Defeated
Hike #70
Trails: Quinnipiac Trail, Roaring Brook Falls Trail, Sanford Alternate Trail
Distance: 12.4 Miles
Date Hiked: 12/1/2013
Date Published: 12/4/2013
Hike #70
Trails: Quinnipiac Trail, Roaring Brook Falls Trail, Sanford Alternate Trail
Distance: 12.4 Miles
Date Hiked: 12/1/2013
Date Published: 12/4/2013
Note about Hike #69: The day before this hike, I completed a 5.69 mile hike within Sleeping Giant. At this point, I’ve already hiked and wrote a recap for all of the trails within Sleeping Giant. But, my friends from work wanted to hike the Blue Trail and they were kind enough to keep me company while I hiked the other trails so I figured I would be their guide along the Blue Trail. While this meant my final hike along the Quinnipiac would be delayed yet again, the hike through Sleeping Giant turned out to be a great one and I got some really cool pictures in the process.
The day after what I’m calling my final hike through Sleeping Giant (although I’d wager I guess I’ll return someday), I was finally able to tackle the last leg of the Quinnipiac Trail. It was quite a nasty morning for a 12+ mile hike and I saw a bunch of spinouts on I-84 while making my way to the trail. There was black ice literally at every turn and bridge crossing, to the point that the state eventually shut down I-84, I-91 and portions of Route 9 for a few hours. But, I wasn’t about to let the weather bring me down…and, by the time the highways were shut down, I’d already reached the trailhead. I would just take my time (not like I could drive home anyway) and make sure not to slip on any ice-covered rocks or tree roots.
I parked in the same parking location I used for Hike # 67 (at the end of Downs Road near YMCA Camp Laurel). Here, the Quinnipiac Trail continues heading due north by following a gravel road through the camp. This being December, the road was closed off and camp was most definitely not in session. Shortly after skirting around the closed gate, the trail makes a slight right and heads away from the gravel road. But, it will continue to follow the edge of the Camp Laurel property…never out of sight of a pavilion and tennis courts. After about a third of a mile, the trail intersects with another (possible the same) gravel road. Another trail bears right from here…the blue/red blazed Sanford Alternate Trail (also required hiking to complete the CT 400…I would later use it to get back to my car).
I parked in the same parking location I used for Hike # 67 (at the end of Downs Road near YMCA Camp Laurel). Here, the Quinnipiac Trail continues heading due north by following a gravel road through the camp. This being December, the road was closed off and camp was most definitely not in session. Shortly after skirting around the closed gate, the trail makes a slight right and heads away from the gravel road. But, it will continue to follow the edge of the Camp Laurel property…never out of sight of a pavilion and tennis courts. After about a third of a mile, the trail intersects with another (possible the same) gravel road. Another trail bears right from here…the blue/red blazed Sanford Alternate Trail (also required hiking to complete the CT 400…I would later use it to get back to my car).
The Quinnipiac Trail bears left and then right, straddling the town line between Hamden and Bethany as it heads towards the summit of Mount Sanford (the highest point on the trail at 890 feet). It is also around this point the trail enters the Mount Sanford Block of the Naugatuck State Forest, which was sold to the state by a forester named George Alexander Cromie (more on him in a bit) for $60,000 in 1944.
On a normal day, I’m sure the trail through here isn’t overly difficult. But, with the rain and ice, I had a terrible time with my footing. In normal rainy conditions, I like to avoid the wet leaves for fear of slipping. Typically I will search out rocks and roots to use as sure footholds. Today, I had to reverse that method and hope that the leaves I was using didn’t cover slippery rocks or roots. It was slow going, to say the least. But, eventually I made it to the summit of Mount Sanford. There is an overlook on a false summit in the area. The view is of a marsh area and the picture didn’t really come out that great. There is also a log book here, which I used to write the first entry of December 2013…and promote this site…
On a normal day, I’m sure the trail through here isn’t overly difficult. But, with the rain and ice, I had a terrible time with my footing. In normal rainy conditions, I like to avoid the wet leaves for fear of slipping. Typically I will search out rocks and roots to use as sure footholds. Today, I had to reverse that method and hope that the leaves I was using didn’t cover slippery rocks or roots. It was slow going, to say the least. But, eventually I made it to the summit of Mount Sanford. There is an overlook on a false summit in the area. The view is of a marsh area and the picture didn’t really come out that great. There is also a log book here, which I used to write the first entry of December 2013…and promote this site…
From the summit, the Quinnipiac Trail continues heading north and begins to descend on the other side of Mount Sanford. Along the way, it enters the town of Cheshire. As I was descending through the fog, I noticed a police cruiser with its lights on in the distance. As I continued to descend, it was joined by the sound and lights of several fire engines. I suspected there was an accident along Route 42, which the trail would cross at around the two mile mark. I was curious, but I was more worried about my footing so I took my time getting down the hill. Before the road crossing, I reached the northern intersection of the Sanford Alternate Trail and crossed a bridge over Sanford brook. You can’t really tell from the picture but the bridge is covered with ice so I’m not too embarrassed by the fact that I crossed it on my hands and knees.
