Frosty Snowshoes around Jordan Pond Looking at Penobscot Mountain
Yesterday, Frosty and I headed down to MDI to go to Acadia National Park. We drove to Seal Harbor to enter the park and access the carriage roads. The road into the Jordan Pond House is plowed in the winter. The JPH had construction vehicles all around, so we drove past and parked at the next parking lot. The plowed section ends here.
Our plan was to hike up Penobscot Mountain. Once we left the carriage road that borders the pond and headed up toward a couple trailheads for Penobscot Mountain, we were breaking trail. There were cross-country ski tracks, but no snowshoe tracks. F.Y.I. for new snowshoers, if you are using the same trails as skiers don’t walk on the cross country ski tracks.
Icicles Hang from Rock near the Trail up to Penobscot
We started up the narrow, steep trail. Unfortunately, the path was post-holed. So our snowshoe teeth were hanging over the holes. The trail was so narrow, we couldn’t avoid the holes. We climbed up about a hundred feet. And although with effort it was doable, I wasn’t sure how going down would be. We decided to turn back and go around Jordan Pond.
If we had brought our micro-cleats and ice axes, we would have kept going. I wish it were easier to find information about current winter trail conditions in Maine. There is a website that has some information: http://newenglandtrailconditions.com/me/
Frosty Crosses Deer Brook
This site is a great idea. The NH information section is very active. I am hoping more Maine info starts getting shared.
Almost all of our snowshoeing was broken/packed, trail or carriage road. The only two parts that weren’t were the previously mentioned carriage road up to trailheads for Penobscot and the Deer Brook Trail down to the Jordan Pond Path.
Frosty on a Bridge as We Loop Jordan Pond Acadia National Park
The Deer Brook Trail was pretty. We had a super view of one of the old stone bridges and the stream looked cool. The trail crosses the brook then crosses back over. We had to search a little for the trail a couple of times. When hiking in the winter, this can happen. Some trails aren’t blazed well. In the bare ground seasons, the trail can be obvious, so some feel you don’t need as many blazes. This changes in winter. If you can’t find blazes, another clue to look for in areas that aren’t as obvious are trees that are missing branches (cut for the trail) on one side.
Water Ripples under an Ice Covered Rock
It was windy and the temp. was 21 degrees when we started. The sun peeked out a few times. Great snowy views! All totaled we did 4.48 miles.
Acadia National Park Bridge Crossing an Open Stream Flowing into Jordan Pond
After, we stopped into Cadillac Mountain Sports in Bar Harbor. The whole store was 25% off. In a future post, I’ll share the new hiking boots Frosty scored.
Waves Roll into the Edge of the Iced-in Cove — The Beavers Have Been Busy
Winter adventures always seem to involve the layers game. As the temperature, wind, sun, and activity levels change layers need to be added and removed. So we try to be prepared with our clothing. You don’t want to get too hot and sweaty, but you don’t want to get chilled either.
Gear Used:
Frosty:
Tubbs Flex VRT Snowshoes, One Black Diamond Trail Shock Trekking Pole, One Black Diamond Whippet, Limmers, LL Bean gaiters, Darn Tough Socks, Yama Pogies, LL Bean Mittens, My Trail Co Backpack Light 50L, LL Bean wool shirt, LL Bean windbreaker, Stormy Kromer The SK Outfitter Vest, 1/4 zip wool shirt, Buff merino wool neckwear, Buff ThermoNet hat, Johnson Woolen Mill Worsted Wool Pants, and Aloha Eyewear Stone Creek MX1 Men’s Wraparound Bi-focal Sunglasses
Magoo:
Tubbs Flex ALP snowshoes, Black Diamond Trail Shock Trekking Pole, Stormy Kromer Ida Outfitter Vest, Buff merino wool neckwear, LL Bean hat, Apana running mittens, Darn Tough socks, LL Bean AT 38 Day Pack backpack (the link is the updated version of Magoo’s pack), merino wool leggings, Layer 8 wind pants, Cabela’s Women’s Ultimate Lightweight Merino shirt, Kamik Greenbay 4 Boots, ancient windbreaker, Costa prescription sunglasses, ancient ear band, OR gaiters, and Women’s LL Bean Packaway Mittens
