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Directions
All set to climb the cliffs and ladders of the Precipice Trail on Champlain Mtn in Acadia National Park. It goes pretty much straight up over the cliffs. We've already been warned by other hikers about how steep it is.
We're going right up the side of this to the top hopefully. |
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Just a few hundred feet in on the Orange and Black Path, we come to our first obstacle. Those rungs are far apart for those of us who no longer have young flexible knees. But I eventually made it up and over. 
The next challenge was a huge boulder field to scramble through.
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We now have some narrow paths on ledges traversing the cliffs before we get to the Precipice Trail. 
There is also a nice wooden bridge to fill in a gap where no narrow ledge exists. |
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A really nice long rock staircase going down quite a ways. At this point, we are doing a lot of ups and downs. 
It's starting to open up some now for some great views. We could have walked out on that rock for a good look, but we didn't! |
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Now a nice steep rock staircase going up. 
We have arrived at the Precipice Trailhead. The Orange and Black Path will continue along the base of the mountain and will intersect with the North Ridge Trail which we will take for our return. |
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In just a short distance, we come to our first set of iron rungs. Straight up over, then to the left for another set that's barely visible in the picture. The fun begins! 
Then the trail follows this cool ledge along the side of the cliff. The paths just keep getting narrower and closer to the edge. |
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Another set of rungs. For some reason the next section had an iron ladder instead of rungs. It was loosely attached which made it a little more exciting to climb. 
More narrow ledge walking but nothing compared to what's to come. |
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Now we are right on the edge and getting fantastic views.
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Looking north up Bar Harbor way into Frenchman Bay
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It just gets more exciting at every turn!
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Joyce is pulling herself up off a steep section to another ledge. We are thankful for the iron handrails.
Looking up, we can see some hikers making the final accent to the top of the cliffs. Still a short distance to get to the top of the mountain. We still have to navigate a couple of steep sections to get to that point.
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Unbelievable beautiful spot and also very close to the edge. 
Our last on the edge moment. If this doesn't get the heart pumping, nothing will. We have to go around a corner here so we can't see what's ahead. And the ledge protrudes out over the handrail so we can't really see it. We just hope it continues as long as we need it.
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We made it to the top of the cliffs. We can actually see our car in the parking lot below. 
Now we can relax a little and take in the views.
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Just a short jaunt to the top and this is the first thing we see. Shouldn't this really be at the bottom too? 
It would be hard to imagine a more beautiful spot for lunch.
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We had a fantastic fall day to climb. It was warm but not humid and the visibility was great.
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At the very peak with the faded but readable sign pointing out the several trails that go up and down Champlain Mountain.
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Just enjoying the views at the top. 
I have to do this now because everyone expects it.
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We hate to leave but it's time. We are taking the North Ridge Trail down. It's an easy to moderate trail down over mostly smooth granite. It intersects with the Orange and Black Path which will take you back to the parking lot. There is also a cutoff trail from the Orange and Black Path that goes out to the park loop road. We did this and walked the road back to the parking lot. 
Not a great picture but not too bad for a quickly taken phone picture taken through the windshield. Just before the visitor center and park exit, two deer ran out in front of us and scurried up over the bank.
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