Mount Battie
On our last day in Camden, I decided to hike up Mount Battie, elevation 806 feet. Does that qualify as a mountain? I thought that compared to the much longer and higher hikes we had recently done out west, the 1.1 mile Mount Battie Trail would be easy. Boy, I was wrong!
From our cottage, I walked through downtown Camden and a quiet residential neighborhood to the trailhead. A small sign said that the trail involved “some” scrambling (a cross between hiking and rock climbing). The first portion of the trail was easy; then I reached a treacherously steep and seemingly endless series of large rocks. There was no other way to continue. I took my time and used my hands to clamber up the rocks. I didn’t look down - I looked up, searching for the faded blue dots of paint that marked the way. My “hike” had become a very long scramble. It was challenging, and I felt very brave.
When the rocks finally leveled off and I thought to turn around, the view of Camden Harbor and Penobscot Bay took my breath away! I knew I had reached the top when I saw the stone viewing tower with a spiral staircase. This was where Summit House once stood, a hotel-turned-social club. Now, the tower is a World War I memorial. Near the tower, a dozen or so people relaxed on camping chairs, enjoying the view. It was peaceful there. It was also exhilarating to be so high, gazing down at the town and out at the bay and distant islands.
I didn’t want to push my luck, so I hiked back down on the Carriage Road Trail, which was more than twice as long as the first trail but considerably less steep. It was hard to believe that horse-drawn carriages once traveled this road; now it was just a narrow footpath. It was poorly maintained and very bumpy, but no scrambling was needed. Final tally (including walking back to Camden later that day, for dinner): 26,000 steps, about 13 miles.
In the future, I’ll make sure to check the topographical map before attempting a new trail, even if it sounds short and/or easy. Later, I read that President Theodore Roosevelt went to Camden to climb Mount Battie. The beautiful vistas at the top certainly made it a worthy endeavor.
