Bear-ly Able To Contain My
Excitement
Hike #137
Appalachian Trail (Includes Undermountain Trail and Paradise Lane Trail)
Riga Junction (Salisbury, CT) to Sages Ravine Brook (Mount Washington, MA)
Hike Distance: 8.4 Miles
Section Distance (Per CFPA Walk Book): 2.3 Miles
Date Hiked: 6/7/2015
Date Published: 6/7/2015
Hike #137
Appalachian Trail (Includes Undermountain Trail and Paradise Lane Trail)
Riga Junction (Salisbury, CT) to Sages Ravine Brook (Mount Washington, MA)
Hike Distance: 8.4 Miles
Section Distance (Per CFPA Walk Book): 2.3 Miles
Date Hiked: 6/7/2015
Date Published: 6/7/2015
Over
the last year, as my schedule has allowed, I’ve been section-hiking the Connecticut
miles of the Appalachian Trail. Nine
hikes and 49+ miles later, it was time for the last remaining section. The journey would take me up to the summit of
Bear Mountain, Connecticut’s highest peak, and down through Sages Ravine in
Mount Washington, Massachusetts.
On my previous AT hike, I made my way northbound from Route 41 to the western terminus of Undermountain Trail at Riga Junction. For this hike, I parked at a different parking location along Route 41, at the eastern terminus of Undermountain Trail. This would allow me to use Undermountain Trail as an access trail and pick up the AT where I last left off.
To reach the parking location from Hartford:
Follow Route 44 West to Route 41 North. The parking area is on the left in about 3.2 miles.
From the parking location, I set out heading due west on Undermountain Trail...
On my previous AT hike, I made my way northbound from Route 41 to the western terminus of Undermountain Trail at Riga Junction. For this hike, I parked at a different parking location along Route 41, at the eastern terminus of Undermountain Trail. This would allow me to use Undermountain Trail as an access trail and pick up the AT where I last left off.
To reach the parking location from Hartford:
Follow Route 44 West to Route 41 North. The parking area is on the left in about 3.2 miles.
From the parking location, I set out heading due west on Undermountain Trail...
Approximately
1.2 miles in, after gaining almost 700 feet in elevation, I passed the southern
terminus of Paradise Lane Trail. A
colleague of mine, who made a similar AT hike earlier this year, suggested Paradise
Lane Trail as the best route to ascend Bear Mountain because the AT on the
north side of the mountain is very steep.
He, like me, prefers to ascend rather than descend steep sections. Prior to making my hike, I thought about this
a lot. In the end, I decided I would
stay on Undermountain Trail because I didn’t want to finish the Connecticut miles
of the Appalachian Trail at Riga Junction.
I would take my chances with the steep descent in order to finish up at
Sages Ravine, just as the trail is described in the Walk Book. So, I stayed straight and continued following
Undermountain Trail due west.
Roughly 1.9 miles in, after gaining another 400 feet in elevation, I reached Riga Junction…
Roughly 1.9 miles in, after gaining another 400 feet in elevation, I reached Riga Junction…
I
made a right turn and started following the AT due north. This was it…another 2.3 miles and the
Connecticut section of the Appalachian Trail would be complete.
On my previous AT hike, I crossed paths with a southbound hiker who warned me about a bear he’d seen as he was approaching Bear Mountain. Our conversation was still fresh in my mind two weeks later. I was excited about possibly seeing a bear. Like most wild animals, they are more likely to flee than attack. In the unlikely event one did try to attack me, I had my bear mace and my trekker poles. Sadly, I never saw or heard anything.
Approximately 2.3 miles in, I turned around by chance and noticed the first view of the day…
On my previous AT hike, I crossed paths with a southbound hiker who warned me about a bear he’d seen as he was approaching Bear Mountain. Our conversation was still fresh in my mind two weeks later. I was excited about possibly seeing a bear. Like most wild animals, they are more likely to flee than attack. In the unlikely event one did try to attack me, I had my bear mace and my trekker poles. Sadly, I never saw or heard anything.
Approximately 2.3 miles in, I turned around by chance and noticed the first view of the day…
Looking
south, I could see sections of trail I covered on previous hikes.
Roughly 2.5 miles in, more views…this time to the west…allowed me to see Mount Frissell (on the right in the photo below)…
Roughly 2.5 miles in, more views…this time to the west…allowed me to see Mount Frissell (on the right in the photo below)…
At
2,316 feet above sea level, Bear Mountain is Connecticut’s highest peak. It is not, however, Connecticut’s highest point. There is a point on Mount Frissell’s southern
flank which is 64 feet higher. Mount
Frissell’s peak is in Massachusetts, which allows Bear Mountain to be
Connecticut’s highest peak without being Connecticut’s highest point.
