I just met a through-hiker named Tim from Newington, next town over from me, who just finished in the past week or so. I met him at a pub in West Hartford, he and his buddies were celebrating, and he spotted my little, old Mass-Conn AT guide book from the library and asked about it. We struck up a fevered conversation about how awesome the trail is. He wasn’t aware you can see Greylock from Rand’s View, Lion’s Head and Race’s cliffs, and I was sharing with him about the geological history of the Taconics, how they were 20K+ when formed 450M y.a.

He said he especially enjoyed New Hampshire and Maine, said Mahoosuc was the hardest climb, really enjoyed Mt. Lafayette and the other Franconia North neighboring peaks. Said Mt. Washington was easy on the AT, from his perspective, but agrees Tuckerman Ravine trail up is no picnic. Was intrigued to hear that Everett’s original English name was Mt. Washington, with its name later changed in favor of a Mass governor.

Anyhow, a new AT friend. I’m recommending your site to him and his FB page, he tells me, has a ton of pix from his hike – just sent a friend request to him. I hope to get out and hike the Taconics with him and others again soon. Cheers!

Keep it up Chris and I hope to see you out there again sometime soon.

Not only have I continued hiking, it’s become my principal recreational hobby. I intend to get out twice a week or so, more if possible. Shorter hikes weekdays and longer ones weekend. Golf has taken a back seat.

Jay and I hope to get to Greylock and to Stratton this fall. Having done Everett, I am confident I can handle my namesake. We will probably do something like Jones Nose to the summit at Melville’s beloved inspiration, maybe round trip or maybe two cars, leap-frogging to Prospect overlook if possible. I love the Housy valley in CT, so the AT riverwalk section at peak foliage is another one I hear beckoning.

Do you like the Mohawk Trail? That one has also piqued my interest.

Do you like the Mohawk Trail?

Anyhow, I love your site, Richard, lots of lovely pictures and hiking stories, especially of interest to me of late.

So, now, at last, I can thank you and your friends for your gracious courtesies and helpful advice to me and my friend Jason on July 17, as we made our way up the Undermountain. You caught us at the bench at about 0.8 from trailhead and we met back up with you at the summit. We’re the heavy guys who were sweating mightily on that hot, humid day – y’all were kind enough to warn us away from the Paradise Lane/Northerly approach, which would’ve been too much for us.

Happy to say we’re both seeing significant progress with more hikes – we just did the Sleeping Giant’s head in Hamden much faster than we’d done it in June, and we carried forward on the blue Quinnipiac Trail through the Giant about four times further than before, though as the heat rose, we did choose an easier route down than planned.

Glad, too, that you posted about Bloodhound, who is a prince among men. He caught us, fittingly, at the chief southern overlook on Bear, and he and I got to speak extensively with each other in our drawls as Jay and I rested and I noshed on the peaking blueberries. Was nice to get a group photo of him, y’all and us and the others there at high noon. Humid as it was, the views weren’t the best, but what a fine day!

Feel free to take a look at Jason’s photos from that day, which I’ve posted to my Facebook page in my hiking collection.

We plan to come out soon again with Jason’s son, Alexander. I may come out with some other friends now and then, too. Hope your Race Brook to Bear (and Lion’s Head?) hike this weekend went well. We did Guilder Pond to Bear/Northwest Road a few weeks ago – it was gorgeous – and I did Race Brook over Everett and back down via the Elbow Trail the week before that – tough but beautiful, I’m proud of that one.

Hope to see you again soon in the Taconics!

Cheers and best regards,

Chris Stratton
West Hartford, CT

Less than a mile up, on the left there is a very small parking lot with trees in front of it and a small sign. I think, although I’m not absolutely sure, that there are some AT blazes on the road around there because it’s where the AT crosses 41 from the other side.

This small driveway is right next to a homeowner’s driveway so it looks like one more driveway among many.

If you go up too far just turn around and work your way back, you’ll find it.

Once parked the trail goes up the hill past an outhouse. It’s a great hike and well worth doing. From this point to Bear and back is about 12 miles. You first go up Lion’s Head, then over to Bear, then back the same way. Coming back there’s a way to avoid going up Lion’s head by hiking around the back side of it.

Let me know if you need more help with this and have fun.

Tomorrow (Sunday, 8/29) we’re starting at Race Brook Falls and hiking south to Bear on the AT. It’s also a nice long hike with two climbs. Maybe we’ll see you on Bear!

This Friday we’re doing the loop from Alander Mountain to Brace and back on the Taconic trail. If you’ve not hiked there I highly recommend it. Very nice:

http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2010/05/10/taconic-range-hike/

Have fun, hope to see you out on the trail sometime. We hike Bear a lot so no doubt we will meet up.