Amazing Grace 1977
In 1977 I spent two months driving from California to Maine in a Volkswagen van named Amazing Grace. “Gracie” and I left San Diego on March 1st, meandered across the country, and arrived on Mount Desert Island on April 30th. By April 31st I knew I had found my new home. I lived there for the next five months and returned nearly every year until 2013 when I moved here …
Beech Mountain Loop Trail
Beech Mountain is located on the west side of Mount Desert Island in Acadia National Park. With a summit of only 839 feet, it’s not one of the higher peaks, but it has a commanding view, so much so that a fire tower was erected there in the 1960’s. Janice and Emma and I chose this hike today because it was short and we only had a few hours until dark. We drove to the end of Beech Hill Road …
Walking On Water – Echo Lake
Echo Lake is located on the “quiet side” of Mount Desert Island in Acadia National Park. All winter it has been, and still is, covered with a thick layer of ice. Today the ice was covered with water. With temps this afternoon approaching 50° F, snow from earlier in the week is now water which is several inches deep in places. Janice and Emma and I drove down to the boat launch at Ikes …
Sargent Mountain, Acadia National Park
Today we hiked to the summit of Sargent Mountain in search of Snowy Owls. With its peak at 1,373 feet, Sargent is the second highest mountain on Mount Desert Island after Cadillac Mountain which is slightly taller at 1,530 feet. Snowy Owls have been sighted this winter on both mountains in Acadia National Park, though we did not see any during our hike on Cadillac last month. But today, …
Ice Fishing on Eagle Lake, Mount Desert Island
This morning the MDI Photo Club met on Eagle Lake to shoot and socialize (translation: take pictures and talk about photography). Located in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert island, this pristine body of water is nearly two miles long and about a half mile wide. This time of year its frozen surface hosts ice fisherman, cross-country skiers, and on this day, a dozen photographers eager …
Southwest Harbor Maine Panorama
Southwest Harbor, Maine is located in the southwest quadrant of Mount Desert Island. Aptly named, it’s area of 22.69 square miles and population of less than 2,000 people are nearly entirely surrounded by Acadia National Park and the Atlantic Ocean. In summer the harbor is full of boats small and large, from kayaks to multimillion dollar yachts. This time of year lobster boats are …
Mount Desert Island in Winter
Mount Desert Island is located on the coast of Maine, about five hours by car driving north from Boston. The most well known attraction is Acadia National Park which welcomes more than two million visitors each year. Nearly all of them come in July, August, and September. In Winter, most people you see live here year round. In summer the island is magical. In winter it is breathtaking, …
Southwest Harbor, Maine in February
Southwest Harbor is located on the “quiet side” of Mount Desert Island (MDI). “Quiet” is a term relative to the east side of the island where you’ll find Bar Harbor and some of the most popular spots in Acadia National Park. During the “high season” months of July and August, the east side is very busy and hoppin’ place. In summer, the west side has plenty of activity too, but many …
Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Trail in Winter
Hiking to the top of Cadillac Mountain in winter has been on my wish list for some time. Last year while still living in Vermont, I read in the Mount Desert Islander newspaper about a guy near my age (58) who was hiking up Cadillac and had to be rescued after slipping on the ice and seriously injuring himself. …
Bass Harbor Marsh, Acadia National Park
Bass Harbor Marsh originates in Southwest Harbor in the area where Marshall Brook and Lurvey Brook come together. This combination of south flowing freshwater quickly forms into a large meandering stream with the classic S curves that naturally develop when a river or stream travels across nearly flat terrain. The flow continues to widen, is joined and fed by Buttermilk Brook, and …