Approximately 2.8 miles in, I reached the ruins of Battell Tower and the summit of Bear Mountain…
Approximately 2.8 miles in, I reached the ruins of Battell Tower and the summit of Bear Mountain…
Originally
constructed in 1885, Battell Tower once stood 36 feet high. However, it was often vandalized. And, in 1980, it was partially reconstructed as
the pile of stones you see in the photo above.
This isn’t the prettiest…or safest…viewing platform I’ve ever seen but
the views are magnificent. To the north
(the photo at the top of this page), I could see the Berkshires, including Mt.
Race and Mt. Everett. And, to the east,
I could see Twin Lakes in Salisbury…
I
enjoyed the views for a few minutes before continuing on my way. Almost immediately, I confirmed what my
colleague had told me. The north slope
of Bear Mountain is very steep. There
were several sections where I had to toss my trekker poles and slide down the
rocks on my backside. I slowed my pace,
making sure of every step.
Roughly 3.3 miles in, after entering Massachusetts, I reached the Sages Ravine section of the trail…
Roughly 3.3 miles in, after entering Massachusetts, I reached the Sages Ravine section of the trail…
While
geographically in Massachusetts, Sages Ravine is considered part of the
Connecticut section of the Appalachian Trail.
It is described in the Walk
Book and, therefore, is required hiking for completion of the CT 400. I continued straight, heading due north and
downhill.
Before long, the trail makes a hard right turn and heads east through a stand of hemlocks. The trail here parallels Sages Ravine Brook and it is one of my favorite sections of the AT. While the trail heads gradually downhill, the brook drops drastically, at times creating waterfalls and deep pools…
Before long, the trail makes a hard right turn and heads east through a stand of hemlocks. The trail here parallels Sages Ravine Brook and it is one of my favorite sections of the AT. While the trail heads gradually downhill, the brook drops drastically, at times creating waterfalls and deep pools…
Approximately
3.7 in, I passed Sages Ravine Campsite…
Roughly
4.3 miles in, I reached the end of the Connecticut section of the Appalachian Trail. Here, the trail crosses Sages Ravine Brook
and officially enters Massachusetts…
The
“10 down! 4 to go!” comment, directed at thru-hikers, brought a smile to my
face. I don’t know if I’ll ever personally
conquer all 14 states. But, it drives
home the answer to the question of “what will I do after I finish the
Connecticut section”. The answer is, of
course, KEEP GOING. From what I could
see, the first Massachusetts section looks beautiful. It only makes sense for me to continue on
and, at the very least, connect the missing sections with what I already
completed last year while on my way up to Mount Greylock. Unfortunately, after crossing the brook, I
found out the next side trail/parking location is still over 4 miles away. So, the Massachusetts section of the AT will
have to wait.
I turned around, re-crossed Sages Ravine Brook, and started the journey back to my car. Along the way, I took the more direct Paradise Lane Trail and enjoyed one more view of Bear Mountain…
I turned around, re-crossed Sages Ravine Brook, and started the journey back to my car. Along the way, I took the more direct Paradise Lane Trail and enjoyed one more view of Bear Mountain…
While
it provided a nice alternative to climbing back up and over Bear Mountain, I
found the Paradise Lane Trail to be a little underwhelming. It was a little overgrown and it reminded why
I prefer to hike in the fall/winter.
That said, it was the only negative aspect of what was otherwise a perfect
hike.
I can’t think of a better way to close out the spring semester and I’m really looking forward to hiking again the fall. For now, I’m going to turn my attention to running and riding my bike. I’ve registered for the Hartford Half Marathon in October so I’ll focus primarily on training for that. I expect to be in really good shape by the time I start hiking again in the fall. Once I start hiking again, I’ll have to push it if I’m going to hit 500 miles by December 31st.
Until next time…
I can’t think of a better way to close out the spring semester and I’m really looking forward to hiking again the fall. For now, I’m going to turn my attention to running and riding my bike. I’ve registered for the Hartford Half Marathon in October so I’ll focus primarily on training for that. I expect to be in really good shape by the time I start hiking again in the fall. Once I start hiking again, I’ll have to push it if I’m going to hit 500 miles by December 31st.
Until next time…
For a map of this hike, along with elevation data, please click here.
Total 2015 Distance: 261.8
(238.2 to Goal)