Acadia and Valley Peak

We started at the trail head on Route 102. This is a moderately difficult hike with the trail down from the summit toward Valley Peak being the more difficult part and requiring Kelley to find her way around several spots. Near the top we met two nice women and two dogs and enjoyed hiking ( me the conversation and Kelley just being with other dogs) down with them. At the bottom they turned off and we continued on to Valley Peak which is also challenging in spots but the peak offers great views. From there we turned back and took the Man of War fire road back to the Acadia Trail and then to the car. 3 1/2 hours.



Acadia Mountain Trail




Valley Peak Trail


Valley Peak


Kelley Valley Peak

11/18/09 Schoodic and Black Mountain

Another nippy start that turned into a beautiful day-about 50 and sunny. We started at the trail head at Schoodic Beach parking and climbed Schoodic- a nice varied hike with good footing and a few rocky spots near the top. There is a tower on top of the mountain but the top is clear and walking around it you have a 360 degree view. We hiked down the same trail but turned off at the jucntion to Schoodic Beach. This trail is a little steeper but not a problem for Kelley. From the beach we took the Black Mountain Trail which climbs steadily to a ridge, levels out somewhat and has some ledges offering views. We were going to loop back down to the parking area but it was such a nice day we continued on to the mountain for lunch and then backtracked to the trail which took us back down to the car. No problems for Kelley. 4 1/2 hours

Schoodic Mountain Trails

From Schoodic Mtn.

Schoodic Beach

Kelley in Donnell Pond

Black Mountain Trail

11/17/09 Round Top Mountain and Sanders Hill

A friend found this area ( The Kennebec Highlands) for us. Parts are under the stewardship of the Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance and part is Maine Public Reserved Lands. We started at the trail head for Round Top Mountain on Watson Pond Road. The first part of the hike is a pleasant walk in woods and then gradually ascends the mountain to a junction. The left fork leads to an overlook ( we did not find a 360 degree view described by one writer but views through and over trees) and then we doubled back to the junction and down the mountain. The descent is steeper but has better views. All and all a nice hike. 2 hours 20 minutes.

Also on Watson Pond Road was the trail head for the Sanders Hill Loop so we decided to do that too. Another woodsy trail but it gets steeper and rockier as you near the top. The views are, again, mostly over trees but at some spots you can see the trees outlined on the ridge of the mountain opposite and there is a nice feeling of being "in the mountains". The trail drops quickly to an old road which is part of the Kennebec Highlands Trail and that is followed for awhile until you return to the woods and the trail back to the parking area. Another quite nice trail with no problems for Kelley. 1 3/4 hours.


Trail Round Top Mtn.



Lichen - Sanders Hill



Kelley After Lunch - Sanders Hill



Sanders Hill

11/16/09 - Sears Island

Previously we had circled the island on the shore. This time we decided to explore the interior. We started off on the paved road but then veered off on the tower road. We took that to the Homestead Trail which took us to the shore. We walked the shore for a bit but the tide was in and walking without wading was difficult. We bushwhacked back to the trail and the road and continued on to it's end at a tower. Backtracking again we took the Blue Trail back to the shore but the water was still high. Another bushwhack and we found the road again and walked back to where we started. A cool but sunny day the hike was more enjoyable than this sounds. 2 3/4 hours



An Inland Trail


Kelley Testing the Waters



View Of The Coast

11/13/09 - Cutler Coast

Kind of a chilly day with a mix of clouds and sun. We did the Inland Trail first which is mostly woods and flat but with some areas of scrub and marsh and a couple of small hills. The Coastal Trail moves into and out of the woods and the coastal views are magnificent. There are a few spots at the Fairy Head end that involve rock scrambling but Kelley only needed a boost once. 5 hours



Pond on Inland Trail





Cutler Coast Trail

11/12/09 Beech Mountain

Another cool but sunny day--good hiking weather. We started at the Beech Mountain parking area rather than Long Pond which is our usual start in this area. There is a fork at the trail head and we took the right ( we usually take the left but were following the suggestion of some people from New York who really like this section) . This trail offers some spectacular views on the way to the summit of Beech and is not difficult. From the summit we took the West Ledge Trail ( nice views of Long Pond) down to the pond ( little dip for Kelley) and from there the Valley Trail. This is a nice walk through the woods with interesting rock formations. It gains a little elevation to the intersection with the South Ridge Trail. We continued on to the Canada Cliffs Trail and took that and the Beech Cliffs Trail and loop back to the parking area. All of these trails are very pleasant and also have some very nice views. Only one spot on all of these trail that Kelley needed a boost. 3 hours



Beech Mountain Trail




Beech Mountain




Valley Trail




Beside Valley Trail




Beech Cliffs Trail

11/11/09 Three Peaks

A cloudy start to a day that turned out cool but sunny. We started the Hadlock Brook Trail at Rt. 198 and took that to the Bald Mtn.Trail which starts out in woods but then breaks out into mostly open granite. From the summit we hiked down the notch toward Parkman Mtn. This trail is steep with some large boulders but Kelley ( off her leash) was able to find ways around the hard parts. Climbing up to Parkman is easier. From Parkman we took the Grand Gent Trail ( another steep one) down and then up to Gilmore Peak. Though we had taken the trail down from Gilmore  before we could not find it today and bushwacked down to the Maple Spring Trail. This is a pretty trail but with some rocky spots with difficult footing. It is mostly next to the stream so kelley likes it quite a bit. We took it back to the Hadlock Brook Trail and back to where we started. 2 1/2 hours

Bald Mtn. Trail

Bald Mtn. from Parkman Mtn.

Gilmore Peak


Kelley Gilmore Peak


Maple Spring Trail