9 Section Hikes Began: 5/23/2008 Finished: 11/9/2008 While I have a very long way to go to complete the Connecticut 400(825), completing my first of the longer CFPA trails leaves me with both a sense of completion and an odd feeling of sadness. Not sadness like sadness when you dog dies, but sadness in the sense … [Read more...]
Mattabesett Trail: Section 9
Section 9: I'll Be Mattabe-Seein' Ya Bear Hill Road - River Road (Eastern Terminus), 4.9 Miles November 9, 2008 This is it. My final Mattabesett Trail section. This 80 year old 50+ mile horshoe trail around Middletown (of all places) wowed me each time out. The fact that this trail is in such close … [Read more...]
3 Middletown Mattabesett Loop Trails
No Bears, Didn't Fall Once, And I Didn't Go Crazy Middletown, 4 miles total, solo October 7 & November 9, 2008 As all readers know by now, to complete the Connecticut 400(825), I am compelled (forced?) to hike all the trails described in the Walk Books. This becomes iffy at a few of the "trail network" places … [Read more...]
Mattabesett Trail: Section 8
Section 8: Powerful Stuff Seven Falls (Route 154) - Brooks Road, 5.7 Miles October 7, 2008 As I near the end of what is a much, MUCH better trail than I had anticipated to find when I began, I'm reminded again what makes hiking the CT 400(825) so unique. This is CONNECTICUT, the fourth highest population … [Read more...]
Mattabesett Trail: Section 7
Section 7: Not Resting on my Mountain Laurels Harvey Road - Seven Falls (Route 154), 7.2 Miles September 21, 2008 Continuing along the Mattabesett, still in Durham, but later crossing into Haddam, the woods are mostly populated by mountain laurel, maples, and beeches. Lots and lots of laurel abounds. I'm sure … [Read more...]
Mattabesett Trail: Section 6
Section 6: That's Mica, alLedgedly Lone Pine Trailhead (east) - Harvey Road, 7.9 Miles September 1, 2008 Another holiday weekend, another beautiful day here in Connecticut. Time to lace up the trail shoes, fill up the water bottles, grab the maps and hit the trail! I utilized (I never say "used") a friend from … [Read more...]
Mattabesett Trail: Section 5
Section 5: A Fun Hike; No Bluffing Stagecoach Road - Lone Pine Trailhead (East), 6 miles August 1, 2008 Life is about decisions. Decisions like, "Can I hike 10.6 miles after work in August?" Apparently, I told myself that I could. I neglected to factor in the 35 minute drive to the trailhead and that other … [Read more...]
Mattabesett Trail: Section 4
Section 4: A Real Pistol-Paug Routes 157/68 - Stage Coach Road, 7 Miles July 25, 2008 Phew! It's a hot one! No, not so much the 95-degree day I decided was fine to hike in... but the heated local debate about the Blue Trail gun range all-too-near the Mattabesett Trail on this, my fourth late afternoon hike … [Read more...]
Selectman’s Stones
A Man's Gotta Have Some Stones Selectman's Stones, Durham/Madison/Guilford September 1, 2008 There I was, in the middle of the woods, high above (relatively) Madison and Guilford Connecticut, along the Mattabesett Trail (Section 6). It was a great day for a hike - just a little bit warm. "I could use a cheap … [Read more...]
Lone Pine Trail
In the Pine, In the Pine... Where the Sun Never Shines Madison/Guilford/Durham, 4.1 miles, solo August 1, 2008 I'll say it... This is not my favorite trail in Connecticut. Now that that's out of the way, you ask, "Why?" Was it the fact that there were zero views? That dusk set in about halfway through? That … [Read more...]