New Trails

Sorry AT, you need to move over and make room for new trails in my life. Next up: The New England Trail, the shortest national scenic trail in the the US, clocking in at a mere 215 miles. Though I think I'll end up doing the whole Metacomet-Monadnock Trail which goes another 20 miles or so into New Hampshire. Why choose this trail you ask? One very simple reason:  it goes over Julia's mountain. Visit my best friend, then hike back to her house? Yes, please. This blog was originally just about my AT hike, but I had so much fun this trip I just have to share.

Right off the bat I could tell the New England Trail, NET, was different from the AT. If I had to choose one word to describe the AT that word would be "contrary." The AT chooses to be a contrary trail and you just love her for it. On the opposite side of the spectrum, my first impression of the NET can be summed up as "polite." If ever there was a polite trail, it is the NET.

Flat! And though it's hard to tell, there are actually three white blazes visible from where I am.

There is pleasant loamy, leafy trail; there are wide gentle pine needle stretches cushioning your steps. Flat sections that are actually flat? No really, such a thing exists, and apparently exists in abundance on the NET. Just enough slightly difficult sections that you don't feel like it's too easy. Blazes so continuous you can actually count on them and double-blazes showing every single turn no matter how gentle the turn?? Clearly the NET has been to charm school, for I was smitten in the first mile.

 All right, so it's not a perfect trail. Yesterday there was a section that should have been labeled "Here be Squiggles" and a definite overuse of the double-blaze to go around a area of rock that could have been scrambled over (ie. the AT would have gone straight up and over). And a section that must have been newly re-routed through waist-high grass and open scrub The only reason I knew I was on the right path was because of the white blazes, clearly also a "Here be Squiggles" section. Of course, those sections are the ones that keep things interesting.

I will note also, unlike the AT for which I had a very detailed guidebook and maps , the only information I had for this hike was an older USGS map copied on a printer running low on ink (ie. blurry, not very detailed, and definitely not up-to-date with the current trail). But hey, all in good fun!

And so without further ado, the pictures!

So excited to see a white blaze I almost swooned!

Lots of red efts on the trail due to rain the day before.

Since I was not thru-hiking, I gleefully took all the side, blue-blazed trails. This one led to a pretty view of the reservoir.

Not surprisingly, this side trail led to a beaver dam.

Lunch on the reservoir dam.

So excited to be camping I had to make a funny face. Plus that's the face you make when you inadvertently hike three more miles than you planned to, up and over the one large mountain of the trip while carrying enough water for camp and the next day. Overdid it on the first day? Yep, now I've got my hiker hobble on. It's also the face you make when daring to camp without putting up your tarp. In seven and a half months on the AT, there was only one night I did not put my tarp up. This felt so daring.

No rain, but I did need to hide from the mosquitoes.

Strange standing stones in a "Here be Squiggles" section. Note the double-blaze and arrow pointing the way, so polite!

On Stratton Mt at the Richardson-Zlogar Cabin. It took me 45 min to get here from the road crossing. Julia took a different path from the same road and got here in 10 min. "Here be Squiggles"

Yay for a best friend who brings you water because all the water sources for the day were completely dry due to the drought. Plus best friends know the area and know where there is a pond for swimming!

Love my hammock!

Didn't set up the tarp again!

Goodnight world! (8:10PM)

Good morning sun! (5:20AM)

I'm going to pretend today is not a holiday. Why? Because this was the best Monday morning in the office ever. Working on my new backpacking business plans. Yes, from the comfort of my hammock :)

Why hello there Mt Greylock and the AT off on the horizon!

No rain, but Bumbershoot came in handy to save me from today's searing heat as I ate lunch on Crag Mt, high above Julia's house.

Goodbye white blazes, til next time!

As I walked back to Julia's via the road, a kindly cyclist inquired if I had lost my way and needed directions back to the trail. Love it when folks are helpful to hikers!