A look back at 2014

Looking back through all my pictures from the hikes of 2014 I feel pretty good about all the places I hiked.  I enjoyed all of them and some I will be returning to again and again.  2014 was a good year for me hiking and I hope to continue and even expand my trips in 2015.  Here is a look back at some of the moments I had on the trail.

Winter

View from Tom Leonard Shelter, Mass AT

Enjoying the Sun

Mass. AT

Spring

Spring brought more hikes along the Appalachian Trail in both CT and MA.  I hiked both solo and with the Boy Scouts.  It was always fun and mother nature never disappoints with the beauty along the trail.

Coming down St. Johns Ledges

Cliff face St. Johns Ledges

Pine Swamp Shelter, CT AT

CT AT

Climbing Warner Hill, Mass. AT

Summer

Rose on Quinnipiac Trail

At the end of June I was lucky enough to take a trip with a great group of hikers to the White Mountains of New Hampshire.  This was my first time hiking in New Hampshire and while the elevations kicked my butt, I fell in love with the views and the smell of the boreal forest.  I bagged my first and second 4K peaks, Mt Tom and Mt Jackson.  

View heading up Mt. Willey, NH

Ethan Pond Trail, NH

Macedonia Brook State Park

 In August, my wife and hiking partner, took a trip to New Hampshire and hiked along Franconia Ridge.  I was able to summit two more 4K footers, Lincoln and Lafayette, and she climbed her first and second.  It was a great trip and I can't wait to get back.  

Franconia Ridge Trail

Cairn on Franconia Ridge

Heading down to Greenleaf Hut

Autumn

Day hike in Sleeping Giant State Park

 One of my favorite hikes of the year was the section of AT that I took with the Boy Scouts from Jug End to Salisbury, CT.  It was so enjoyable, with all the views, that even the crazy weather we had didn't dampen our spirits.  This is a section that I would love to do again.

Mass. AT

View along Mass. AT

Snow on CT AT

Rand's View, CT AT

Billy's View, CT AT

Late November, Mass. AT

My last hike of the year I completed the CT section of the AT.  It was a beautiful day and I was able to spend it with family, which made the hike all that much better. 

Housatonic River, CT AT

Southern View, CT AT

On to more miles and smiles in 2015!! 

Hoyt Rd to Route 341 Kent

This past Sunday, I finished the Connecticut Section of the AT by completing the 11 or so miles from Hoyt Rd. to Route 341 in Kent.  There were three of us hiking, Kate and Mackenzie came along to see the views and see me finish my first state.  It was a cold morning, temps were in the mid twenties, as we drove to Kent and left one car at the Rte 341 parking area, then driving to the Hoyt Rd. parking area just over the line into New York.

We climbed up and over the 1000ft Ten Mile Hill through mixed hardwoods and rocky outcrops.  Even though the sun was out it was still cold and the breeze kept us adding and taking off layers as we went.

We stopped at the Ten Mile River shelter and had a snack and enjoyed sitting in the sun.  The shelter is in nice shape, with a well and privy nearby.  We didn't need water so I can't say if the well works or not.  There is a field that stretches out in front of the shelter to the east which must make for some nice sunrises for those that stay the night there.  After signing the register we continued on.

Ten Mile River shelter

From the shelter it's a quick walk to the bridge crossing the Ten Mile River and the trail follows along the Housatonic River for awhile.  There is a short road walk along a dirt road and then back into the forest which leads to Bulls Bridge road.  After another short road walk the trail climbs up through Oak trees and large boulders to the top of Schaghticote Mountain with views to the south.  The trail turns south for a short while and crosses back into New York along this stretch.

We stopped and ate lunch at the lookout  before heading north again.  The trail follows the western side of the ridge with views into New York until finally crossing back over the top into Connecticut. This section is fairly flat with a few rolling hills, but it is easy to get a good pace going.  Once we were back on the Connecticut side, we had some ridge walking with views down over the Housatonic River.  The afternoon was wearing on and we continued to push, although our pace was slowing down.  The trail goes down to cross a stream and then back up a few times.  The temps were starting to fall and the rocks in the streams were coated with ice.  This made for some interesting crossings. 

After crossing Thayer Brook, the last one for us this day, we climbed up and over Mt. Algo.  By this time it was getting late and we didn't want to have to hike out in the dark so we bypassed the Mt. Algo shelter and made our way to the car.  We got out just as the light faded.  It had taken a little longer then expected to hike but was well worth the effort.  It is also a nice feeling to have completed my first state on the AT.  I'll continue my day hikes and 2-3 day backpacking trips to finish up the closer states and will hopefully be able to schedule a longer trip farther from home.

Jug End to the Housatonic River

I went with the Boy Scouts today on a short section hike.  We hiked from Jug End Rd. to the Housatonic River and back.  It was about 10 miles out and back.  The day started and ended with clouds, the sun did break through around mid-day.  Temps were in the low 30's to low 40's with about 4-6" of snow on the ground.  This section of trail is mostly flat, winding through mixed forest, farm fields, and swampy areas.  Over all it was a fairly easy hike today.  We stopped along the river and ate lunch before turning back and heading for the cars.

 The snow made the landscape much different than it normally would be.  The bridges and board walks were covered and sometimes tough to see.  There were also quite a few small trees and bushes that were bent over and blocking the trail with the weight of the snow on them.  It also made for some fantastic views along the fields and looking toward the mountains in the distance.

 I've been wanting to hike past the Shays Rebellion site for awhile now and it was nice to finally be there.  As I hike through many of these New England areas I think of all the history here.  What it must have been like to live back in those times. It is very interesting.

Falls Village to Salisbury,CT

It was pretty cold this morning with temps hovering in the mid 20's as I drove to the  Route 41 parking area in Salisbury.  My wife had agreed to shuttle me down to Falls Village to hike this section.  I started hiking across the steel bridge at 9:45am with bright sunshine and still chilly temps. I warmed up quickly as I followed the river up toward Great Falls.

Once past the falls the trail climbs through hardwood forest and farm fields to the summit of Prospect Mountain.  There was still some snow on the ground in spots from earlier in the week and as I went up in elevation it covered most of the ground and trail as well.  The crunching of my steps from the snow, ice and leaves sounded quite loud as I hiked along.  There is a lookout on Prospect Mountain with views to the North looking out over the Housatonic River.

It was an easy descent to the Limestone Spring Shelter trail, which I had anticipated stopping at to cook lunch, but it was only 10am and I was feeling great and cruising along so I decided to continue on.  Rands View comes up quickly after that.  I had heard that this is one of the best views along the A.T. and have to agree.  It was thrilling to look at the ridgeline that I had hiked three weeks ago.  The view was memorable.

Bear Mt with Mt Everett and Race beyond

Mt Everett and Race

Bear Mt

The trail meanders around more farm fields and through forest to the Giants Thumb, a strange rock outcrop by the side of the trail.  Then its on to Billy's View and more meandering through hardwood forest.  The trail has a steep descent down from Wetauwanchu Mountain to Route 44.  Then it is a short road walk.  Once you turn back off the road the trail crosses a field and reenters forest, winding its way around private property to Route 41 and the parking lot.  I was at my car at 11:49am, hiking just over 8 miles in three hours.  It was a cold morning, but it felt great to be outside and on the trail.

Giants Thumb

Giants Thumb

Billy's View

shadows and light