Bloodhound
Sunday, July 18th, 2010
Bear Mountain, Salisbury, Connecticut. We met "Bloodhound" (his trail name) on the top of Bear Mountain yesterday. Since early June we’ve seen dozens of "thru-hikers" on the Appalachian Trail; hikers who are doing the entire 2175 mile Appalachian Trail hike from Georgia to Maine (map).
I had a plan to take a picture of each of the thru-hikers we’ve met over the past few months but felt odd about it (like street photography on a wilderness "street") and didn’t do it. I asked Bloodhound and he was fine with it.
I’m less interested in doing portraits of this group of people, more interested in illustrating my awe at meeting a variety of people who plan and execute a 4-6 month hike along a difficult trail. Some people do it in sections over many years, others, like Bloodhound attempt to do it all in one continuous hike. This is serious stuff. Some thru-hikers are young (we’ve met high schoolers) and some are older than 63 year old Bloodhound. Some hike it solo, some as couples and some in small groups. We met a father and son team two days ago, very nice people. There is a trail culture (including trail names) that we get glimpses of from the various hikers we meet. There are people in towns along the way that put thru-hikers up, help them clean clothes and restock their food and more. All of this is impressive to me and I have no doubt that doing something like this is something you’ll remember for the rest of your life.
Bloodhound (from North Carolina) started in February which is very early but he’s been taking his time and enjoying the hike. He’s an incredibly nice guy who we talked with for quite some time as he rested and ate his candy bar.
Hi Richard:
Had a very enjoyable hike out at Greylock/Saddle Ball on Labor Day. The views are outstanding – could see Mt. Washington from the War Memorial, the Adirondacks, too. What an awesome beast is Greylock!
Intend to get back out there in the next month. My usual hiking companion, Jason, couldn’t come, so I met with a friend from Albany area, with whom I first hiked Bear via Undermountain four years ago today. Saved the Hopper Trail for next time – did Jones Nose from Rockwell, up to Saddle Ball then across to the summit, then back down to and down Gould to Peck’s Brook trail (brook was mostly dry, so no falls, alas), to Cheshire Harbor and back up to Car #2 at the hairpin parking lot.
The highlight, other than the breathtaking views from the tower, was the boreal forest along the ridge of Saddle Ball. If you’ve not yet done that stretch of the AT, Richard, I commend it to you. Such a beautiful, wild, green place!
No photos to share, alas, only memories – neither of us brought a camera.
I have done that stretch Chris and it’s beautiful. Still, the Hopper is the trail to do on Greylock!
Do you like the Money Brook trail, too? On the next visit, depending on who accompanies me, I’m gonna lobby for Sperry Road parking area, down Hopper trail to Money Brook, to Prospect Mtn trail, to AT to summit. Sounds like a nice circuit to me.
Starting to make plans to get up to Stratton. Looking forward to that!
Chris: I’ve never been on that trail and it’s quite long and tough. I would recommend (as I’ve been doing) the Hopper trail. It’s plenty tough and quite beautiful.
Long and tough are fine with me. I’m looking forward to exploring the Hopper and its namesake trail. Soon!