Peak Bagger's Delight

The "trail" leading down from Sargent Mountain in Acadia National Park.    Peak Bagger's Delight winds its way up, down and over four summits-- Bald, Parkman, Gilmore and Sargent.  It is only a four mile hike but strenuous and for me difficult.  It took us nearly five hours to complete-- a time probably lengthened by rain and wet rocks.  It is particularly "delightful" because the four peaks are in close proximity to each other and can all be seen one from the other.  There is a great deal of hiking above treeline and lots of granite-- my favorite things.  As I lagged behind John and our friend Rick Fitzsimmons I spent some time channeling Otzi, the "Ice Man" found in the Italian Alps-- plodding along feeling weary and anxious for a bit of rest-- finding a slightly sheltered niche between the rocks and falling asleep, never to wake.  I, on the other hand, plodded along and reached a rocky summit where I could rest and carry on with renewed energy.

Here you see John and Rick at the summit of Sargent-- we had fog at times but the wind often swept it quickly away giving us the typically superb views of mountain and ocean that one gets in Acadia.  After Sargent there is a beautiful walk along the open ridge before dropping down into the woods and a very difficult trail back to the parking lot.

An uneventful trip home, a pleasant glass of wine with Liz and Rick on Kaler Road, a very satisfying alfredo with onion pizza from Belfast Variety (the Greek Salad not so great-- iceberg lettuce, too much feta), an hour with the three nannies from "Berkeley Square" and so to bed.