26 Mountain Peaks in 4 Days… A Newly-Hatched Goal for June

This past weekend, I was sitting in Fairpour working on my owl sketch when the woman occupying the table next to me happened to glance over at my handiwork.

“Is that a barred owl?” she piped up.

“Yep,” I responded.  “My sister wanted me to draw one for her.”

“That’s very good,” she said, as she continued to study the bird on my sketch pad.  “That reminds me of a drawing my sister did for one of my books.”

As it turns out, this woman was a local author of a series of children’s books, and I was about to get some free schooling on the art of writing.  In the hour that followed, we also discussed artwork, good movies, bad movies, television noise, early-morning solitude, and the ideal conditions for personal productivity.  I’d have to say that it was quite an enjoyable conversation.  At one point when we were discussing writing, I commented that I’m a fairly decent writer, but I take too long to get my thoughts flowing on the paper…  instead, plopping down a sentence or two, staring at it, and then adding another a few moments later.

“Oh no no NO!” she exclaimed.  “You need to just write…  WRITE…  Get your thoughts down on paper.  Worry about editing and revising that first draft later.”

“I know,” I agreed, nodding my head.  “I KNOW!  I just have to practice.”

With that in mind, as I write the rest of the entry you’re about to read (if you haven’t given up already), I will attempt to refrain from stalling and poking around during my initial creative process.  Instead, the thoughts shall magically flow from my fingers to the keyboard to the illuminated screen before me… uninterrupted by the restraints of my self-critical eye.

Now that we’ve ferried that load of bullshit out of the way, let’s talk about my newly concocted plan for my upcoming week of camping in Acadia during the waning days of June.

Although this will still be considered a ‘family camping trip’, as my sister, brother-in-law, and two nephews will be in the tent at the campsite fifty yards down the path, I will find myself solo in my own tent for the first time in many years.  While this will definitely take some initial adjustment, it also presents the opportunity to undertake some new, and perhaps more ambitious endeavors, during my six full days on Mount Desert Island.

Of course, there are certain pleasures that I’ll continue to enjoy just as I have for the past several years…  brewing a cup of freshly ground coffee in the Chemex at dawn, while enjoying the view of Somes Sound…  logging several runs on the majestic carriage roads of Acadia, including my favorite 13-mile loop that circles Eagle Lake, as well as Jordan Pond and the Seven Bridges downhill stretch near Aunt Betty Pond…  visiting some of my favorite restaurants in Bar Harbor for good vegan food and local beer.

And I’ll still spend plenty of quality time with my sister and her family, but I’m certainly not going to suffocate them for the week.  With the trip approaching fairly quickly, I’ve spent some time thinking that I need some sort of a goal to keep me physically, emotionally…  even spiritually fulfilled.

A few days ago, I was perusing my waterproof map of Acadia’s trails and mountain peaks, trying to find some routes that I’ve seldom or never attempted.  I’ve been hiking these trails for probably thirty-five of the almost forty-two years I’ve been stumbling around the planet, so finding a path upon which I’ve yet to wander is a fairly tall order.

And then it occurred to me…  Why settle on just a few mountain peaks?  Why not cover all twenty-six?

Anybody familiar with Acadia’s rocky landscape is well aware that most of its peaks are of fairly humble stature, with the popular Cadillac Mountain clocking in at a modest 1,530 feet in elevation.  We’re not talking Everest, McKinley, or even Washington.  Still, covering twenty-six peaks within a week’s time could be a chore, especially when weather is taken into consideration.

While this idea is barely days old, there are several guidelines that I’m already considering.

First of all, I’d like to accomplish this feat in four days.  While I’ll be at the campground for six full days, I’d like to reserve at least two for a substantial run on the carriage roads, as well as a journey or two in the kayak.  Looking at Acadia’s map, I’m confident I can split this up into four substantial hikes… two on the east side of the island and two on the west side.

Second of all, I may need to pick up the pace and actually run some of the flat, gradual stretches.  I’ve always hiked Acadia’s peaks during family vacations and have kept the pace leisurely.  While I by no means want to hurry through in a blur, I also don’t want to be finishing so late each day that I don’t have time to drive into Bar Harbor and park my tired ass at a bar stool with my sketchbook and a blueberry ale… or enjoy a hearty evening meal around the campfire with my sister and her family.  This means that I may spend some time with the local trail running group after a few weeks off to recover from Boston.

Finally, I’d like to avoid the use of my car or other transportation mid-hike.  Of course, I’ll certainly drive to an ideal starting point each day and plan my route so that I finish back at the car.  But I don’t intend to hike several peaks, jump in my car, and hike several more.  I want each day’s journey to be totally on foot, undisturbed by vehicular interruptions.

I’m sure that I’ll think of other constraints as June approaches, but this seems like a good starting point.

The mountains and landscape of Acadia have always held a special place in my heart, as many of my family’s fondest memories, both during my childhood and adult years, can be traced back to Mount Desert Island.  During every visit, a multitude of emotions are always stirred up from within… joy, awe, wonder, elation, sadness, hope… I’m fairly certain that a few tears may be shed at some point during a potentially solo journey over twenty-six individual mountain peaks.  However, while this idea is only days old, the potential challenge excites me, as does the opportunity to pamper my soul in one of the most beautiful places on the planet.

As for my writing goal referenced above, I think I was fairly successful.  I wrote continuously and freely, stopping only to answer phone calls, make my late-morning coffee, and break for lunch.

I think that local children’s author would be proud.