Salisbury, CT (USA)

Left Pittsfield this morning at 0615 and used US-7 and MA-23 to get to Route 41 (same number in both MA and CT). The fog was thick and the temps were in the 60s - seemed like a good day for the trail. Parked at the Undermountain Trailhead, just north of Salisbury and headed into the forest at 0715. It was overcast and damp but this actually helped me during the 1.9 mile climb up to the ridge where the AT was. My water reservoir, which I’ve long suspected had a leak, started gushing liquid down my back. I figured out that I could flip it upside down to stop the leak but then I had to fight gravity to get a drink. Guess it’s time for a new one... Felt good in the climb, even if I couldn’t count the miles. Usually, the hikes where I trek into the woods to find a place where I turned around are the result of hiking without a guide or map five years ago. Today, however, I just wanted to avoid hiking three big roller coaster mountains on a future hike. I reached Riga Junction quickly and only had to hike another mile (NOBO) to reach a large rock ledge on Bear Mountain, one of the highest peaks in Connecticut. The views were tremendous - low clouds covered lakes to the east but all the nearby hills (including Lions Head) and even Salisbury itself were clearly visible. I stopped to enjoy the panorama and ended up getting passed by a NOBO Thru hiker. He told me harrowing tales of the nasty thunderstorm on the ridge last night (glad I missed it). He was too fast for me but I caught up again when he stopped at a huge pile of rocks at the actual summit. He ended up stopping to chat with a pair of Thru hikers and a weekend solo who was cooking breakfast. I got a couple more photos but then hurried north. One thing about weekend hiking is that I knew I had to be on the road soon... The climb down from the peak was treacherous and scary - sheer, slippery rocks with very little foot or hand holds. I met lots of hikers coming uphill - I have no idea how they could feel safe with those huge backpacks (glad mine was small). I eventually reached the Paradise Lane Trail intersection and realized I’d finished hiking the entire length of AT in the Constitution State! There was no border crossing sign there but I found it about a mile later at the bottom of Sages Ravine. The AWOL guide explained that the sign was “misplaced”, probably because the AT follows the border and doesn’t head north again until the later location. My state totals, however, took into account that the CT Guide claimed the extra distance... I had to climb for more than another mile to reach my turnaround point: Laurel Ridge Campsite. Just as I started back to the south, I ran into the young Thru hiker from my first stop - we exchanged pleasantries, congratulating each other for checking another state off the list. The hike back to the Paradise Lane Trail was tough - it had gotten hotter and the last mile (out of the Ravine) was quite steep. I ran into all kinds of people in the area - weekend campers, day hikers, fishermen. Once I got off the AT, though, I was alone for more than two miles. I took a shortcut through the Paradise Group (camping) Area and found my way back to the Undermountain Trail - it was great to find there was only one mile left to go from there. Was really glad I didn’t have to climb any rock faces - most of the last half of the hike ended up being downhill. Just before I reached my car, I ran into a HUGE group of day hikers with no water and no map. They asked questions about the climb and I tried to set low expectations. Hope they made it! I was done with my hike at 1200, wrapping up the weekend with a 10 mile day. I changed quickly and was on the road, bound for home, a short time later.  First headed south into Salisbury and then used US-44 to reach the Taconic Parkway.  Made good time to I-84 and then made even better time to I-81.  Found very little traffic on I-81 through Scranton and encountered only a few other slow downs.  Stopped for gas at Pilot near Fort Indiantown Gap (1600).  Traffic sign said there was an accident about 15 miles away on I-81 so I decided to use PA-443 to get to US-22.  Somehow, I made a wrong turn and ended up in downtown Harrisburg.  Crossed the Susquehanna River at the Harvey Taylor Bridge and got on US-11, following it to US-15.  Continued south to I-270 and the Beltway.  Hit a few more downs on the way back but still rolled up to my parking spot by 1855.  Even had time to put in some work for my company later.  Glad I could get away for another hike this weekend - it may be a long while before I get to see the AT again... AT Today = 3.40 miles / G.T. AT = 1439.76 miles