August 2020 – Wandering Feet and Random Thoughts

Due to this pandemic caused by COVID 19 I have not been traveling much further than my own backyard. Although I am extremely grateful to have a backyard to explore, I miss exploring the outside world. Recently I was craving lobster, which brought my mind around to my trip to Acadia National Park. A few years ago my family and I went for the first time, loved it so much we returned the following year. Acadia is a magical place for me. I adore the outdoors, coming from a long line of farmers, I feel the love of being outside is in my blood. I also have a fascination with history, Acadia is rich with both. To help soothe my soul in these precocious times, I felt it would be good to do some reminiscing about Acadia. Along the way I will share a few tips for my readers.

During our two trips to Acadia we hiked, through gardens, in forests, and of course up mountains. We saw the sunrise on Cadillac mountain (the first place the sun touches on the east coast for most of the year) and we climbed quite a bit, even topped Cadillac mountain. We had picnic lunches, ate in Bar Harbor restaurants and had popovers at Jordans Pondhouse. We also crossed the sandbar and dipped more than our toes in the ocean.

But one of the more interesting parts of our adventure was climbing the South Bubble. Yes it sounds cute, but let me assure you it was not. We climbed the South Bubble the first year we visited Acadia. Full disclosure I had greatly underestimated the amount and kind of hiking my family was capable of. Or in this case, how over our heads we would get. To preface this story my family had done some hiking on relatively easy trails, some climbing involved at home and at Acadia. But we had not done anything too strenuous. As an aside my girls who were just into the double digits at the time were hiking in sneakers, and quite honestly probably the ones they had worn the entire school year.

TIP #1 invest in hiking shoes.

The only one of us who had been to Acaidia prior to this trip was my husband. He had been to Acadia as a child with his family. As such he was the only one who had any experience. We were looking for our next hike one morning before lunch. We came across the trail for the South Bubble, my husband recalled seeing that when he was a child and it was not much of a hike at all. The description for South Bubble is as follows “ South Bubble: 1-3 pitch routes, some friction climbing, good beginner routes.” The only bit of that description that I understood at the time was “good beginner routes”. I think to myself, we are beginners, we can do this!

TIP #2 Buy a good quality hiking map.

This hike was an eye opener, especially for a nervous mother like me. Did I mention we also had the dog along? The dog is an excellent climber, a little too good at times with a little too short leash and he drags my kids behind him. Sometimes they are stronger and he nearly falls off a rock while trying to get over it because the leash is too short.

TIP #3 if you take your pup hiking take a long leash and do practice hikes with your pup (and kiddos) before your trip.

This takes a good deal of patience and finesse to get accustomed to. Of course, my girls insist they hold his leash. But we get the hang of hiking with the dog. If you’ve ever climbed any mountains, you know that it seems you go up and up and up some more. There are beautiful views and vistas along the way and when you think you are near the top, there is more up. I love hiking but I do not love heights, yes I know this seems counter intuitive. I especially do not like my kids standing on the edge of a cliff, which of course they revel in. The South Bubble is not different, it felt never ending. Also remember we are anticipating this being an easy hike, maybe an hour tops. It is not, and it is also getting late in the morning. We did not pack provisions enough for a strenuous hike, and lunch time is nearing.

TIP #4 Always pack more food, water etc than you think you will need.

However we are nearing the summit and can feel we are getting close, when BAM!! We come to a pass, there is only one way to continue on. This piece of the hike is about a 3-4 foot step up in what I would call a crack in between the boulders. I would say it looked to be 6 inches wide, ok so maybe a bit wider but not much. How are we going to get these kids up that step and then climb over the rock to a flatter top. Not to mention the dog. I am in full internal freak out mode, breathe, breathe, stay calm. So many questions flood my head, Is the rest of the trail this way? Do we have to go back down the way we came? How long will that take? Is it even possible? Can I just stay here? Would some helicopter airlift me home? What if someone freaks out halfway through the crack (namely me)?

Upon reflection we realize we have not passed many hikers going down the way we’ve come up and scaling those boulders downhill seems super frightening. Seems our choices are continuing upwards or the helicopter rescue. (my secret hope) Ultimately cool heads prevail and we decide to send my husband up to see what the terrain is like in front of us. The girls and dog and I find a small spot to wait for him. Now I am not a thin person and I am also not very tall, and so a 4 foot step up which is only wide enough for one foot and I doubt my hips is not ideal to say the least. However as we sat, on what felt like a cliff edge and waited and waited and waited. I watched many people come up the trail behind us. I witnessed how individually they approached that crack in the boulder. I saw hikers 10 -20 years older than me manage it. I witnessed one young couple contemplating it. He was all let’s do this no problem, she was more hesitant and at one point said, do you really think my back side is going to fit through there? As I mentioned they were young and in love so he said the right encouraging words and indeed they both made it through. I also spoke to a guide, helping another couple hike the Bubble. I asked her about the rest of the hike and she assured me we were close to the top and it is not too treacherous past this part. At this point I am trying to keep my children off the rock face, as they are sure they can find another way, oh did I mention once you are through the little crack there is nothing behind you but sky. I’m having cold sweats just remembering that. So as I am trying to remain calm and keep the kids from scaling the side of the cliff a couple with a dog came by. They had 2 teenage sons and I am sure the mom saw the worry on my face. I watched how they managed to get their dog up the crack. And then the mom kindly turned to me and offered to have her boys help hold our pup while we got the kids through. Thank heavens for the kindness of strangers, because that’s what we did. My husband had just returned and informed us we would be okay once we got past this part.

And so the dog went first, he is only about 40 lbs but lifting a four legged oddly shaped furball up over my head to my husband was not easy or graceful. especially considering my rescue pup is still terrified by my husband. However once through, the pup was happy to hang with two teenage boys. Next the kids went through. I held my breath, and hoisted them up while my husband pulled them through. They of course loved every minute of it.

Now it was my turn, me and my hips. Fortunately all of this watching and waiting had given me some confidence that I could manage this. Although I still was worried I would become a piece of the mountain forever wedged in that crack. With no helicopters in sight I took a deep breath and one humongous step and then another as I pulled myself though. Then clinging with dear life to the rock face and over the edge. NEVER looking back. Truthfully this was terrifying. However it also came with a giant sigh of relief and pride in knowing that we could indeed work this out as a family (with a little help). From there on we made it to the top rather quickly or at least that is how I remember it. The view literally took my breath away.

The feeling of relief and success did not last long as just below the summit is a boulder somehow precariously stuck on the edge looking like it is defining the laws of physics. Shockingly my kids had to take a pic “pushing” it over the edge. I just turned my back so I couldn’t watch and pet my dog instead.