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Here's the latest Connecticut trail conditions as reported by you, our
viewers.
Trail: AT (rt 41 over lions head to jug end)
Trail: Mount Higby
Trail: AT from RT. 41 to Riga Shelter
Trail: Chauncey Peak
Trail: AT Via Undermountain Trail
Trail: Brinkerhoff Trail to Ensor's Trace
Trail: Macedonia Ridge
Trail: Macedonia Ridge
Trail: AT Bear Mountain, UnderMountain, Round Mountain
Trail: AT From Rt. 41 (Plateau Campsite) to Race Brook Tail 13.8 miles
Trail: GRIDLEY MOUNTAIN BUSHWHACK
Trail: GRIDLEY MOUNTAIN BUSHWHACK
Trail: Mt. Frissel Trail
Trail: AT From Rt. 7 to Rt.41 Salisbury (10.8 miles)
Trail: Mattatuck Trail from Wolcott to Buttermilk Falls
Trail: Tunxis Trail from Rt 219 to Rt 20
Trail: AT From River Rd. to Rt. 7 (18 miles)
Trail: AT From Bulls Ridge to River Rd. (12.1 miles)
Trail: AT, Rt. 41 to Jug End Road
Trail: Appalachian Trail - Bulls Bridge Road to Route 341
Trail: Cobble Mountain (Macedonia Brook)
Trail: AT From Hoyte Rd - Bulls Ridge
Trail: AT
Trail: APPALACHIAN TRAIL, SALISBURY, CT.
Trail: under mountain/at
Trail: blue trail to eagles neck ,haddam
Trail: AT: St. Johns Ledges and Calebs Peak
Trail: Airline Trail From East Hampton Smith Rd to rd. beyond Lyman Viaduct
Trail: Cockaponset Trail From Route 148 to Pattaconk Lake
Trail: Talcott Mountain, Simsbury
Trail: Lion's Head trail, AT, Mt. Frissell Trail, S. Taconic
Connecticut
Date: 4/12/02
Conditions: This section is about 16.5 miles and all were in good condition.
Special Required Equipment:sunblock
Comments: great day to be out w/ perfect temps. and clear sky.
Submitted by:all484000
Date: 2002-04-03
Conditions: Dry with slightest mud (rained one inch day before). Ridge clean across three crests.
Special Required Equipment:None.
Comments: Pleasant, good visibility, upper 40s, wind 10-20mph.
Submitted by:Randy Given
Date: 03/29-30/02
Conditions: Some muddy spots from recent rain, otherwise trails pretty dry. A few lingering patches of snow from last week's storm. A few blowdowns along the way-- The bypasses are getting pretty tramped down.
Special Required Equipment:No special equipment needed.
Comments: Had to get out for an overnight. Riga shelter in great shape. Rained hard Friday night, heard a pack of coyotes or wild dogs during the night. Great orange moonrise from shelter.
Submitted by:Al, Carol,Tom,Sarah, and the Bear
Date: 2002-03-23
Conditions: Dry except for very slight muddy areas, no snow, rocks not too loose, some leaves remain on trail making uphill/downhill more cautious.
Special Required Equipment:Poles helpful in slippery areas (mud/leaves), but not required.
Comments: Nice day, but very windy.
Submitted by:Randy Given
Date: 03/14/2002
Conditions: Trail was unusually dry for this time of year with water flow as if it were May.Weather was 65 degrees and sunny.
Special Required Equipment:Sturdy hiking boots,layered clothing.
Comments: Great day for a Northwest CT hike. Took a short detour to the Northwest Cabin and looped around Paradise Lane Trail.
Looking forward to a great backpacking season.
Submitted by:Rich the runner....
Date: 03/10/02
Conditions: A few muddy spots, one blowdown early on the Brinkerhoff trail. Trail easy to follow, some new signs have been put up.
Special Required Equipment:No special equipment needed.
Comments: Had to get out again on such a nice day. This is a nice hike that leads to a little used area of Devil's Den Preserve. Saw 10 deer on the way in. Frogs in ponds already croaking, spring is around the corner.
Submitted by:Al, Carol, and the Bear.
