP South Branch Pond_ 2020-10-06_Jen_IMG_20201006_090546545_HDR

P195_USA ME Baxter SP South Branch Falls_ 2020-10-06_Jen_IMG_20201006_121549430_HDR

The very diminutive South Branch Falls.

P201_USA ME Baxter SP South Branch Falls_ 2020-10-06_Jen_IMG_20201006_123338346

P208_USA ME Baxter SP Forestry Trail_ 2020-10-06_Jen_IMG_20201006_133838458

Evidence of beaver-felling!

To finish off Maine, we did a stop at Cadillac Mountain.

P_USA ME Acadia NP Cadillac Mountain_2020-10-07_Jen_IMG_20201007_122944408_HDR

 

P_USA ME Acadia NP Cadillac Mountain_2020-10-07_Jen_IMG_20201007_123830607_HDR

 

P_USA ME Acadia NP Cadillac Mountain_2020-10-07_Jen_IMG_20201007_123227349_HDR

 

I wanted to try and kayak in Merrymeeting Bay, the largest freshwater bay, but it was too windy do so.

 

P_USA ME Merrymeeting Bay_2020-10-08_Jen_IMG_20201008_115040513_HDR

 

 

P_USA ME Merrymeeting Bay_2020-10-08_Jen_IMG_20201008_121216425_HDR

 

P_USA ME Merrymeeting Bay_2020-10-08_Jen_IMG_20201008_121540551

So, we decided to move on to the next state: New Hampshire!

1 comment:

  1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete