Forecast was for snow/rain ( mid 30s) but it wasn't doing anything yet at home so we headed for Acadia and the Penobscot Mountain Trail. We started from the Jordan Pond parking and as we were getting ready a light snow started. We took the Asticou ( a very easy trail) to the first carriage road and that a short walk to the Penobscot trail. This trail has several spots that Kelley has to work around and this at the start may be the worst, requiring a wide bushwhack. ( picture taken on the way back so she is looking for a way down)
A ledge offering an early view with the snow a bit heavier.
Once you pass the junction with the Spring Trail it's mostly open granite and we felt the wind pick up.
As we neared the summit there were still small patches of ice and snow to be found.
The wind at the summit was fairly strong and with the snow was less pleasant than the hike up had been. We found a sheltered spot to share our apple and headed down.
This clump of grass was catching a bit of the snow that mostly melted as it hit the ground.
A couple of shots from the hike down. The granite was now wet and more slippery , requiring a bit more care in walking over it.
We met a couple coming up as we were going down and they were the only people we saw on the trails- we saw some people on the carriage road on bikes when we crossed it. .
A nice hike. The snow continued for the whole time but was much lighter at lower elevations.
3 hours
It appears that most of the snow was below your elevation. Nice views.
ReplyDeleteLooks a little bleak up there under those weather conditions..kudos for enduring...
ReplyDeleteJohn - thanks for looking and commenting. The snow was very fine and looks more like mist in the long shots- it actually fell more heavily as we ascended and then dropped off again on the way down.
ReplyDeletepenbayman- thank you too for commenting- it felt better than it looks and was really only uncomfortable on the open summit.