Peak experience
Many people have their peak experience in Acadia National Park atop Cadillac Mountain. Not high even by Appalachian standards, the 1529-ft. summit of Cadillac Mountain nevertheless provides a view of the land and sea for miles in all directions, as we confirmed on the afternoon of June 9th. Because dozens of people were wandering about, I had to work quickly at times when a scene momentarily cleared. In contrast, one thing up there I didn’t want to exclude is this prominent boulder:
Smaller boulders adorned the mountain as well:
Look at the natural grooves in the top layer of rock:
And here’s a closer look at one of the many rocky surfaces covered with lichens:
© 2018 Steven Schwartzman
Love these forms and colours Steve!
exploringcolour
August 14, 2018 at 5:08 AM
Now you’ve reminded me of the many rocks and lichens I saw at Franz Josef Glacier on your South Island.
Steve Schwartzman
August 14, 2018 at 7:57 AM
There’s a nice variety of coloured lichens in parts of the South Island. What you saw on the West Coast would be some of the best I imagine.
exploringcolour
August 14, 2018 at 12:45 PM
I suspect you’re right about Franz Josef having some of the best lichens. The reddish ones in particular caught my attention:
https://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com/2017/03/22/new-zealand-still-more-things-than-the-glacier-at-the-glacier/
Steve Schwartzman
August 14, 2018 at 1:05 PM
Ah yes, I’ve seen that brilliant red-orange colour further south on the West Coast and couldn’t remember if it was present at the glacier area. Your photo removes all doubt, thanks for the link 🙂 Amazing colour!
exploringcolour
August 14, 2018 at 1:12 PM
The red-orange lichen remains unique in my experience, a worthy bonus on our first visit to a glacier.
Steve Schwartzman
August 14, 2018 at 1:16 PM
Wow! Really interesting you haven’t encountered it elsewhere!
exploringcolour
August 14, 2018 at 1:31 PM
Lots of erratics there. I think you visited the most famous one on one of the Bubbles.
Steve Gingold
August 14, 2018 at 5:27 AM
Yes, we did hike up to see the precarious Bubble Rock. I had an easier time getting pictures of the erratics shown here.
Steve Schwartzman
August 14, 2018 at 8:45 AM
I really like those subtle colours in the lichen. 🙂
Pit
August 14, 2018 at 6:16 AM
The upper part of Cadillac Mountain may well be the place with the most lichens I’ve ever seen.
Steve Schwartzman
August 14, 2018 at 8:47 AM
🙂
Pit
August 14, 2018 at 9:12 AM
This is a peak experience for me. I can finally say, “I’ve been there.” (And I tasted wild blueberries, for the first time, on the mountain.) After the trip to Cadillac Mountain we had a stop over for a popover at Jordan Pond House. The day was beautiful, as it is in your images, but there were only a few other people about. Lovely images, lovely memories.
Gallivanta
August 14, 2018 at 7:17 AM
I’m happy to have piqued your interest and awakened lovely memories. Now we’ve shared an American place. Good for you to have been there on a clear day, as we were, and to have avoided crowds, as we didn’t. In fact I couldn’t take the picture I wanted to from the shore of Jordan Pond because a family was having a picnic on the spot where I needed to stand.
At first I didn’t understand your reference to popovers, but in searching just now I see that popovers are an item on the menu at the Jordan Pond House Restaurant. We popped in to use the bathroom but didn’t stay to eat because we were still stuffed from a big breakfast at our hotel.
Steve Schwartzman
August 14, 2018 at 9:00 AM
Whereas we were very hungry by the time we got to Jordan Pond House.
Gallivanta
August 14, 2018 at 9:45 AM
Then we wish you a retroactive “Bon appétit.”
Steve Schwartzman
August 14, 2018 at 10:32 AM
You got to the ‘pique’ ahead of me, but I’ll still say that I would have been piqued had you not given us a peek at this peak. The view’s so nice, and once again there’s that glorious, smooth water to complement the textures of the clouds, rocks, and vegetation.
I couldn’t help thinking of the similarities between that place, Enchanted rock, and the Willow City loop. While I’ve not yet been to Enchanted Rock, the views from the loop can be just as appealing. The elevation of Willow City itself is 1,713 feet, allowing for some nice views from the road. The granite rocks there aren’t as impressive as these boulders, but they’re covered with lichens that look remarkably like these.
Now, if only we had some water to go with our rocky cliffs.
shoreacres
August 15, 2018 at 7:38 AM
How could I not give you a peek at this site, a Cadillac among mountain views? (Actually Cadillacs have gotten poor reliability ratings in recent years, if Consumer Reports surveys are accurate.)
I’ve been to Enchanted Rock several times and even once took an out-of-state visitor there, but somehow I haven’t been able to get excited about a return visit after all the scenic places you’ve seen in these pages over the past four years. Still, in the late fall I may give it another chance. I’ve also driven the Willow City route a couple of times, in the spring when the wildflowers make it so attractive.
And yes, central Texas could use some more water. The rain last weekend didn’t amount to much in Austin, and Lake Travis has dropped to 8 ft. below average for this time of year.
Steve Schwartzman
August 15, 2018 at 8:30 AM
What are those boulders doing there? Are they doing it right now? It sort of makes one wonder. Seriously though, I do wonder how they got there.
tonytomeo
August 16, 2018 at 10:16 PM
Good question. They seem to be what are known as glacial erratics, boulders carried along by glaciers and then deposited far from where they originated once the glaciers melted. I’ll probably show a picture of an even bigger one in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, you can read more at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glacial_erratic.
Steve Schwartzman
August 17, 2018 at 7:09 AM
Great shot of that boulder… love the colours of the lichen 🙂
Julie@frogpondfarm
August 19, 2018 at 3:12 AM
It was one of the most lichen-laden places I’ve ever been.
Steve Schwartzman
August 19, 2018 at 6:24 AM
I love the colors, patterns and texture of the lichen, and those boulders were quite impressive too. I get very restless in areas where there are a lot of people. It can be exasperating trying to get a decent shot sometimes.
Littlesundog
August 19, 2018 at 7:36 AM
It sure can. When we visited the Canadian Rockies and Badlands last August the swarms of people made enjoying many of the scenic places difficult. On the visit to Acadia two months ago we were fortunately still on the early side of the worst traffic, which I suspect would be happening now. Even with lots of other people around, we got to enjoy many places, and in every picture I’ve shown from that trip nature appears without any people.
Steve Schwartzman
August 19, 2018 at 11:23 AM
Great Shots Steve!! Always love “seeing” through your eyes with your images!
Reed Andariese
August 19, 2018 at 9:21 AM
I appreciate your vote of confidence, Reed. You’d have done a good job here, too.
Steve Schwartzman
August 19, 2018 at 11:24 AM
Beautiful shots. Thanks for sharing this perspective.
Birder's Journey
August 19, 2018 at 10:48 AM
You’re most welcome. If you haven’t been to Acadia, it’s worth visiting.
Steve Schwartzman
August 19, 2018 at 11:25 AM
Amazing write-up!
Half Glass Full
September 25, 2018 at 5:24 AM
Of a great place. Hope you get to visit there.
Steve Schwartzman
September 25, 2018 at 5:30 AM
I would love to visit this place too!
Half Glass Full
September 25, 2018 at 5:33 AM
Go for it!
Steve Schwartzman
September 25, 2018 at 6:09 AM
Someday..
Half Glass Full
September 25, 2018 at 11:14 AM