Date: 03/09/02
Conditions: Trails dry. No snow or ice, even on steep ledgy sections.
Special Required Equipment:Nothing special required.
Comments: We echo Bill J.'s comments below. We were there Saturday, and while views were excellent, by the time we got to the top of Cobble Mt. (we did the loop counter clockwise) the clouds had dropped and the Catskills could not be seen. An excellent day for a hike. This is one of our favorites. 6.7 mile loop on old route of AT, some nice rock scrambles. Interesting stone work on Carriage road section. Lots of hawks riding the thermals.
Submitted by:Al, Carol, Tom and the Bear.
Date: 3/10/02
Conditions: Dry, free of ice or snow. Well-marked and cleared.
Special Required Equipment:None.
Comments: This is a fabulous ridge hike, especially with no leaves to obstruct the views, which were many. The Macedonia Brook Valley is very beautiful to look out over. We had clear skies, and the Catskills were easily visible from Cobble Mtn.
Submitted by:Bill J.
Date: 1/27/02
Conditions: Undermountain is fairly dry with some muddy spots. soft snow starts above 1500 ft. AT is 2-3" soft snow, slowly melting due to unseasonable temps. tricky footing mix of soft snow and icy patches on north side of Bear Mtn, but enough bare rock to find purchase. Round Mtn trail is 3-4" soft snow, icy patches on steep section.
Special Required Equipment:crampons were useful on east slope of Round Mtn. and north slope of Bear Mtn.
poles or ice axe useful for stability
sunglasses
roomy pack to keep all those winter clothes you won't use!
Comments: Very strange weather we're having! This was like a day in mid-March, with astoundingly mild temps (up to near 50) throughout the day. Unfortunately it makes for slippery travel and crampons were useless except on steepest slopes. A lot of folks out on the AT, but we met no one on Round. We lounged around there for nearly an hour in perfect comfort in the noon sun. Met two nice women with dog on summit of Bear, who then headed down the north face late afternoon without crampons or poles; hope they made it okay.
Submitted by:Bill J.
Date: 1-8-02
Conditions: Snow,Ice, Difficult
Special Required Equipment:Essentials- Maps,Gortex pants, Poles, A big heart, and a strong Rump.
I rented Snowshoes but i never used them.
Comments: I was suppose to hike on Monday but with the roads still in bad condition I decided to get some sleep and get up early Tuesday. I arrived at the Race Brook Trail at 7:45 and bikeed the 7.1 miles to the Plateau campsite. I had on EMS Two Layer gortex pants and I decided to put on my Gaitors over them. It becamse very helpful to do that. the Summit of Lions heas vas Beautiful and with a clear day you can see for miles. I grabbed a quick bite. i got to Bear Mountain about 1:45pm. Again nice views. by this time I was starting to get tired and i still had 8 miles to go. when you descend Bear MT. heading north it is very Slippery. If you are up there in the next day or so it looks like i slid down the whole way. I must have fallen 30 times today. As i got above the tree line near Race Mountain the AT is marked on the rocks. One Problem there is snow on the ground and you can't see the markers. Until now i never really needed a map. Just follow the markers and you will end up in Maine sometime. If you head up there soon and there is snow stay along the ridge until you get to the top. Markers will be on the trees up there. CT trails are marked fairly well. MA is not. when i got to the trail junction of Race Brook it was dark and i decided to grab my headlamp. One problem, the batteries were dead. If it wasn't for a hiker earlier in the day who had hiked to the campsite it would have taken me a lot longer to get back. Thank You. I am now Finished with CT. I plan on heading back out on the trail on monday. I have already done Everett in the past so i plan on hiking from Elbow trail to Kellogg Rd. If your interested let me know i would love to save time and not use my bike.
Submitted by:Bill Smith
Date: 01.01.02
Conditions: HARSH BUSHWHACK-INCREDIBLY THICK MOUNTAIN LAUREL EVERYWHERE WITH PRETTY STEEP EAST SIDE. HARD WORK.
Special Required Equipment:COMPASS SKILLS AND A LOT OF DETERMINATION.
