Date Hiked: May 20, 2007

Conditions: For the most part all trails in good shape -- no blowdowns or difficult sections to speak of. On the Metacomet trail, we lost the trail for about a mile between route 71 and Summitwood Drive. (If you are in this section carefully look for blazes... the trail heads back into the woods... it does not follow the dirt road, though they both take you out to the same place. The purists in our group went back to pick up the section... while the rest of us had lunch.) On the Mattabessett trail, the relo up Lamentation was easy to follow and well-blazed... we had one spot where most of the group missed a turn (near the burnt out car in the woods between Summitwood and Lamentation Drive) but their route rejoined the trail anyway. Blazes are very faint coming down between Lamentation and the canal -- take care to look for them, especially in the dark.

Comments: We lucked out with the weather -- it rained as we started and near the end of our hike... it cleared up to be a beautiful day in the middle. Highlights included seeing a turkey vulture up close, finally getting a glimpse of Long Island Sound 21 miles away, all of the wildflowers along the route and all of Dugan's treats. This was the end of the Metacomet for about half the group... thanks to Greenwood, Dugan, Tramper Al, Amicus, Ailsa and Rock Goddess for a great day.

Submitted by: poison ivy & friends