The Taylor Hiking Group Tackles Acadia National Park’s Precipice Trail

~ Contributed by Deb Caban for the Taylor Hiking Group

Sometimes in life, and in hiking, it is preferable to look forward instead of looking back. If our group of mature senior women had not previously learned that lesson, the Precipice Trail in Maine’s Acadia National Park brought it to the forefront. We had to be focused on what was ahead of us because, unlike most trails, there was no option to turn around.

Philosophy and casual conversation—in other words, our normal bantering—were not allowed to be on the agenda. Complete concentration regarding where to place your hands and feet was necessary as we scrambled up the steep trail with strategically placed ladder rungs and foot holds. We have been hiking for 32 years together and this was one of our most challenging treks. Moving upward was imperative since the trail is too narrow to allow the two-way traffic of hikers.

“Do you ladies know that it gets harder as you go up?” A couple of younger women warned us that the Precipice Trail is not a casual hike.

Maybe our listening skills are diminishing? The trail rises 1,000 feet in .9 miles. It is home to nesting peregrine falcons and only opened in mid-August after the falcons had left the area. The reward after the vigorous climb is summiting Champlain Mountain.  The ocean and Frenchman Bay are less than a mile away as you sit at 1,058 feet above sea level. Also in view are the Porcupine Islands, Bar Harbor, the Cranberry Isles, and the other mountains of Mount Desert Island.

This was just one of the many highlights of another successful trip of Bedford’s Taylor Hiking Group. A week-long late summer journey to Acadia National Park celebrated the women’s 32nd year of hiking adventures. Jane Taylor of Bedford originally organized the group of mostly Bedford women to go hiking for a weekend in the White Mountains. The geographical range has widened to include Austria, Italy, Canada, and Montana’s Glacier National Park. This year’s travelers included Barbara Attardo, Lisa Baylis, Dotty Blake, Debbie Caban, Barb Chase, Morgan Cleveland, Mary Criscione, Birgit DeWeerd, Carol Long, Connie Matheson, and Jane Taylor.

Click each image in the gallery to see it at full size

There are 50,000 acres to explore in Acadia. Most are located on Mount Desert Island, the third largest continental island in the United States. Acadia is known for its pink granite mountains, oceanside cliffs, glacial ponds, and carriage biking trails. The Group saw bald eagles, seals, ospreys, and many seabirds.

Other highlights of our week included biking on the crushed gravel carriage trails that were built and donated by John D. Rockefeller Jr. In the 1930s.  Some of us took a ranger-led boat excursion to Islesford, also known as Little Cranberry Island. Others scaled Gorham, Acadia, and Beech Mountains. There was yet another non-technical but challenging climb up the Beehive Trail. We walked along the Ocean Path and saw rope climbers and the loud Thunder Hole attraction. We summited Cadillac Mountain (1,528 ft.), the first place to see the sunrise in the United States for much of the year.

We also swam in Echo Lake, walked the sand bar from Bar Harbor to Bar Island during low tide, and enjoyed dinner at the famous Jordan Pond restaurant. Our cozy home away from home in Otter Creek was a wonderful central location to minimize travel time for our many adventures.

A few rain showers during the week allowed for some downtime. There were more conversation games and discussions than naps as we schemed about the next activity.  As always, some of our hikers displayed their diverse culinary skills and prepared incredible meals – even with leftover ingredients.

The amazing bonding with this mostly retired group continues with a lake outing in the fall. Many will travel to Sedona, Arizona in the spring for another hiking adventure. Although lifestyles have changed with grandchildren, retirement moves, and volunteer activities, the members of the Taylor Hiking Group always find time to gather and enjoy each other.