As I approached the road, I saw a fire truck still blocking off a section of the roadway. I also saw several members of the Cheshire Fire Department and a small pick-up truck which had obviously lost control on the ice and ended up half off road, on an embankment along the roadside, and turned on to the passenger side. I didn’t even think to get a picture for this blog until I returned to the area later. At the time, I was only concerned for the safety of whoever was driving the vehicle. The fire chief confirmed the driver was okay and that, at this point, they were just cleaning up. I chatted with them for a bit and they seemed surprised anybody was out hiking in this weather. I have to admit, I was kind of surprised myself that I hadn’t turned around yet. I can’t say I would’ve continued on a year earlier…not that I had anywhere else to go…
I continued along the trail (it follows Route 42 for a bit before re-entering the woods on the north side of the road) and around the 3.3 mile mark I came to the highlight of the day. The Walk Book references an area called Roaring Brook Falls in the area. There is small waterfall right along the Quinnipiac Trail, but the main attraction is off trail about 2/10 of a mile. After some internal debate (I really didn’t want to add additional distance to an already long hike in difficult weather), I decided to follow the red blazes of the Roaring Brook Falls Trail. I was rewarded with what some sources claim is the highest waterfall in Connecticut.
I continued along the trail (it follows Route 42 for a bit before re-entering the woods on the north side of the road) and around the 3.3 mile mark I came to the highlight of the day. The Walk Book references an area called Roaring Brook Falls in the area. There is small waterfall right along the Quinnipiac Trail, but the main attraction is off trail about 2/10 of a mile. After some internal debate (I really didn’t want to add additional distance to an already long hike in difficult weather), I decided to follow the red blazes of the Roaring Brook Falls Trail. I was rewarded with what some sources claim is the highest waterfall in Connecticut.
I wasn’t even aware that this highlight was on the day’s menu. I knew there would be falls but I’ve been disappointed so many times by these things in the past I never gave much thought to it while planning this hike. It wasn’t until I got home and did a Google search that I realized these are the“highest falls in the state”. As with any superlative in Connecticut, there is a lot of debate around the subject of the highest waterfall. Some people would say Kent Falls in Kent at 250 feet is the highest, but others say those are a series of falls and Roaring Brook Falls is the highest because it is a single 80 foot drop. But, one thing is for sure: these falls are spectacular and it was very cool to see them in person. I’m so glad I made the trip down the side trail and I absolutely recommend it to anyone hiking through the area.
In contrast to the area of the falls, the next two miles of trail aren’t very memorable…but that isn’t to say they aren’t difficult. I was expecting there to be a gradual descent from the area of the falls, but there was a lot of climbing and descending. By the time I reached the cul-de-sac at the end of Cornwall Avenue (around the 5.2 mile mark), I was exhausted and not sure I would have the strength to make it back. I did still have the presence of mind to snap a few photos from the final road walk, which include a boundary marker which marks the town line between Cheshire and Prospect, an old farm that looks like it is straight out of horror movie, and some turkeys taking advantage of someone’s backyard bird feeder…
In contrast to the area of the falls, the next two miles of trail aren’t very memorable…but that isn’t to say they aren’t difficult. I was expecting there to be a gradual descent from the area of the falls, but there was a lot of climbing and descending. By the time I reached the cul-de-sac at the end of Cornwall Avenue (around the 5.2 mile mark), I was exhausted and not sure I would have the strength to make it back. I did still have the presence of mind to snap a few photos from the final road walk, which include a boundary marker which marks the town line between Cheshire and Prospect, an old farm that looks like it is straight out of horror movie, and some turkeys taking advantage of someone’s backyard bird feeder…
Along the road walk which makes up the final 8/10 of a mile of the trail, I kept hoping to myself there would be somewhere warm and dry near Route 68 (the northern terminus of the trail) to rest for a bit before I made my way back. Sadly, there wasn’t. But, that didn’t stop me from smiling and giving a “thumbs-up” in the selfie I took in front of the final blaze.
Six miles in…even though I had reached the end of the trail, this was really only the half-way point of my journey. The six miles back to my car was a pretty intense struggle. The weather was starting to clear so I didn’t need to worry as much about ice on the way back, but I was fatigued. And fatigued hiking is never good. I did my best not to trip on rocks, but it really couldn’t be helped. And, each time I tripped and caught my balance, it only sucked what little energy I had left right out of me.
