By Paul Smith, Editor
NECCC Bulletin
Acadia National Park Mt. Desert Island, ME
I have visited and photographed at Acadia National Park several times over the years. It has not been until the past year that I have discovered what a truly magnificent park it is. The past 2 Octobers have been nothing short of amazing.
I have been treated to virtually all of the amazing diverse light and weather conditions that one could hope for in a short 5 day visit (5 days each of the last 2 years). For a relatively small mountain, Cadillac Mountain, (1530 feet) can offer a wide range of weather patterns. The most common seem to be fog and wind.
Last year just before and during sunset, I was privileged to photograph low lying clouds/fog beneath me. This year just before and during sunset, wind swept fog was painted beautifiul hues and colors by the setting sun.
The Park Loop Road which follows the coast is an amazing place to photograph any time of the day or night. The weather can vary from bright and sunny, to cold and foggy (and everything in between).
My favorite season to photograph Acadia is in the fall. The colors typically peak a little later than you would expect, around the third week of October. Being surrounded by the ocean, the climate is a bit more moderate, accounting for the delay in the display of colors. This year was an exception, as the peak seemed to be around the 2nd week of October. You can find splendid color throughout the park. There are many areas of colorful birch trees, so beautiful with their white bark and hues of yellow and red.
Another very photogenic area of the park is Jordan Pond. If you do go there, make plans for a light lunch at the Jordan House with their world famous popovers (and rightly so). A great sunset location is Bass Harbor Light. Be careful if go here, you must make your way over very uneven rocks. Also, make sure you know what the tide is doing before you go. This year, I got hit by a rogue wave (but, it was well worth it)!!
I would like to make "Favorite Places" a regular feature of the NECCC Bulletin. I am asking everyone in the NECCC family to share some of your favorite New England places. Just send to: bulletin@neccc.org
A small gallery of Acadia National Park images can be found in the current bulletin FALL14
