Hiking the Bubbles

Maine Week Travelog #6
Acadia National Park - Tuesday, 15 Jun 2021, 7pm.

Whoever named things in Acadia National Park had a weak way with words. They used up all the obvious name words like "Sand Beach" for a beach with, well, sand. When it came time to name a pair of knobby hills in the middle of the park all they could think of was Bubbles. So this afternoon we hiked first to South Bubble then North Bubble.



Atop South Bubble is this interesting balanced rock. It is named— wait for it— Bubble Rock. While Hawk and I were content to admire it from various angles, every kid under the age of 20 who was up there with us— and not a few of their parents— immediately took it upon themselves to try to push Bubble Rock off the cliff. It'll be a shame when one of those knuckle-draggers succeeds.



Also at the top of South Bubble is an awesome view south across Jordan Lake and to the Atlantic Ocean beyond. It's hard to see much of the ocean, though, because of the fog layer remaining this afternoon.

Most hiking guides suggest following a loop trail down to the edge of Jordan Lake from this summit and then coming back around toward the parking lot. South Bubble's taller sibling, North Bubble, is given no love. We decided we'd rather visit both bubbles than see a lake up close in the gloom.



The trail to North Bubble is steep. The South Bubble trail was by no means flat, but getting up to North Bubble requires ascending several staircases of natural stone and following blazes across slickrock. That's familiar terrain for us, though. Bare granite trails are all over the pace in the Sierra Nevada range, and we love them.



Views from the top of North Bubble are occluded by trees— perhaps that's why hiking guides give it short shrift— so I've included this photo of Jordan Lake and South Bubble (left edge) from near the top of North Bubble. If it were at the top, South Bubble would seem shorter.

After climbing both bubbles we returned down the trail to our car. Sunset isn't technically for another hour or so, but with the fog layer in the sky it's twilight already. We'll head back into town after this for supper.

Climbing the Beehive

Maine Week Travelog #7
Acadia National Park - Wednesday, 16 Jun 2021, 12pm.

"Let's get up early and beat the crowds at The Beehive," we agreed yesterday. "Let's try to be on the trail by 9 if not earlier."

Well, we had a slow morning, hampered no doubt by staying up until after midnight for no good reason. We didn't get underway at the trail until nearly 11. Oops. And it was crowded.



The Beehive is a popular hiking trail at Acadia National Park and for good reason. The rock monolith towers 500' over Sand Beach and affords views in all directions. Plus, the trail up the front face is challenging, with iron rungs and rails anchored in the rock for hikers to scramble up. Yes, that's an enticement!

In the picture above you can see how steep the face of the Beehive is. And you can barely make out some hikers ascending near the top. Here's a zoom picture of the top as we started up the trail from the bottom:



Hoo, boy, it's a traffic jam up there! A traffic jam of people climbing the rock like mountain goats!



The trail gets steeper in increments. First there are upward slopes. Then stone stair steps like in the picture above. Then come the iron rungs....



Looking up and seeing people's backsides was, alas, very common on a busy day like today. Of course, today's only a Wednesday. I dread thinking about what a madhouse this place will be on ordinary weekends this summer, let alone on holiday weekends.

I was behind a slow moving family with young children. At some point I was able to pass them— when the trail was wide enough!— but quickly I got trapped behind another slow moving group.



Waiting for people to figure out how to climb the obstacles didn't totally suck. There were awesome views like this to help while I was waiting!



This is one of the more intimidating climbs on the trail. It's also one of the last.

For those who are afraid of heights, suffer vertigo, or don't have the physical ability to climb with hands and feet on iron rungs, there's an easier trail around the back. Hawk took the not-iron rungs trail and agreed to meet me at the top.



Reunited! And she got there about 10 minutes ahead of me, taking the longer route. "I was stuck in traffic," I explained.