“Alan and Lois Versus The Yellowjacks” — Acadia National Park

Trapped between its coastal mountains, lakes at Acadia NP come in all shapes and sizes. The one we hiked is Jordon Pond. Though we neither had the time nor energy to do the entire 4.5 mile loop around its shores, it didn’t much matter. The moment we arrived at its edge, we were treated with beautiful views of a dense tree lined lake surrounded by half submerged boulders with high hills visible in all directions — bliss

And then came the Yellowjacket incident…

As we walked back to the car, I suddenly remembered a YouTube video that raved about the “popovers” at Jordan Pond! Not familiar with these, I could only imagine that popovers are a tasty treat, and that’s exactly what the video confirmed. Apparently, these things have been fresh baked and served at the nearby lodge for years. Here’s what else I learned:

“Since 1893, guests to the park have been enjoying delicious tea and fantastically fluffy popovers on the picturesque Jordan Pond House Lawn. Pioneered by Nellie McIntire, the first proprietor of the restaurant, this tradition is certainly one that you don’t want to miss out on.” … and so on and so forth.

Given that description, how could we not do a popover or three? “Fantastically fluffy” sounds great. But perhaps my biggest reason for taking part in this tradition was peer pressure, that is fear of future incredulous stares from others, wondering why we were too clueless to partake. After all, there was a box to tick, a merit badge to be earned. But never mind. As we meandered down the path towards Jordon Pond House, Lois and I relished the thought of digging into a sweet treat after a nice hike at the lake.

A few more steps, and the lodge finally came into sight, a wonderful relic full of charm and character… with a great mass of people outside! A sinking feeling suddenly rushed over me that misery and mayhem was just ahead. As it turns out, the experience was indeed horrible, but not for the reason I first thought.

No sooner did we enter the grounds, Lois and I were engulfed by people everywhere munching down popovers with strawberry jam, sitting outside at umbrella covered tables on a beautiful lawn overlooking the lake. Alternatively, we could have chosen to sit inside and enjoy a full lunch — with popovers, of course — but only after an astronomical wait. No worries. My spirit quickly began to recover as I realized that after a hundred years of serving throngs of hungry travelers, Jordon Pond House had adapted and created an outdoor stand that sells the goodies we came for. Best yet, its line was moving relatively fast.

Sadly, that optimism lasted all of five minutes when we discovered there was no peace in this corner of Jordon Pond. People were not happy, and that’s putting it mildly. Lois and I were surrounded. The silver haired crowd was loud and complaining. Kids were freaking-out everywhere refusing to eat their popovers, the younger ones crying incessantly. Spouses were angry and yelling. And large families were standing in circles, bickering and debating in a desperate attempt to reach an impossible consensus — stay or go!

Suddenly, it dawned on us. It was the Yellowjackets — hundreds, if not a thousand or two. They were everywhere. It wasn’t the popovers these little beasts were after. It was the Strawberry JAM!

Adventurers that we are, Lois and I simply didn’t give a hoot. We just wanted to earn our popover merit badge and enjoy a warmed baked treat slathered in strawberry sugar. Happily, the line did indeed move quickly as people in front of us, fearing the Yellowjackets, would now and again give up and bail out. We, of course, are made of stronger stuff. 😮

So we got three orders of these goodies and made our way to a table. Those dang Yellowjackets were relentless, but we soldiered on. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for the first wasp to sound the alarm, and in no time at all we were at war with 20 of those devils. Like a pack of wolves, or Orcas at sea, they were very well coordinated. Silly us, we thought these critters were “meat bees” only interested in lunch meat and stuff like that. No, not true at Jordon Pond House. Maybe it's a case of 133 years of Natural Selection at Acadia National Park? All I know is these 21st Century bad boys were totally into the sugar — literally! I began to reach my limit when the Yellowjackets completely captured my jam. I kid you not, like kinky 1980’s mud wrestlers, nine or ten of them were rolling and squirming in my little tub of strawberry, completely covered in the sweet goo, shoving each other up, down, and every which way. With my plastic knife, I could temporarily flick most of them out. A packet of sugar made for an improvised lid.

Frustrated, Lois and I moved to another table, then another, then to the other side of the lawn. Alas, it was hopeless. Now and again, as we searched for shelter, we forlornly gawked at happy crowds of people inside the protective confines of the restaurant gorging on lunch with popovers — third party spectators to the cage match outside.

“Enough!”, we finally said. With remnants in hand, we headed to the car. Like the Pied Piper of Hamelin, those dang frenzied Yellowjackets did not leave us alone, following us all the way into the forest. It was a good 100 yards before the last hardy soul gave up and returned to the battle at Jordon Pond House, part of a Great War that surely plays out every day, all summer long.

“So was it worth it?” you ask. Hmm… The popovers were like Yorkshire Pudding — fun to look at, but not very sweet. They needed jam, but like everyone else’s, ours was full of who-knows-what Yellowjacket parts and excretions. Who could enjoy it (we ate ours anyway)? No way, no how, there won’t be a “next time”. Silly us. We should have waited for ice cream in Bar Harbor. That’s my kind of merit badge. 😀