Hadlock Loop Starting from the Parkman Lot

Just a quick note about skiing the Hadlock Loop on this beautiful, sunny, 23 degree day, this time starting from the Parkman Mtn. parking lot (Signpost 12). I thought it might make a difference to split the big climb in half. (It didn't! It takes me an hour and a half either way.)

Conditions could not have been better. The snow had been machine-groomed yesterday afternoon and was just the tiniest bit icy with some powder on top. It was perfect and should be very crowded there tomorrow!

(Photo: The Waterfall Bridge looking north toward Parkman Mountain.)

Skiing to the Amphitheater Bridge

Monday, Feb. 1, 2010 -- We had some rain over the weekend that melted a couple inches of snow, and then we had a dusting of snow last night. Temp. was low 20's so it seemed like a good day to ski. I thought I'd ski from Brown Mountain Gate House (Signpost 18) to the Amphitheater Bridge and on to the Cliffside Bridge, then turn around and come back the same way.

At the outset conditions were only fair, with a lot of debris on the ground and no machine-set tracks. After turning south at Signpost 19 and climbing that little hill, skiing conditions significantly improved. I guess it's because the trees don't overhang the road as much. The melting snow from the overhanging tree branches also sometimes turns to ice in the tracks. Once up the hill conditions were good, the sun was blazing, and I was happily on my way.

One of my favorite things about xc skiing is how quickly you warm up and don't even notice the cold. You can turn your face to the bright sun and bask in it for as long as you like. (Sunshine on your skin is very good for you in the wintertime because it provides much-needed Vitamin D for your sunlight-starved body.) I did my basking at the top of the little hill we call Buena Vista, which is just south of Signpost 20, where you have a beautiful long view of Northeast Harbor and beyond. (Photo: "Buena Vista.")



After that I was able to ski pleasantly to the Amphitheatre Bridge. Skiing off that bridge is one of my favorite little downhills. Just a few yards beyond that there was a big landslide blocking the road! I had never seen anything like that in Acadia before. It appeared that the snowmobile had been able to drive over it and continue tracking the rest of the way, so I figured I would climb over it too. With my skis still on I attempted to side-step up and over it, but thought better of it and decided to remove my skis and turn around. I had already been out for 45 mins which is what I had originally planned. Even climbing down off of it without skis was a little treacherous.

Coming back was exceptionally pleasant as it is for the most part a gently undulating downhill slope between the Amphitheater Bridge and Signpost 19 heading south. Frankie calls this section the High Seas. See you next time! (Photo: A section of the "High Seas" between Signpost 20 and the Amphitheater Bridge.)