One step in front of the other I slowly made way back, passing a few people along the way. I was surprised to see anyone else out hiking, but boy was I ever thankful. The opportunity to stop and chat with folks, and remind myself that I wasn’t alone out here, is probably the only thing that got me through. I know that sounds extremely dramatic for hiking in Connecticut but the bad weather earlier on this particular day really messed with my head.
Eventually, I made my way past the area of Roaring Brook Falls and crossed Route 42 again. This time, with the accident long ago cleared, I stopped to take a picture of the aftermath from the truck which had driven off road…
Six miles in…even though I had reached the end of the trail, this was really only the half-way point of my journey. The six miles back to my car was a pretty intense struggle. The weather was starting to clear so I didn’t need to worry as much about ice on the way back, but I was fatigued. And fatigued hiking is never good. I did my best not to trip on rocks, but it really couldn’t be helped. And, each time I tripped and caught my balance, it only sucked what little energy I had left right out of me.
One step in front of the other I slowly made way back, passing a few people along the way. I was surprised to see anyone else out hiking, but boy was I ever thankful. The opportunity to stop and chat with folks, and remind myself that I wasn’t alone out here, is probably the only thing that got me through. I know that sounds extremely dramatic for hiking in Connecticut but the bad weather earlier on this particular day really messed with my head.
Eventually, I made my way past the area of Roaring Brook Falls and crossed Route 42 again. This time, with the accident long ago cleared, I stopped to take a picture of the aftermath from the truck which had driven off road…
I made my back to the Sanford Block of the Naugatuck State Forest and followed the Sanford Alternate Trail this time. The alternate trail, which avoids the higher elevations of Mount Sanford by following along the eastern portion of the “Mount”, is roughly the same length as the portion of the Quinnipiac Trail which follows the western ridge. Because of the lack of elevation change, I was able to cover ground more quickly and cut a full half hour off of my trip back (note: I also didn’t have to contend with as much ice or stop to add an entry to any trail logs on the way back). It was a much easier hike, but that didn’t really make it much more enjoyable.
The only highlight of this section of the hike came when I reached an informational sign which identifies the George Cromie Memorial Grove. As I mentioned earlier, Mr. Cromie was a forester who sold the land to the state back in the 40’s. A graduate of Yale, he went on to become a forester for the State of Connecticut and a member of the Connecticut Forest& Parks Association (the group responsible for the CT400). He even helped to establish the Quinnipiac Trail. In 1958, the Cromie Memorial Pine Grove was established in his honor. And, that makes this little…seemingly unnecessary side trail…worth it.
The only highlight of this section of the hike came when I reached an informational sign which identifies the George Cromie Memorial Grove. As I mentioned earlier, Mr. Cromie was a forester who sold the land to the state back in the 40’s. A graduate of Yale, he went on to become a forester for the State of Connecticut and a member of the Connecticut Forest& Parks Association (the group responsible for the CT400). He even helped to establish the Quinnipiac Trail. In 1958, the Cromie Memorial Pine Grove was established in his honor. And, that makes this little…seemingly unnecessary side trail…worth it.
Shortly after the grove, the Sanford Alternate Trail meets back up with The Quinnipiac Trail. I made a left and followed the blue blazes back around the pavilion and tennis courts of the YMCA camp. A short while later, I was back at my car…exhausted but happy I was able to overcome the challenges of a 12+ mile hike on a day when I was ready to turn back after mile # 2.
The Quinnipiac Trail is another long-distance trail for which the CFPA offers a trail patch and, while at first glance this trail isn’t nearly as challenging as the Metacomet, I defiantly earned it. The Walk Book includes a section titled “Wear it with Pride”, referring to the patch. After bush-whacking my way through the first section back on Veteran’s Day and the marathon hike I did on this day, I most certainly will wear it with pride.
As I type this recap a few days later, I still haven’t completely processed the events of this day and I’m still not sure if I defeated the trail or if it defeated me. But, it was certainly an epic battle between us.
Distance to 2013 Goal: 58.53
The Quinnipiac Trail is another long-distance trail for which the CFPA offers a trail patch and, while at first glance this trail isn’t nearly as challenging as the Metacomet, I defiantly earned it. The Walk Book includes a section titled “Wear it with Pride”, referring to the patch. After bush-whacking my way through the first section back on Veteran’s Day and the marathon hike I did on this day, I most certainly will wear it with pride.
As I type this recap a few days later, I still haven’t completely processed the events of this day and I’m still not sure if I defeated the trail or if it defeated me. But, it was certainly an epic battle between us.
Distance to 2013 Goal: 58.53