Bangor City Forest (Bangor)

With showers and rain predicted for most of the weekend I decided to do an early morning hike today at the Bangor City Forest.   I hiked 1.75 miles and didn't see another person.   

Kayaking Lower Etna Pond (Etna)

Temperatures reached the 90s today so I went for the first kayaking trip of the year, paddling Souadabscook Stream to the lower portion of Etna Pond.   The first part was great.  Although I battled a strong headwind it kept the air cool and I figured I could take advantage of the wind on the return trip.   I saw several dragonflies and thought it was odd since there were hardly any bugs for them to eat....

After exploring the shoreline of the pond and venturing up a side stream, it was time to head back.  It was then that the wind died and I was besieged with gnats.  On the plus side the gnats turned the trip into an excellent cardio workout .  

Prior to the gnat assault there were some positive moments - dozens of songbirds filled the marsh along the stream and I heard a pair of barred owls calling to each other in the woods near the pond.  The total distance kayaked was 2.8 miles. 

Parkman Mountain Trail (Acadia National Park)

I hiked the Parkman Mountain Trail after work today.  It was 60° and sunny, yet I only saw three other people on the trail.

This is a great hike involving some scrambling.  There is a 360° view at the summit of the mountain.  The total distance was 2.5 miles roundtrip.   

A. Murray Young Path (Acadia National Park)

I set out today hoping to hike the Dorr Ladder Trail in Acadia but instead discovered the A. Murray Young Path (Murray Young), a beautiful trail running between Dorr and Cadillac Mountains.

I started hiking the first 1/3 mile of the Ladder Trail.  The hike features three sets of ladders - steel rungs attached to rock - and is considered an advanced non-technical climb in the Falcon Guide "Hiking Acadia National Park."  On a good day this hike would be challenging for me, given that I have a fear of heights.  Today several sections of the trail had water flowing over them, presumably from the rain last night, and by the time I reached the first ladder my feet were soaked.  I had concerns climbing with wet feet so turned around.  

Near the start of the trail I took the Kane Path to Murray Young.  I had seen Murray Young on maps of Acadia but had no idea how beautiful the trail was.  It runs adjacent to and frequently crosses Otter Creek as the creek descends over waterfalls and rapids.  I took the trail approximately one mile until reaching a large waterfall at which point I turned around.   

The total hike (including 1/2 mile for the Ladder Trail) was 4.8 miles.   Despite being at Acadia, 76° and sunny, I saw only 12 other people during my hike.   

Birdsacre Sanctuary (Ellsworth)

Birdsacre Sanctuary is a 200+ acre preserve and wildlife rehabilitation center in Ellsworth.  The preserve has miles of well maintained and well marked trails.  My son and I visited Birdsacre today and hiked the trails.   

Santa Fe National Forest (Las Conchas Trail) and Valles Caldera National Preserve (VC02)(New Mexico)

I spend my last day hiking two trails - the Las Conchas Trail in the Santa Fe National Forest and the VC02 Trail in Valles Caldera National Preserve.

The Las Conchas Trail is a beautiful four mile roundtrip hike following the East Fork Jemez River.  The trail travels through rock canyons and grassy meadows.  

My second and last hike was the VC02 Trail at Valles Caldera.  The trail was a double track road that gradually ascended for the first 1.5 miles.  The trail then climbed more steeply to a saddle between two mountains, where VC02 split off to the right.  I elected to take an unmarked trail to the left until running into a large amount of downed trees.  I then hiked off-trail around 100 yards to a spot providing an overlook of the caldera.   The total roundtrip distance was 4.3 miles.

Bandelier National Monument - Upper Frijoles Canyon Overlook Trail (New Mexico)

I picked Viv up after work and we went hiking at the Upper Frijoles Canyon Overlook Trail in Bandelier National Monument.   The 2.2 mile trail showed extensive damage and subsequent regrowth from wildfire.