looking down on the Feather Bed and the Eagles Crag. This was such a fun run for me and the longest in 20 years. I have to confess I didn't run the whole time as the views were too good to run by and some of the trails I chose to go down were wicked! I started at the south ridge of Cadillac Trail head just past the cute little village of Otter Creek and across from Blackwoods campground. I ran up Cadillac from there, took a short side trip around the eagle's crag and up to the summit. It was not to bad really as the climb was gentle and runnable the whole way except for a steep bit just after the feather bed, the small grassy tarn in the first photo.
looking down towards Bubble pond on the NW Cadillac trail with Pemetic Mtn just behind. After the summit I went down the NW Cadillac trail that traverses some...actually lots of steep, often wet (The park rangers tell me) granite ledges. It heads down to the north end of Bubble pond , which is actually a whole valley away from the Bubbles proper. The trail went straight down through very jumbly rocks, lots of walking and careful stepping. I would not take this trail again going down. But....
Bubble pond Once I got down to Bubble pond unscathed, I was ready to run again . . . . up Pemetic Mtn. This trail was steep and rooty, and went through a very nice mature Red spruce forest.
Sargent ridge on the way up The trail down from Pemetic to the Bubbles trail head was steep but you could move fast on it. It is better travelled than the NW Cadillac route and the trail is easier to find as well. There is even a split in the trail where you can stay high on a steep ledge or descend into a cranky, wet ravine. With the wet weather all about me, I stayed high and .......damp. I took the trail from there down the east side of Jordan Pond as this is nice and flat and gives one a chance to open up a bit. I stay away from the west side however due to the extensive two plank boardwalks they have there. Scary for running on.
Once at the Jordan pond house I refilled my Camelbak and went up Penobscot and Sargent mountains, My favorite trail in the park. The beginning of the trail is quite steep with ladders and built in timber walkways which make running impossible for me. This only lasts a short bit and then it opens up into that relatively gentle downeast slickrock that is so nice to run on. By this point it was raining and the fog was setting in quite thick.
Once at the Jordan pond house I refilled my Camelbak and went up Penobscot and Sargent mountains, My favorite trail in the park. The beginning of the trail is quite steep with ladders and built in timber walkways which make running impossible for me. This only lasts a short bit and then it opens up into that relatively gentle downeast slickrock that is so nice to run on. By this point it was raining and the fog was setting in quite thick.
Sargent Mountain Pond After getting to the top of Sargent and returning down, I took an unexpected side route down a Hadlock brook trail. Feeling goofy after I realized it I turned around and went down the right way to Sargent mtn pond. remote little tarn at 1070 ft. nestled right in between Sargent and Penobscot mountains. Once back to Jordan pond house , soaked and smelly, I warily crept into the restaurant expecting to be asked to leave on account of BO and asked for a salt shaker to sprinkle in my camelbak after refilling again. Lucky for me they obliged and I thanked the host happily as I went back out into the trails. I returned via the Canon Brook trail and up to the feather bed again.
I will definetly have to get salt pills or electrolite tabs if I keep doing these extra long runs as I sweat like nobodies business. A good half hour stretching session is a necessity after a run like that as well. I felt suprisingly good though and took 4 days off after wards.
I hope to be able to run in the park again with some fun folks some time soon.
I will definetly have to get salt pills or electrolite tabs if I keep doing these extra long runs as I sweat like nobodies business. A good half hour stretching session is a necessity after a run like that as well. I felt suprisingly good though and took 4 days off after wards.
I hope to be able to run in the park again with some fun folks some time soon.
Some chump on the trail
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