Champlain Mountain and the Bowl

Wednesday July 19, 2017                                                                    Most Recent Posts:
Acadia National Park                                                                 On the Rocks more than the Path
Bar Harbor, Maine                                                         Gorham Mountain, Cadillac Cliffs and the Shore Below

 

 

Today is Wednesday, infusion day for David so he’ll have the car all day.  He drops me off early at the trailhead on the park loop road so that I can hike up Champlain Mountain.

 

 

It’s a rocky start but not difficult.

 

When the trail hits the blueberries my pace slows WAY down.

 

 

Enough easy berry picking, back to the rocks.

 

The web builders have been seriously busy.  Looks like the close quarters of some RV parks.

 

 

 

I’ve really been looking forward to the views on this hike.  Bill and Nancy said they were great.  I hadn’t bargained on yet more early morning fog.  I should have of course, but in my enthusiasm I didn’t.

 

 

At least there are  “sort of” steps at the beginning of this section..

 

 

 

Not totally socked in.  I can see what I think is the Bowl.   The bowl is described as “a spring fed kettle pond …nestled in a glacier cirque on the south ridge of Champlain Mountain”.   I’m currently hiking up the North ridge so I think I’m nearing the summit when I can see the Bowl.

 

 

Hiking over the rock face into the fog.

 

 

What in the world are these?  Shrooms having a bad hair day?  Any micologists out there?

 

 

 

More rocks, more fog.

 

 

With all the fog, I’m forced to look even more than I usually do at the things around my feet.

 

I thought it was a trio from above, but it turns out to be a quartet.

 

 

 

 

Not the bowl, just a temporary rainwater capture.on top.  Pretty neat!

 

 

 

And here I am.  The skies above are blue but the fog is still below.

 

 

It never ceases to amaze me how oportunistic Jack Pines are.  They’ll grow on a rock mountain top.

 

Heading back down, I’m in the fog again. 

 

 

From a bit lower down the south rim, it looks like the fog may be lifting.   I’ve missed all the great views going up the north ridge and at the top but perhaps I’ll get some coming down the south and at the bowl.  At least I can see it from here.

 

 

Walking down through the trees, I’m serenaded again.  I love hiking to bird song melodies.   He’s in the top branches of what I think is a White Spruce.  That he is up there on top is the only reason I can find him.

 

 

Views at last.  Not full but much better.

 

 

The last stretch down to the bowl is in the woods and down . . .down.. 

 

 

 

Things are beautifully clear at the bowl.  That’s the Beehive in the background.  It’s a very popular rungs and ladders hike over what from some directions is a beehive shaped mountain. It’s heavily trafficed and not for those with a fear of heights.  So I’m expecting to see a lot of folks from this point on, especially now that the fog has cleared.    It is after the 10am witching hour after all.

 

 

 

As I walk on around the bowl I do see many people along its Beehive side shore.  Nobody is on the downward trail which is mostly stairs at first and then a regular path and then serious ROCKS.

 

 

At least nobody until I catch up to them near the bottom of the steps.

 

And we all catch up to more on the path.

 

I turn around to get pictures of the rocks I’ve just come down.  Nobody behind me.

 

 

Stopping for the picture means when I turn around to proceed there is no one in front of me either.  Glad I brought my hiking pole for this section.

 

By the time I’m at the bottom there is starting to be a line to go up to the top.

 

 

I walk on over to the Sand Beach bus stop and find the bus to Bar Harbor Village Green will be here in just 4 minutes.  Great timeing!!

 

 

From the village Green I walk back down toward the harbor and through Agamont Park on my way to the Shore Path which goes along the harbor and out of town connecting with other walking possibilities.  This is not to be confused with the Ocean Path which is what we did on Monday also in the fog along the coast by the loop road.

 

I’ll pick up the Shore Path just beyond the gazebo.  Looks like the fog is here.

 

 

The Shore Path goes right by the lovely Bar Harbor Inn which has a great outdoor dining area where the yellow umbrellas are.

 

 

I pass it by and turn around for a picture of both the indoor dining room with its walls of windows and the outdoor umbrella area known as the Terrace Grille. Great views both when the skies are clear.

 

Love seeing kids so interested in tide pools that they are taking cell phone pictures.   Guess these are “rock stars” too!

 

 

I’m headed to this spot to have my lunch before catching the bus back to the campground.  Lucky for me the bench is free.

 

 

Back in town I’m feeling a bit like this guy but think I’ll wait for my nap on the bus.  The ride is 45 minutes long.

 

 

But I don’t have to drive and I love having the buses go pretty  much everywhere you might want to go on MDI.  Without them I’d be stuck on Wednesdays and I have really enjoyed riding them.