2.8/10 Camden

Mix of clouds and sun,low 30's,little wind. We started from the Route 52 parking area though we couldn't get into the lot (snow) and parked beside the road. This first section of the Maiden Cliff Trail had many icy areas making it necessary to walk beside the trail in several places. We did, however, meet a man with two friendly black labs and Kelley got to play with them for awhile which made her very happy. It became less icy and snowier has we got nearer the cliff which is so named because of a little girl falling to her death from the spot in the 1860's and there is a large cross to mark the spot. From the cliff we took the Scenic Trail and then the Ridge Trail across to Mt. Megunticook and Ocean Lookout. These trails were snowier and less icy and it was quite a nice walk. The plan had been to return on the Jack Williams Trail but every time I am in the Ocean Lookout area my poor sense of direction becomes nonexistent and we could not find that trail. We took the Ridge Trail back and turned off before the cliff (staying on the Ridge Trail to Maiden Cliff Trail)to return to our car. A very nice hike 5 hours



From Maiden Cliff

Scenic Trail



Kelley Enjoying Her Apple

Ridge Trail

From Ocean Lookout

Mt. Megunticook Trail

2/7/10 Back to the Snowmobile Trail

Cold and overcast. We decide to try the snowmobile trail of the last days in the other direction as we had never done this. There are 13,500 miles of snowmobile trails in Maine so there are lots we have not explored.Rather than start on Broadway and walk the part you can see from the road we drove down Griffen Rd. to just past the bridge over the Kenduskeag and started there. The first 45 minutes were undeveloped woods, mostly along the Kenduskeag Stream and quite pleasant and then we came to some houses and a road. Crossing the road we were back into the woods and continued on for another 1/4 hour and again it was quite nice. We also noticed several side trails to explore when we return. 2 1/4 hours.

2/6/10 Breakneck Road

Cold with a mix of sun and clouds. I had read about a hike along the Breakneck Road (closed)from Route 233 to Hulls Cove and then returning on carriage roads. We could not find the start of the road on 233 so went to Hulls Cove and started at that end. It appears not to have been an actual road in some time-quite rocky in spots and more like a stream (mostly frozen) in others. Still, the snow helped smooth things out and the walking was good. When we got to Route 233 it became obvious that our failure to find that end of the road had been the result of poor information. We walked a short way down 233 to the carriage road and began our return but near Breakneck Pond we cut back over to the road and returned as we had come. Kelley enjoyed the loose snow and also did lots of investigating- after the first part of the hike no one had preceded us but there were lots of animal tracks. 2 1/4 hours

2/5/10 More Snowmobile Trails

Cold and windy but bright sunshine. We started at the Penjajawok Grasslands parking area at the end of Fox Hollow Road and walked to a snowmobile trail that enters the woods and goes out to the main trail that we thought was near the end of the trail we were on yesterday.We headed left and did eventually come to Essex Road where we had stopped yesterday but kept going to the trail intersection to Glenburn. Most of the main snowmobile trails we had been on yesterday and today (except for the section through the woods at today's start)follow the utility easement and are open and not especially scenic. The trail toward Glenburn went into the woods and was quite nice. This leaves us several more trails to explore in the Glenburn area. We returned the way we came and still would like to find a connection for a loop without using the car. 3 3/4 hours







The black lines represent the main snowmobile trail. The purple lines are the trails that run behind my house and from the end of Fox Hollow Road to the main trail. I also indicate the way to the Glenburn trails. I need a trail to connect the purple lines.

2/4/10--Close to Home

Sunny but cold and the wind is back. We decide to follow the snowmobile trail further and maybe explores some side trails. We ended up only exploring one side trail and it ended in someones back yard. We followed the snowmobile trail north crossing Church Road and continuing on across varied terrain to another road which we found out ( by going to a nearby house) was Essex St. The trail continued across the road and we are guessing it eventually becomes the trail near Walden Parke. We may check that out tomorrow ( if we could find a trail to connect the end of that trail to the one we started on today we would have a nice big loop) but today we turned back and returned the way we came. 3 1/2 hours

2/3/10 Carriage Roads and Sargent Mountain

Gray day but little wind. We were surprised to find several inches of new snow at Acadia ( there had been none in Bangor)and it continued to snow throughout the hike. This made Kelley happy as she loves fresh powdery snow. The new snow threatened to alter our plan which had been to attempt the North Ridge Trail up Sargent Mountain.We started on the carriage road from the Parkman Mtn. parking area and the walking was good as there was a hard layer beneath the new snow. As we approached the Sargent Mountain Trail Kelley ran ahead and turned onto the trail and looked at me to see if she was correct ( picture below). Not wanting to disappoint her we decided to give it a try. The lower part of the trail was not too difficult in spite of some sections of deep snow and small hidden ice patches.The upper part of the trail became treacherous as this area is open and mostly sheets of granite, many with snow covered sheets of ice. Taking to the scrub beside the trail ( Kelley kept looking back and looking like she was wondering what was taking me so long)and moving carefully we managed to attain the summit. We descended on the same trail but crossed the carriage road and continued to the Parkman Mtn. Trail, taking that back to the carriage road and then back to the car. 3 3/4 hours


The dim light and the falling snow resulted in pictures that appear almost monochrome.

Carriage Road Giant Slide Loop






Sargent Mountain North Ridge Trail

2/1/10 Champlain

Cold, strong winds, dramatic clouds, brilliant sun. I didn't think we would make it to the top but wanted to at least get part way up. We parked at the nature center and walked to the loop road and took that to the Champlain N. Ridge Trail. No one had preceded us and the trail was not always clear ( even Kelley was having difficulty and she is quite good at following trails). There were lots of icy patches and some sections of deep snow. As we climbed the wind became stronger and I thought we might almost be blown off the mountain. We did reach the summit and it was exhilarating- the wind,the beautiful view, and it was all ours. We returned to the loop road and had a bit of lunch and then walked the loop road past where we had come in, on to the Hemlock Trail, and that to the Jesup Path and back to the nature center. 3 hours



Champlain North Ridge Trail


The Summit and Views From It