Hike #47
Trail: Nipmuck
Section: Eastford Road (Ashford, CT) to Bigelow Hollow (Union, CT)
Distance: 9.5 miles
Approx Time to Complete: 7 hours
Date Hiked: 4/14/2013
Date Published: 4/20/2013
Trail: Nipmuck
Section: Eastford Road (Ashford, CT) to Bigelow Hollow (Union, CT)
Distance: 9.5 miles
Approx Time to Complete: 7 hours
Date Hiked: 4/14/2013
Date Published: 4/20/2013
The day after a 10.88 mile hike along the Metacomet (and a trip to the casino for Jaci’s birthday), I decided it was a good idea to go on a 9.5 mile hike through eastern Connecticut…on only four hours sleep. Luckily, I had my dad and Roscoe to keep me awake.
My dad and I (along with Roscoe) have been slowly making our way along the Nipmuck Trail since Hike # 35. Our journey stalled a bit in the middle of February due to Winter Storm (Blizzard) Nemo. But, we’ve been making really good progress. Now, it was time for the most challenging section of the trail. The walk book declares that this section of trail offers a “relatively easy hike”. I declare that this will depend on your definition of “relatively”. After 10+ miles the day before and being out all night, there wasn’t anything easy about it…relative or otherwise.
We started by driving all the way out to Bigelow Hollow in Union (for trail descriptions within that park, check out my recaps of Hikes # 30 and 34) so we could drop off my car. Once my car was parked, Roscoe and I jumped in my dad’s truck and we headed over to Eastford Road in Ashford (where we left my dad’s truck on Hike # 44…eight days earlier). We hopped out and hit the trail.
Our journey would take us through the Yale Forest, which is a forested tract of 7,800 acres in Eastford, Ashford, Union, and Woodstock. Assembled by Yale alumnus George H. Myers, it was given to Yale University in 1930. The University, in turn, uses the forest for instruction and research. Timber and non-timber forest products are sold to own and operate the forest and help financially support the Yale doctoral program.
Early on our journey, we passed a rock that looked like it would be a good spot to take a 10 second timed picture of the three of us…
My dad and I (along with Roscoe) have been slowly making our way along the Nipmuck Trail since Hike # 35. Our journey stalled a bit in the middle of February due to Winter Storm (Blizzard) Nemo. But, we’ve been making really good progress. Now, it was time for the most challenging section of the trail. The walk book declares that this section of trail offers a “relatively easy hike”. I declare that this will depend on your definition of “relatively”. After 10+ miles the day before and being out all night, there wasn’t anything easy about it…relative or otherwise.
We started by driving all the way out to Bigelow Hollow in Union (for trail descriptions within that park, check out my recaps of Hikes # 30 and 34) so we could drop off my car. Once my car was parked, Roscoe and I jumped in my dad’s truck and we headed over to Eastford Road in Ashford (where we left my dad’s truck on Hike # 44…eight days earlier). We hopped out and hit the trail.
Our journey would take us through the Yale Forest, which is a forested tract of 7,800 acres in Eastford, Ashford, Union, and Woodstock. Assembled by Yale alumnus George H. Myers, it was given to Yale University in 1930. The University, in turn, uses the forest for instruction and research. Timber and non-timber forest products are sold to own and operate the forest and help financially support the Yale doctoral program.
Early on our journey, we passed a rock that looked like it would be a good spot to take a 10 second timed picture of the three of us…
There wasn’t a lot to see in this first section. About a half mile in we crossed an old woods road. And, about a mile after that, we came to Boston Hollow Road. Back where we turned off of Boston Hollow Road to find the parking location, it was a paved road. Here, where the trail crosses it, it is only a dirt road. There was an interesting staircase here with all kinds of danger signs so we elected not to take the stairs. Honestly, descending along the ridge without using the stairs looked safer anyway…
On the other side of the road, we encountered a fairly steep climb. Roscoe went first and, after I got to the top, I turned around to take a picture of my dad, who was still at the bottom of the climb…
After that initial climb, the trail continues to ascend…but it wasn’t overly challenging and paled in comparison to anything I had done the day before. That said, we were starting to drag…
As we got closer to the top of the climb, we noticed a section of the woods that had burned recently. We weren’t quite sure exactly when this happened, but my dad thinks it was recent…like maybe over last summer, when it was really dry here (as it was in much of the country)…
At around the two and a quarter mile mark, the trail reaches an overlook…but the only view up here is of the surrounding hills. And, unless you really know the area (which we don’t), you’ll have a hard time identifying which hills are significant. We thought we were able to spot the area of Mansfield Hollow to the south (where the East Branch of the Nipmuck begins), but there was no way to be certain.
