Precipice and Dorr, 1/31/10

[Guthook]

This weekend was a great time for a hike in Acadia with my old pal from pre-school (way back in the day). We started with the Precipice, which was steep and icy, with nary a sign of footprints before ours. I wonder why...

I'm still beat from the hike, so I'll just direct you to this site for my quick little trip report. And if you want more pictures, check them out here!

Long story short: steep trails, low temps, high winds, and beautiful views!

 

[Jimmy Legs and Little D]

Acadia in Winter

Having never been to Acadia in winter (only spring and fall) your pictures convey the beauty of Acadia in winter. Great job.

The Precipice Trail can be a challenging hike without the addition of ice and snow.

Donna

 

[Guthook]

Thanks Donna! I don't consider myself much of a photographer, but some places speak for themselves.

Somehow, we'd never been on the Precipice Trail either. Winter made for a very memorable first, although I certainly wouldn't recommend it to anyone in their right mind

 

[Billy]

Holy smokes, picture 15 makes me cringe. Having been in that exact spot on a dry summer day (photo taken from the trailhead after the hike), I know that the drop off to the hiker's right will change your health record really fast. Takes some serious stones doing that trail in the snow/ice. Cool stuff.

 

[am&pm]

My wife and I did the Precipice in summer of 2008. We also took a walk on the Park Loop Rd last winter during a nor'easter. Truly awesome. We only saw one other nut with a camera and a bald eagle. Arcadia can't be beat for winter beauty.

 

[FARMER]

pretty bad a$$ man. just added that trip to the long list of must do's.

 

[Guthook]

Billy, I knew exactly which picture you were talking about before even looking. I crawled across that ledge and took my sweet time. The picture definitely doesn't do justice to the possible inverse health effects from a missed step

Crampons and microspikes came in very handy for much of the hike. Very handy indeed!

 

[king tut]

Yikes! That trail is hard enough in the summer. What's next, the Knife Edge on Katahdin in January?

Dorr mountain is one of my favorites on the island. I snowshoed it in January a few years back and it was a pretty sweet trek, pretty straight up and down from the Sieur de Mont Springs trailhead. The island is pretty cool in the winter, pretty desolate and slow.

 

[BobC]

Nice report...and wow! That's crazy. I almost had heart failure just doing the Beehive in the summer, I can't imagine doing the Precipice in the winter.

 

[Guthook]

Hehe. I didn't plan on doing the hike for the reactions, but they are pretty entertaining anyway. Well, I don't think I'll be doing a repeat of the trip this weekend.... I think I caught a cold from someone in Bar Harbor. Blech!

You know, I somehow think the Beehive in winter would be even scarier. Definitely the Knife Edge. I guess there's only one way to find out. Maybe next year

 

[mtruman]

NICE! (But terrifying). We did the Precipice for the first time last summer. I wouldn't have dreamed that anyone would be doing it in winter. The views are absolutely amazing. I knew exactly where pic #15 was going to be before I looked. No place to hang on going across that ledge in the summer (which was half wet from weeping rock when we did it). Can't even imagine it in winter conditions. Pic #34 isn't much more comforting.

Great TR and pics. Makes me really want to get to Acadia in the winter (but not for this hike )