Hiking Acadia: How Many Mountains Have You Climbed?
Today the Bangor Daily News reported that "College of the Atlantic President Darron Collins is pledging to climb every Acadia National Park mountain-and even swim a fjord-in hopes of raising alumni donations to the college. Joined by two students, he will spend the day unpropelled by technology, meaning that the trio will walk-or swim-from peak to peak, climbing 28 of Acadia's peaks in 24 hours.
The intense "Trans Mount Desert Island Adventure" is a dream Collins, PhD, has had since returning to COA as president last year. Collins, a 1992 COA alumnus, did a lot of climbing when he lived on the island as a student-though never anything this adventurous. The timing coincides with the close of the college's annual fund which Collins set high this year."
Collins plans on starting his hike around 4am, and he and his two companions "plan to finish along the southwestern slopes of Bernard Mountain and Seal Cove. The combined height of the peaks is an estimated 22,000 feet. The distance is about 45 miles."
Map courtesy php.scripts.psu.edu
Having read that, I started wondering how many of those peaks I have climbed. My list comprises of a full moon hike up Cadillac, a high-intensity hike up Huguenot Head, Champlain Mountain and Dorr all in one day, a list totaling 14 of them. With this beauty surrounding us, and the close proximity of easy day hikes, there's no excuse for not taking advantage of them. My goal for this summer is to hike all 28 that Dr. Collins will climb, except I will spread my hikes out over the entire summer. Of all the trails I have hiked, my favorite one on MDI has to be Dorr Mountain, mainly because of its striking stature as you drive out of Bar Harbor. I love a challenge and that one screams challenge.
My co-worker Kelly Armstrong has climbed many more than I have, since she has the luxury of living in Northeast Harbor. She has taken her dog Nicki on many hikes as well. Where have you hiked? Do you have a favorite secret spot you like to visit?
Guy Dunbar says he has climbed every mountain on Mount Desert Island and believes it would be very difficult to do them all in 24 hours, plus he cautions how cold and powerful Somes Sound can be. Although it would be great if COA President Collins could complete his endeavor in 24 hours, it is a huge feat to attempt. Please do not attempt this on your own if you are not already conditioned for rigorous climbing and in top physical condition. Good luck to President Collins and his fellow climbers and we wish you a safe journey.
Source: Bangor Daily News <http://bangordailynews.com/community/coa-president-to-climb-28-peaks-in-24-hours/> By CollegeoftheAtlantic, Director of Public Relations Posted June 20, 2012, at 4:42 p.m. Last modified June 21, 2012, at 8:59 a.m.
