From collection Place
Two steep, winding, moderately difficult, memorial trails, the Emery and Schiff Paths, with many VIA and CCC constructed features including staircases, rock paving, closed and open culverts, and retaining walls. Tread includes gravel, soil, and exposed summit rock. The path winds through large rock cuts, over ledges, along the face of Dorr Mtn with views of Sieur de Monts, Great Meadow, Bar Harbor, Champlain Mtn., and Atlantic Ocean. The Emery Path begins at Sieur de Monts Spring beyond the Spring House and an engraved stone "Sweet Waters of Acadia." It ascends by VIA stone pavement, steps, and retaining walls with coping stones, and extensive iron pins. CCC records indicate that some closed culverts were rebuilt in the 1930s. The route passes the upper end of the Homans Path (#349) to intersect with the upper end of Kurt Diederich's Climb (#16) and the lower, east end of the Schiff Path. Heavily used, some of the stones have shifted and sections with gravel surface have eroded to stone rubble, but most original stonework is intact. The Schiff Path connects four lower trails on the east face of Dorr Mountain to the summit, including the Ladder Trail (#64), Kurt Diederich's Climb (# 16), Emery Path (# 15), and Homans Path (#349). The trail was constructed as part of the memorial path system radiating from Sieur de Monts Spring, but there is no record of an associated plaque or engraved stone. The trail has extensive built features including steps, iron-pinned retaining walls, stone pavement, and enormous capstone culverts. Though well-armored by its durable construction, the trail is heavily used and is eroded in sections. Most of the gravel surface has been lost, exposing the rock rubble base. Many closed culverts are either partially collapsed, filled, or no longer effective. The final upper section is less constructed as the trail ascends over exposed summit rock and is guided by cairns and blue painted blazes. TS, MB, GJS