Comments: I WAS NOT THE ONLY SICKO TO HAVE CLIMBED THIS PEAK. I FOUND AN OLD CAIRN ON "THE TOP". YOU GET SOME VIEWS OF BEAR AND BEYOND, BUT I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS CLIMB.
Submitted by:LUMP
Date: 01.01.02
Conditions: HARSH BUSHWHACK-INCREDIBLY THICK MOUNTAIN LAUREL EVERYWHERE WITH PRETTY STEEP EAST SIDE. HARD WORK.
Special Required Equipment:COMPASS SKILLS AND A LOT OF DETERMINATION.
Comments: I WAS NOT THE ONLY SICKO TO HAVE CLIMBED THIS PEAK. I FOUND AN OLD CAIRN ON "THE TOP". YOU GET SOME VIEWS OF BEAR AND BEYOND, BUT I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS CLIMB.
Submitted by:LUMP
Date: December 26th 2001
Conditions: Hard, crunchy snow with a bit of black ice here and there on the south facing slopes. Snow depth is only a few inches .... just a covering really.
Special Required Equipment:None. We even left our trekking poles behind in favor of having our hands free to grab rocks and trees on the steeper sections of trail.
Comments: It was a delightful day to be in the Connecticut Highlands. This was perhpas my 7th visit to the CT highpoint and I brought along my cousin Alan and his girlfriend Lori.
Submitted by:Machimoodus
Date: 12-16-01
Conditions: Dry
Special Required Equipment:none
Comments: This 10.8 mile trip i took was the quickest miles i have ever done. I think it's because it is the easist section in Connecticut. My fried Matt met me up there so we had two cars. I didn't need to use my bike today. We hiked on the street for the first mile or so. I actually walked up on the Rail Road tracks for a little while. I felt like I was in the movie "Stand By Me." The trail Parallels the RR for a little while. That was fun. after you cross the road you will parallel the Housatonic River winding up on the road again. The Plant will be on your left. You will cross the Bridge. Looking up the river you will see the damn. Hold off taking picture there will be chance when you get up. After heading up toward the Damn you will cross the street again. About 1 mile up you will climb your ONE hill. It is not hard but enjoyable. Billy's View was a pleasant surpise. Matt and I took some pictures and enjoyed it. There is one steep decline, not difficult but steep. Then you will be back on the street for about 3/4 mile. after taking a right onto Coble road you will pass a cemetary. toward the end of road there is a sign with an arrow (brown and on the right side.) you will walk in the field and back into the woods. When you come out again take a right your bike or car will be on the left. only 7.2 miles left in CT.
Submitted by:Bill Smith
Date: 12/16/01
Conditions: Mostly good, with a fair number of downed trees
Special Required Equipment:Nothing special required
Comments: Generally would consider this a "walk in the woods." Lots of mountain laurel thickets to deal with, so it would probably be a fun hike when the laurel's in bloom. This is an easy hike (with an unfortunate stretch of road work in the middle). Buttermilk Falls was worth the price of admission.
Submitted by:Gini
Date: 12/15/01
Conditions: Dry to damp (after two days of rain)
Special Required Equipment:Nothing, we did this hike in 3 season boots
Comments: The most difficult part of the hike was getting on to the trail from Rt 219. There was a large drainage sinkhole, covered with leaves and I stepped right in it. Fortunately I always bring a second pair of socks, but the hole was 18 inches deep! The trail is generally well marked, but at the cross country ski trails make sure you take a sharp right, or you will wind up back on the road. If that happens just go down the road( right) a half mile and reenter the woods and you will intersect the Tunxis trail just before the Indian caves. This is one of the most beautiful trails in Ct.
Submitted by:Tim and Jan
Date: 12-10-01
Conditions: Snow about 1-2 inches on most of the trail
Special Required Equipment:Poles (which i had) Gaitors (which i didn't have)
Fleece hat,gloves.
Comments: I had a rough day. I thought the bike ride from rt 7/112 was only going to be 15 miles and would only take me 1 hour i was sadly wrong. The bike ride was 22.5 miles long and it took 2 hours and plus an 18 mile hike. I was dead tired. I had gotten an early start. But i still didn't even get on the trail until 11AM. I ended up hiking over 2 hours with my headlamp on. I also overpacked. I had my 2 layer gortex pants (never used them), and my gortex jacket (never wore it), and my overnight pack (wish i didn't bring it). Word of advice: make sure you research enough.
