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Perfect summer evening at the lake, New Britain Reservoir, Southington, Connecticut. August 3, 2020, 6:52 PM. Low water levels in summer at this reservoir are responsible for all the unusual vegetation here.
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July 1, 1983: The sun, which had been playing peek-a-boo with the fogs and mists since sunrise, emerged triumphant, combining with the lingering rainwater to gradually brew up a tropical mixture of wilting heat, stifling humidity, and dripping vegetation. The greater portion of my hike was grim and joyless.
There were some highlights along the way.
Pink and blue summer sunset at Woodtick Recreation Area, Scoville Reservoir, Wolcott, Connecticut. July 26, 2020, 8:31 PM.
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June 2, 1983: The trail was rough. The mile from the shelter to the cliffs on Little Rock Knob was straight uphill. Another gorgeous day and a nice series of views made that climb worthwhile. Little Rock Knob was an interesting name for a mountain that missed five thousand feet in elevation by less than a hundred.
hiking railtrails reviews maps
Deer Mountain & Fire Tower, Pittsburgh NH
3 4.3 miles Medium difficulty
Sunset photography: the long pause between the daylight and nighttime portions of my hike. Soft summer sunset at Lost Ponds, Mattatuck State Forest, Plymouth, Connecticut. July 14, 2018, 7:30 PM.
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May 6, 1983: Cowrock Mountain was the star of the show today, with many views from the open, rocky ledges and terraces around the summit. There were more great views of that maze of mountains and narrow valleys threading west and northwest towards the Western fork of the Blue Ridge.
Winter sunset, Lindsley Brook, Wolcott, Connecticut. December 3, 2019, 4:06 PM.
Early morning sunshine and mist. Forest near Park Road, Waterbury, Connecticut. November 13, 2021, 8:23 AM.
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May 5, 1983: It was a comparatively gentle climb for the most part, but I have a long way to go before my body is truly ready for this adventure. The day was sunny and hot, and I ran out of water about halfway through the climb. The heavy backpack I was carrying, and the extra pounds of my overweight body had taken their toll on the soles of my feet,
Wander around winter wonderland trail in St Denys >>
Thanks to a thread on reddit today I learned about railbanking, which is a legal mechanism aimed at preserving railroad rights-of-way instead of abandoning them, and opening them up for use as rail trails (with the caveat that they can be reactivated as railroads in the future)
Autumn sunset above Hidden Lake, Fall Mountain, Plymouth, Connecticut. November 7, 2020, 4:42 PM.
seen on the runAutumn rainstorm. Mad River ravine, Wolcott, Connecticut October 19, 2020, 5:48 PM
Wander around winter wonderland trail in St Denys >>
Wander around winter wonderland trail in St Denys >>
Wander around winter wonderland trail in St Denys >>
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August 9, 1983: The next three-and-a-half miles were an easy walk through pleasant forests with no distant views. The Appalachian Trail then crossed New York Route 301 and ascended a very rocky trail alongside Canopus Lake. After a couple more miles, we stood on a rock outcrop near the north end of that lake which almost seemed to overlook two different lakes.
Forest floor sunset. Sleeping Giant State Park, Hamden, Connecticut. March 20, 2023, 6:45 PM.
TrailsOne of my favorite places in autumn. Mill River, Sleeping Giant State Park, Hamden, Connecticut. October 25, 2023, 12:21 PM.
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May 3, 1983: At a spot called Three Forks, four miles from Springer Mountain, the crossed a fire road beside the convergence of three streams which had become raging torrents. A blinding mass of rain was creating a surreal, semi-aquatic woodland.
Its that kind of day.
They look pretty, especially in late autumn and early winter when most of the other color is gone, but they seem to taste better to birds than to humans. Winterberry shrub, New Britain Reservoir, Wolcott, Connecticut. November 11, 2019, 3:34 PM.
Pine trees reflected in Beaver Pond (its official name, capital B capital P), White Memorial Foundation, Morris, Connecticut. December 13, 2021
The Northaven Trail bridge is a vital pedestrian connector
The bridge, which officially opens today, is a reminder Dallas has to respect walkers and cyclists.
"In Dallas, where the architecture of the citys freeways makes it difficult to provide safe paths for pedestrians and cyclists, trails are vital."
Getting ready for the this morning down in OC.
We shall see how the back-to-back long run training method works with this one. The race is 18 miles, and Ive done nothing close to that in a single day in training recently. But I have done back to backs and increased weekly volume, and then tapered this week in prep. Experiment!
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July 4, 1983: Scattered traces of the old Shenandoah formed interesting diversions in a long, pleasant woodland stroll. After Blackrock, the Appalachian Trail descended to cross Skyline Drive in a scrubby area (one of those old orchards), skirted a small picnic and camping area along the crest, and descended again to Browns Gap.
Bluets, southwest North Carolina Blue Ridge. May 9, 1983.
When making a big ascent, the first rule is keep your head down. It keeps your weight forward and avoids discouraging sights of endless climbing ahead. In early spring in much of the Appalachians I would try to focus on these tiny blue flowers, which often grow in clusters along trails.
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June 4, 1983: Standing at the top of that large, steeply-rolling meadow, a rural two-lane curved through the green valley below and up over the next ridge. Beyond, there again were Roan and Hump Mountains and the intervening sweep of balds. The summits were shrouded in thick, dark clouds. Undoubtedly, a cold rain was falling on some poor sucker up there today.
hiking railtrails reviews maps
North Central Pathway Rail Trail, MA
4 9.5 miles Easy difficulty
Summer evening forest near Roaring Brook, Wolcott, Connecticut. June 25, 2020, 7:15 PM.
Early morning in early Spring at Scoville Reservoir, Wolcott, Connecticut. April 6, 2021, 7:15 AM.
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May 10, 1983: The next portion of the hike was every bit as scenic as the mornings had been. It was mostly sidehill trail, well down from the ridge crest.
Each month on my personal blog I've chronicled a bit about my walking habits and experiences. This month's entry--Walking in November: Of Perspectives and Pavement.
Virtual open house Nov 30, 2-3pm for Highway System Plan .
Presentation + Q&A. Draft plan, feedback form .
Red tree, Park Road, Waterbury, Connecticut. November 4, 2021, 12:08 PM.
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May 4, 1983: I went to bed right after dinner but was not destined to get much sleep. Somewhere around 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning, the stillness of the mountain night was broken by the long, eerie shrieks of mortars plummeting to earth and subsequent loud explosions.
mood today is soundtracks on
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September 3, 1983: The Appalachian Trail briefly followed the U.S.F.S. fire road before turning onto a paved road for a while. Eventually, the trail turned off that road, passed through some fields, and reentered the woods. That was the point where the real climbing began.