C A D I L L A C   M O U N T A I N

Acadia National Park
Central Maine Coast

Since there are no large trees to hold trail markers the Park Service use rock piles instead, called cairns (that's a good Scrabble word), to mark the trail. Funny, a long, long time ago when hiking was new to me, I first thought the rock piles were graves for small animals that couldn't be buried in soil since there was none of it to be found. Yeah, I know, pretty stupid thinking. But it still makes me smile when I think about it.

It's a pretty hostile environment up here. The evergreen trees are dwarfed and get smaller and smaller as I make my ascent.

There is very little color up here now, this berry bush is one of the few examples. In the springtime there must be more color up here I would think.

Another panorama.

My surroundings are turning more and more barren.

I soon encounter a large puddle of sorts where brown, tufted plants are thriving on its shores.