Photo Foraging

I love mushrooms.  Not to eat, mind you.  Even though I’m vegan and eat mostly fruits and veggies, I really don’t care for mushrooms of any variety.  When I’m hiking, though, I’m always on the lookout for fungi.  I’m not sure what it is about them, but I love to photograph them.  I like seeing all the different formations, and the colors — though in my neck of the woods, colorful mushrooms aren’t easy to come by.  In my ten years of hiking here, I can only recall one instance where I found a really spectacular display of color, and that was found on the trail at Stevens Glen.  That doesn’t stop me from photographing them, though.

I usually make an anual trip to Acadia National Park to do some hiking, and while the trip usually doesn’t result in any spectacular mushrooms, it definitely did in September of 2010.  For some reason, conditions were just right, and the entire park was covered with huge, gorgeous, colorful mushrooms.  The Gorham Mountain Trail had lovely displays, including a set that was floating in the water collecting on rock slabs.  And while we were driving around the park, we kept stopping the car and jumping out to snap more photos.  I haven’t seen any so wonderful since, but I always keep my eyes peeled.

As with my other Acadia photos, I lost any and all shots when my computer gave its last breath.  I have back-up discs somewhere, but for now, I’m sharing Laura Marshall’s photos from Acadia so you can see exactly how awesome these mushrooms were.

Anyone else out there into photographing mushrooms?  Or just hunting and identifying?

 

National Park Week: Acadia

Seeing as it’s National Park Week, I thought I’d write about one of my favorite destinations: Acadia National Park in Maine.  It boasts endless trails, ocean views, beaches, dense forests, ponds, carriage roads for bicycling — everything you could want in a park.  I particularly love visiting during the fall when the colors are breathtaking and the kids are all back in school.  While some areas can be crowded, even during the off-season — Sand Beach and Cadillac Mountain, most notably — the lesser-known trails give me the peace and quiet I prefer when hiking.

I’ve tested out a few different trails in the park, including the famed Precipice Trail which has folks using iron rungs in the rocks to pull themselves up this 1,000 foot climb on the east rockface of Champlain Mountain.  It’s what is known as a non-technical climb, so it’s definitely not for the faint of heart or the unfit.

For those not up to the challenge, there are plenty of easy and intermediate trails to explore.  One of the most popular is the Ocean Path trail, which is a two-mile path (4 miles round-trip) along the edge of the ocean.  Best walked early in the morning, it has unending opportunities for photographs of the crashing surf and granite cliffs.  It can be fairly crowded, especially as it takes you through some of the most popular tourist attractions including Thunder Hole, Monument Cove, and Otter Cliff.  But it allows you to enjoy these treasures without having to stop the car every mile and jump out.

As for my prefered trails, I highly recommend Gorham Mountain Trail.  It’s not quite as popular as some of the others, but that’s okay with me.  It’s mostly a moderate hike, with opportunties for a bit of a challenge with the Cadillac Cliffs side trail, but the view from the summit is the true reward.  I love bringing sandwiches and enjoying them while taking in the 360 views of mountains and ocean.

Another fantastic trail that isn’t in Acadia proper is the Compass Harbor Trail.  This trail isn’t challenging by any means, but it leads you to the ruins of Old Farm, which was the residence of George Dorr, the “Father of Acadia.”  It provides hours of fun exploring the ruins and the various unmaintained trails that adorn the property.  Nice views of the harbor can be found along the edge of the cliffs, but take care not to tresspass on the private property that borders this area.

I love Acadia for its wonderful trails and beautiful ocean views.  The best way to enjoy all the park has to offer is to buy a week pass and either camp in one of the park’s two campgrounds, or rent a nearby cottage.  A week gives you time to enjoy many of the trails during the days, and then wander charming Bar Harbor in the evenings.

If you go:

Official website: nps.gov/acad

(From the website): Acadia National Park is open all year. Information is available at park headquarters all year and at Hulls Cove Visitor Center from April 15 through October.   Most facilities-including the visitor center, museums, picnic areas, Seawall Campground, and many roads-close during the winter. Most of the Park Loop Road, including the road to Cadillac Mountain, is closed from December 1 through April 14 and at other times when severe weather creates dangerous conditions.   There is an entrance fee between May 1 and October 31, no matter how you enter or where you go in the park.

Entrance Pass: $20 June 23-early October; $10 May 1-June 22 and early October-October 31.  Good for entrance into Acadia National Park for one vehicle for seven days, including the date of purchase.

Individual Entrance Pass: $5.  Good for entrance into Acadia National Park for one individual (pedestrian, motorcycle, bicycle, etc.) for seven days, including date of purchase.

Acadia Annual Pass: $40.  Good for entrance into Acadia National Park for one vehicle for one year from date of purchase.

Be sure to check the website for fee updates and trail closures/park accessibility before you travel.

Happy National Park Week!

[Thanks to Laura Marshall for use of some of her photos; many of mine vanished along with my hard drive a while back.]