11/18/12 Goose Ridge

Cold but sunny with little wind- good day for hiking. I wanted something easy for Kelley after the strenuous hike yesterday so we went to Goose Ridge. A pleasant woods walk with good footing and no rocks to jump or work around.

We started from the trail head on Freedom Pond Road and began the gradual ascent to the ridge. Early along the ridge you pass through part of Spirited horse Ranch and a couple of large meadows.

Please click twice



A view across the second meadow

You stay on top of the ridge for a fairly good distance before you start dropping back down the other side. After I thought we had done enough for today we retraced our steps back to the trail head.

Red Blaze

Parts of the trail are old woods road

A nice 3 hour hike.

11/17/12 Norumbega Mountain

Still cold but sunny so we headed to the park for a real hike. We started from the parking area at the end of Hadlock Pond Rd. and walked along the pond to the trail head.

The first part of the trail up is pretty woods and then becomes more open with ledge and small trees. On the way up we met a nice couple from northern Maine and that made Kelley happy.

Looking west

This is start of the way down via the Goat Trail ( looking east) . I don't much care for it and couldn't remember if Kelley had ever done it but wanted to do a loop.  It was a mistake as the trail was much too difficult for Kelley- very steep and rocky with places she couldn't work around and needed be to lift her.

We did make it safely down and then took the Lower Norumbega Trail over to the Hadlock Ponds Trail. This bridge leads across the stream to the trail that goes around the other side of the pond. There was a pretty spot next to it to stop for lunch.

 We then continued on the trail back to our car

One last dip

A pretty good hike in spite of the treacherous descent on the Goat Trail. 2  3/4 hours

11/16/12 Bangor

We have had several cold gray days and just walked around the neighborhood. Today it was still cold ( 30's) and gray but we decided to go downtown for a walkabout ( we did get some sun later in the walk but it stayed cold) . Kelley  got to choose most of the route which took us ( mostly )  through residential neighborhoods and some commercial areas. There were lots of people about for her to greet and even a sheriff's deputy with dog treats in the trunk of his car. She is so obviously friendly that it's hard for people to resist her. I didn't see much to photograph and didn't feel like taking my gloves off and the camera from under my coat so only a couple of pictures from the side of an old truck.

11/14/12 Gorham Mountain

We started from the Sand Beach parking lot up the Bowl Trail. Kelley was very excited, prancing around and anxious to get started as I was getting ready. She really likes the park and seems to always know she is there. The first junction is the trail head for the Beehive ( a trail with iron rungs)

Parts of the Bowl trail were looking very wintery

Though we were headed up Gorham we took a slight detour to The Bowl so Kelley could have a swim. We had to walk along the shore a bit 'till we found  a spot she liked for getting in and out.

This route up Gorham is probably the easiest for Kelley with only one work around spot. At the summit we shared an apple and then head down toward the ocean.

I took several pictures from here but managed to get most out of focus. This is of Great Head and Sand Beach

Kelley took a little break

The trail down

It had turned out to be a beautiful day for hiking ( it had been mostly cloudy and cold when we left home) and we met some nice people from N. Y. on the way down. They have been coming to Acadia ( after tourist season) for 25 years. They had recently lost two Labs and thought Kelley was pretty nice.

When we reached the Ocean Path we walked up to Otter Point before turning back and following the trail  back to the parking lot.

A couple of views along the way

A very nice hike  3 hours

11/12/12 Newman Hill- Hinds

Foggy morning but milder temperatures. This trail system always confuses us. Today it appeared there were some new markers at the early intersections and we felt like we might actually follow our planned route. Alas, it was not to be. After we crossed over Newman Hill ( no view because of the fog)  we again found ourselves with no clear indicators and once more found ourselves back where we had already been. After trying several trails we came across the snowshoe trail and were able to complete the planned hike. The hike took 2  1/2 hours and  perhaps would be too short without getting lost. Eventually we got some sun and it warmed up to near 60.  A good outing.

Some of the things we saw

Boulder Pond at the foggy start

Lots of water for Kelley

 The old rail bed when we finally found it

 The same branches from different angles

Even an old school bus in the woods

 Two views of Black Pond

Decal on an old camper- no longer being used

11/11/12 Little River Trail

We wanted to do another hike with Jill and Ellie and Belfast is about half way between our houses. A gray day but not too cold. We met lots of people and lots of dogs and this made both Ellie and Kelley happy. There was also lots of water for Kelley . We started from the water district office and walked to almost the point where the trail turns north before retracing our steps back to the start. I never did manage to get the two dogs together for a picture.

We got there first and this shot of the reservoir is from a little picnic area near the parking area

And this from a dumpster at their work area

The section of the trail we did follows closely along the river and the two reservoirs. This was near the start.

And these a little further on

A very pleasant 2  3/4 hour hike. We never did get any sun but we also got no rain.

11/9/12 Caribou Mountain

Cold, cloudy, and windy but we were ready for something not near home. Hunting season is upon us so I had my blaze orange  vest and a new bandana for Kelley. She got it off twice but I finally managed to get it in place.  We started from the trail head on Dynamite Brook Rd. which also leads to Catherine Mtn. Not a lot of snow at the start but it was pretty wet.

With more snow as we gained elevation

 View as you emerge from the woods on the connector trail and meet the Caribou Mtn. Trail

I had a hard time with the light today- especially with a different camera but did a pano anyway. Please click the picture and then again for the large version




Kelley surveying her surroundings

 The wind made close ups difficult but I did fine this still green fern frond.

I had decided that because Kelley  had been doing well that I did not want to overdo it so at an hour and a half we turned back the way we had come. When we reached the junction with the connector we had our lunch and this was our view

Going back down the connector ( which we have done many times and it is well marked) I got off the trail and instead of going back to the last blaze ( usual procedure) I just kept on. This resulted was  about a half hour of wandering through the brush until we found the trail again.

One last chance for a dip

A good hike on a less than beautiful day. We met no other people or dogs.  3  1/2 hours