South Taconic section hike

Mac and I went for a nice section hike on the South Taconic Trail yesterday, from Bash Bish to the Mt. Washington SP headquarters.  It was a little over 6 miles on a nice mostly sunny day with temps in the 60's.  I have hiked this section as an out and back a few times so I had warned her that there was a good climb to start off then it would be a nice ridge walk.  I had forgotten how hard of a climb it was.  We climbed roughly 1000' elevation in about 1.3 miles.  We were both whipped when we got to the top.  We stopped and had a snack and some water, taking a much needed break.  Once back on the trail it was much as I remembered it, a rolling ridge walk with scattered views both to the East and West.

  We could clearly see the Catskills in the distance.  Now that we were on the ridge we made good time and were soon at the summit of Alander Mt.  We took another break and enjoyed the view before making our way back and taking the Alander Mt. trail back to the State park headquaters and the car.  The Alander Mt. cabin is still standing, although it is a little rougher than the last time I was there.  The floor is getting pretty spongy.  Mac enjoyed checking out all the notes and trinkets left by other hikers.  The trail back hasn't changed much from my last trip.  We passed the primitive camping areas and were soon back at the car.  We were both tired, the initial climb having taken a lot out of us, but I enjoyed the hike and love that area.  We will be back.

Mattatuck Trail (Northern Section)

 It was a beautiful spring day for a hike and we took advantage of it.  The girls and I decided to hike another section of the Mattatuck Trail in Cornwall and Warren.  This is the last section of trail on the Northern section of the Mattatuck Trail from Flat Rocks Rd. to Valley Rd.  We parked one car at the Valley Rd. trailhead and drove up to Flat Rocks Rd.  We began hiking just before 10 am in cool temps and a nice breeze.  

The trail wanders through a mixed forest of hardwoods and Hemlocks following along the West Branch of the Shepaug River.  It then climbs up along the side of the valley.  If there was a theme to this section of trail I think it would be rocks!  It was very rocky and it slowed us down a little climbing over them and hopping from rock to rock.  The trail does eventually follow some old woods roads, possibly made by the CCC’s in the 1930’s, with a few scattered views of the Upper Shepaug Reservoir before heading back into the woods. 

There are many signs for Water Company land and the trail seems to stay close to the property lines for the most part.  It does dip into the Water Company property here and there at times, but stays mostly on State of CT land.  There are numerous streams to be crossed and the trail goes around a swampy beaver pond.  Then through more hardwood forest with some stone walls here and there.  At about the half way point we crossed Hardscrabble Rd. and climbed a little more.  The trail never gets close to the reservoirs, I guess they don’t want people to be too close to the public water supply.  More hardwood forest and back to a very rocky section before a downhill push to the car.  

It was a nice walk through the woods, but lacked any true views or other interesting features.  I thought at times the trail twisted and turned for no reason either.  Were they just trying to make miles?  We enjoyed a nice lunch break under some large Pines on the soft needles of the forest floor.  All in all it was a fun hike on a beautiful day with family.  We hiked just about 8 miles for the day.