The next four miles plus were pretty insignificant. We did cross through an area that looked like it had been recently logged, but one of the other guide books states that this area was cleared over 15 years ago. It is possible that this area was cleared more recently and that guide book is referring to another area.
Eventually, around the five and a half mile mark, we descended to Barlow Mill Road…which is a dirt road…
The next four miles plus were pretty insignificant. We did cross through an area that looked like it had been recently logged, but one of the other guide books states that this area was cleared over 15 years ago. It is possible that this area was cleared more recently and that guide book is referring to another area.
Eventually, around the five and a half mile mark, we descended to Barlow Mill Road…which is a dirt road…
Often times, when I’m reviewing the walk book for possible points of interest, I end up disappointed. On this hike, we knew we were stopping for lunch. So, I was hopeful that the Barlow Sawmill Ruins which were marked on the map would be an interesting highlight…and provide a spot for us to sit and eat lunch. I was really pushing it here…but the ruins of the mill didn't disappoint…
We ate our lunch, explored the area, had some fun with photos, and got some rest before we set off on our way…
When we were ready, after maybe a half an hour or so, we hit the trail again. It follows the road for a bit, but makes a hard right and stays to the east of this marshy area…
Through this next section, we passed through some giant trees. I don’t know if the pictures do these bad boys any justice. These things were massively tall…
Around the eight and a half mile mark after climbing a multitude of steep-ish ascents, the trail reaches Coye Hill. The hill, at an elevation of 1050 feet, is the highest point along the Nipmuck Trail. A couple of complaints here: first, there is absolutely no marker to let the hiker know that this is the highest point on the Nipmuck. I only know because the walk book told me. It would be so much better if there were some kind of marker because, after hiking eight and half miles on this section (and over 25 miles on the whole Nipmuck), I felt kind of cheated. The area is far enough from any road access where vandalism and theft shouldn’t be a problem. Second, there is a potentially better summit over Walker Mountain which, at 1080 feet is 30 feet taller than Coye Hill and even 5 feet taller than Soapstone Mountain. I believe Walker is the highest, if not one of the highest peaks in eastern Connecticut. And, while the Nipmuck brings the hiker within a few hundred yards (again, over the course of 8+ miles), it does not bring the hiker to the top of the peak. For those of us who love our elevations (however insignificant 1000 feet seems to everyone else), this needs to be corrected. Just my two cents.
The final mile or so of this hike was pretty cool. We started descending through an area of forest which is being researched to see what impact the different methods of planting trees has on their growth. Basically, the forest was cleared and re-planted with four different patterns to see if any one way of re-planting is better than the others. I also thought this area was cool because every so often there was a stick in the ground with a green number plate. The numbers were descending as we were descending so it gave us an idea of how much longer we had to go…
The final mile or so of this hike was pretty cool. We started descending through an area of forest which is being researched to see what impact the different methods of planting trees has on their growth. Basically, the forest was cleared and re-planted with four different patterns to see if any one way of re-planting is better than the others. I also thought this area was cool because every so often there was a stick in the ground with a green number plate. The numbers were descending as we were descending so it gave us an idea of how much longer we had to go…
Eventually we made our way to Route 171, I leashed up Roscoe, and we crossed into Bigelow Hollow. We made our way along some of the trail through Bigelow Hollow, but soon turned away from the trail and headed back to my car. We will pick up the Nipmuck where we left off, and head up to the Massachusetts border, where the trail ends, on our next hike through the area. The Nipmuck…along with the Metacomet and the Natchaug…is nearing completion.
Distance to 2013 goal: 229.69
Distance to 2013 goal: 229.69