Submitted by:Bill Smith
Date: 12-3-01
Conditions: Very dry, leaves were slippery on down hills (I know, no kidding)
Special Required Equipment:maybe poles/just a preference
Comments: I heard that the 341 section was closed but there was no sign at Bulls Ridge. However, at Rt.341 there was one saying it was closed(if you were heading south) (i was heading North). There was a bunch of acres burnt. Weird thing was the trail itself wasn't burned much. It just skipped right over it. (i think it's because of the indent in the trail from hikers). There are some trees down and you may need to bush whack a little. Just look further down the trail for markers. You will never be out of eye sight to see one. The weather was incredible and i recommend these 12 miles if you want to get some easy and quick mileage in. any questions feel free to email me. I will be back on the AT on Saturday(12/8) and Monday(12/10).
Submitted by:Bill Smith
Date: 12/01-12/02/01
Conditions: Dry, no real muddy spots, some ice on Race Mt., but easily avoided. Most of the streams and water sources are dry between Rt. 41 and Sages Ravine. We were able to get some water from Ball Brook, but it was a trickle.
Special Required Equipment:Nothing special needed.
Comments: A warm Saturday followed by a cloudy Sunday. The weather was excellent-
Submitted by:Al, the Bear, Tom, Sarah, Ashley, Doug
Date: 11.17.01
Conditions: burnt
Special Required Equipment:fire extinguishers
Comments: On a more serious note: Due to a brush fire, this trail section was still shut down as of Saturday 11.17.01. I expect it should reopen soon, as the fire is out, but check it out before planning to do this section.
As a reminder - FIRES ARE NOT ALLOWED on the CT A/T.
Thanks
Submitted by:J. Malumphy - CT AMC Ridgerunner
Date: 11/18/01
Conditions: Trail was dry with tons of leaves.
Slippery in spots.
Special Required Equipment:Plenty of water and sturdy hiking boots.
Comments: The day was exceptional.We decided to take a late day hike and the view was great.We decided to bushwack down the mountain.Great fun.Thank you to my hiking partner and soulmate.Without her the trip would never had been the same.
Submitted by:Rich & Claudia
Date: 11-12-01
Conditions: Dry
Special Required Equipment:None
Comments: The 4 mile hike i took was very dry. Sneakers are great if your looking to do some trail running. The leaves as everyone knows can be slippery on hills. The trail is very well marked and a great short hike if you are looking to get in a couple of miles.
Submitted by:Bill Smith
Date: 11/1/01
Conditions: Dry
Special Required Equipment:None
Comments: Hiked from Housatonic Falls over Mt Prospect to Rte 41 in Salisbury. Saw lots of evidence of bears on Mt Prospect, but met none in person. Weather was perfect. Returned by road walk along Salmon Kill and over Brinton Hill for variety.
Having hiked the AT from Hoyt Rd to Rte 41 so far, I would like to congratulate the CT maintainers for an A-1 job. The blazing and signs are very good too. Especially helpful to occasional hikers are the trail brochure boxes near most of the entry points (which I have never found empty). Parking seems to be readily available at most road crossings, which, being from NJ, I find as a big plus. Keep up the good work.
Fred
Submitted by:Fred
Date: 11.04.01
Conditions: PLEASE BE ADVISED:
THE BALD PEAK TRAIL BETWEEN THE A/T AND THE RIGA ROAD IS CLOSED, PERHAPS INDEFINATELY. PLEASE RESPECT THE LANDOWNERS WISHES.
FIRES ARE NO LONGER PERMITTED AT THE BEAR ROCK FALLS CAMPING
AREA ON THE MASS. A/T. THANKS FOR YOUR COOPERATION.
Comments:
Submitted by:J. MALUMPHY - CT. AMC RIDGERUNNER
Date: 10/21/01
Conditions: Dry,some running water. Sages Ravine low but running well.
Special Required Equipment:Hiking boots,camera for the beautiful colors
Comments: We started at Undermountain Trail and went up and over Bear Mt.Then down to Sages Ravine.
