Summiting Dorr Mountain with a few of our friends

Monday July 22, 2013
Site 370, Narrows Too Campground
Trenton, Maine

 

 

Bill says on time means being five minutes early

The bus is pulling out at 7:30am SHARP we are told.  I am at the stop at 7:25.  Everyone else, but David, is already there.  I congratulate myself on being early when Bill tells me that actually 7:25 is on time.

David is still putting his shoes on.  Bill starts the engine pulls forward, shakes his head and David manages to snag the last seat on the train to the Dorr Mountain Trailhead before it pulls away without him.

 

 

 

Like the last hike we took with Bill and Nancy for ice cream, this one takes off from Sieur de Monts.  Bill says this is his very favorite of all the hikes they have done in Acadia so he wants to share it with his friends.  There are 6 of us today, Dan & Tricia, David & I, Syl & Bill.  Nancy has had to skip the hike in order to help her mother with some health issues.  We miss her and Gin & Pam too.

 

 

 

Bill gives us a briefing of how up and rocky this is going to be.

 

This is a hardy group.  Nobody bats an eye.

 

 

We hike a little, pause for the views a little and hike a little more.   Both Tricia and Bill have a fear of heights and I’m amazed at how well they do on these cliff side steps.  I would never have guessed a hike  like this as Bill’s favorite.

 

 

 

From many of the views we can see the Great Meadow whose trail we walked on for our ice cream hike.  It has a lovely creek meandering through it that you see only if you go all the way around it.    The porcupine islands are also visible at many of our view points.  

 

 

 

We get a little side tracked.

We come to a small opening.  Everybody checks it out.  Looks like there is a way through.  I’m the smallest so I volunteer to try it.

 

The going in isn’t so bad but scrunching up to get back out the opposite side is a bit of a trick.

Here’s the picture of the opening David took with the flash after I was out.

 

Enough silliness.  Back to the hike.

 

 

 

 

Acadia’s trail blazers were amazing step builders.

 

 

 

Dan and Bill discuss the ladder trail which cuts off here.  It is so named because of the three sets of iron ladders used to scale particularly steep sections of the trail.   Dan thinks it sounds great, Bill not so much.

 

 

 

It may not have rungs but it’s a climb up a rock face.  Sure glad it hasn’t rained lately.

 

 

 

 

All along the Dorr Mountain Trail the way is marked by cairns.   Signs ask you to please not add to them or move them.  They are an historic feature of these trails.

 

 

 

Time for the summit and a snack.  We have arrived!

 

We follow the cairns and have no trouble reaching the summit for the obligatory pictures.  Now this summit is only 1270 feet but we did start pretty close to sea level and it is the second highest peak in the park.  That’s Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak, in the background of the picture below.

Not bad for two people with colds, one of whom coughs the whole way up.  Thanks guys for putting up with me.

 

 

      

I get pictures of everybody on the summit.   I’ve cropped them so you can really see us all.

 

  

 

 

 

This is not an up and back hike.  We’re going down the other side. 

 

Bill’s done this before, he gives a preview.

 

 

 

I lose count of the number of times we stop on the way down to pick blueberries.  It is really hard not to.  They are everywhere and the season is fast coming to a close.

 

 

 

We pick, Bill enjoys the views.  He says he picked plenty for that pie over three hot hours the other day.  I say he’s right.

 

 

 

 

Tricia remarks that she’s using different muscles coming down.  She can feel it.

 

 

As we near the forested lower slopes the rock fields pick up.  This requires close watching of your feet.

 

 

       

 

We’re down. 
We’ve reached the carriage road and walk it back to the path to Sieur de Monts and Bill’s car.  
Great hike Bill. 
Thanks a lot!!

 

 

Later that evening, we meet for dinner.

Bill likes everything to be on time including his meals.  So he’s more than ready when we get the potluck set up.  We have dueling Weber grilles.  Dan is doing burgers, Gin Veggie-burgers.

 

 

Food’s on and looks delicious.

 

 

 

It’s not just a dinner, it’s a party!

I totally forget to take pictures until the plates are empty.  Notice the mouse ears, they light up, it’s a party.  Nancy’s birthday was June 22nd but we weren’t all together then so this dinner is to celebrate her birthday.

 

 

 

And now for the Birthday present

 

 

It’s a George Forman Grille – Nancy is speechless.  “Hasn’t she seen this before”??   Although it’s just a gag gift, for those in the Carolina Clan this has special significance and you know what it is.

 

 

 

Comes complete with a bun warmer which Nancy demonstrates.
I know this should have been ‘the end’ picture but I couldn’t make it work.

 

 

 

And of course what is a birthday party without a cake??  Tricia has made a vegan carrot cake with cashew cream icing.  How about the decorations?  White raisins spelling out 64 1/12 because of course that’s how old Nancy actually is today.  It tastes terrific.

 

 

 

Tricia shares her shock top honey crisp apple wheat beer with David. 
Now that’s generous!!

A toast to Nancy’s birthday. 
Great ending to a wonderful day. 
Happy Belated Birthday Nancy!!