Exited via Paradise Lane Trail.Beautiful day with lots of sun and temp around 65-70.Took a friend up here for the first time.She said it took her breath away.
Submitted by:Rich and Claudid------Kent,CT
Date: 10/16/01
Conditions: trail was a little wet but not bad. clear day for great view from eagles neck.cool on top of mountain, but well worth the trip.
Special Required Equipment:hiking boots
Comments:
Submitted by:tom
Date: 10/13/01
Conditions: Very dry. Well-maintained and marked. Fall colors about halfway to maximum.
Special Required Equipment:None.
Comments: Ascent of the ledges is spectacular and challenging. We sweated buckets on this Indian Summer afternoon. The viewpoint is marked with a sign, just off the trail after it levels out. We found we couldn't relax here due to an attack by hordes of ladybugs! Heading over to Caleb's Peak the trail runs on easy grades through very attractive forest. It crosses a small brook which was dry. For the best view go past the first ledges where trail levels out, to where the trees open up to the south. Trail was surprisingly uncrowded for a Saturday. Met a large group on our way back, and a southbound thru-hiker too.
Submitted by:Bill J.
Date: 09/15/01
Conditions: Dry, a couple of spots like Viaduct with wide open views.
Trail bed in this section except for end between Road &
Viaduct is rougher gravel than the trail from Rt. 85 to Viaduct.
Special Required Equipment:Water, Sunglasses today
Comments: This was second attempt to complete the Airline trail over
two years. (You can mountain bike the whole thing in less
than a day) My first attempt I tried pushing Kristina
(16 months)in a stroller & bounced her too much to complete
the trip last weekend. This weekend, she had a comfy
ride on my back. Went back on Sunday from Smith Road to
small pond about .3 from start (Kristina walked some
of it) so we could feed the ducks.
Submitted by:Mike P.
Date: 8/5/01
Conditions: Fairly dry but a few muddy spots easily stepped
over on rocks or roots.
Special Required Equipment:Water on this 85+ day. route wooded the whole way which
was a plus, some bug spray would have been nice.
Comments: Found this trail yesterday on way to outlet stores,
Glad I had to go exchange something today. Will have
to try the loop next time.
Submitted by:Mike P.
Date: 2001-07-21, Saturday
Conditions: About 10am. Slight haze kept visibility to 10 miles at first, began lifting to 30 miles. Partly cloudy, dry and no bugs. Good hiking conditions. Plenty of bottle water at the tower gift shop.
Special Required Equipment:None.
Comments:
Submitted by:Randy Given
Date: 6/14-6/16/01
Conditions: All trails in good shape and easy to follow for the most part; brush closing in on Mt. Frissell Trail. Note: Bald Peak Trail and Old Charcoal Rd off the AT are now closed to hikers.
Special Required Equipment:For this time of year, bug repellent, sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat. Must carry plenty of water for Mt. Frissell and S. Taconic trails; fill up at Mt. Washington Rd. near AMC camp.
Comments: Parked at Bunker Hill Rd. and took Lion's Head Trail to AT...the easiest way to access to Riga Plateau, gaining the ridge in less than an hour. Spent first night at Lion's Head, then hiked most of the next day out to Brace Mtn (used Bear Mtn. Rd. to connect to Frissell Trail). Plenty of water along AT; none after hitting Frissell Trail. The vicinity of Round Mtn, Mt. Frissell, and S. Taconic Ridge is very dry and very exposed to the sun, with mostly stunted vegetation the whole way. Best to hike early or late in day. I was out at Brace Mtn during the middle of the day, and with the warm, humid weather i suffered a bit of heat stress as a result. Small price to pay for the awesome views from these summits. Camped between Round Mtn and Mt. Frissell. Site was in the middle of a deer trail, and one very angry deer woke me up when he found my tent blocking the way; he snorted indignantly as he circled up the slope around me. On the final day i started at 5 AM and retraced my steps back to the AT, where i ran into the first people i'd seen the entire hike (except one guy at Lion's Head the first night). Met a couple of thru-hikers and a group of Boy Scouts at Brassie Brook, where I spent a long time refreshing myself.
Submitted by:Bill J