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Oct 04 2025
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 Guides 34
 Routes 143
 Photos 1,000
 Triplogs 116

69 male
 Joined Dec 26 2018
 Phoenix, AZ
Mount Trumbull TrailNorthwest, AZ
Northwest, AZ
Hiking avatar Oct 04 2025
GrangerGuyTriplogs 116
Hiking5.89 Miles 1,556 AEG
Hiking5.89 Miles   4 Hrs   30 Mns   1.65 mph
1,556 ft AEG      56 Mns Break15 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
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I organized a trip to the wilderness areas of Mount Trumbull and Mount Logan. The plan was drive up Friday, camp overnight at the Mount Trumbull trailhead, hike both mountains on Saturday, camp overnight again and drive home Sunday. The trailhead has water and a pit toilet. The water is from Nixon Spring up the hill. There’s a great set of interpretive posters as well talking about the sawmill that used to be at that location, and there’s a nice campsite just about 50 yards south of the parking area.

This is a great place for watching the stars. It’s very dark. The moon set about midnight I think, and the sky was filled with stars when I woke about three.

Saturday morning was a 6 AM start up Mount Trumbull. It was about 44°F. The trail starts out easy but then steepens somewhat as it turns up the fall line and starts switchbacking up the hill. With an altitude of over 7000 feet I was taking many breaks, and I didn’t really appreciate how steep this was until I came back down.

You go through several vegetation zones on the way up. At the lowest elevation it’s mostly Juniper and then that gives way to some pinion pine. Once you get up high, it all gives way to Ponderosa pine. Also, you go through a couple of geological layers. The top of Mount Trumbull is basalt from volcanic outflow that came on top of a clay layer. The clay layer has eroded for the most part, leaving the valley. The basalt cap on top has prevented it from eroding, leaving Mt. Trumbull. So first you were climbing through a red clay layer and then that suddenly gives way to a layer that looks like volcanic ash. Then that gives way to basalt boulders on top.

On the way up, I spotted several rabbits, and listened to a white breasted nut hatch, some kind of woodpecker, and a mountain chickadee. There were just a few late season flowers.

I did not find a summit register. I headed back down the way I came getting back to my car about 10:30 AM.

I recommend changes to the guide description. In the third paragraph, replace "Trail is easy to follow..." to the end of the paragraph and the entire 4th paragraph with: Although it is faint at times, the trail goes all the way to the summit. you can usually spot it by long poles laid alongside the trail and cuts through logs that have fallen on the trail. The trail takes you to two spectacular viewpoints. It heads up to the rim to the east of the summit, and just where the trail makes a sharp left turn, you can see a black snag that has a sort of Lord of the Rings vibe up at the rim. Take a short jaunt off the trail at that point up to the snag, and you will see impressive views to the west, north and east. The trail continues on up to a false summit where there are more good views. Finally, the trail follows along the ridge to the real summit, which is marked clearly with a cairn, a benchmark and a tall pole.
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Bridge penstemon
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
 
Oct 04 2025
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 Guides 34
 Routes 143
 Photos 1,000
 Triplogs 116

69 male
 Joined Dec 26 2018
 Phoenix, AZ
Mount Logan TrailNorthwest, AZ
Northwest, AZ
Hiking avatar Oct 04 2025
GrangerGuyTriplogs 116
Hiking1.11 Miles 239 AEG
Hiking1.11 Miles      53 Mns   2.02 mph
239 ft AEG      20 Mns Break15 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
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After hiking Mt. Trumbull in the morning, I started the drive over to Mount Logan. A better description of the route to Mount Logan to add to the guide for that trip would be to say, from just south of the Mount Trumbull trailhead on County Road 5 turn right onto Road 1044. Stay on 1044 until you get to the boundary of the Mount Logan wilderness. At a T intersection 1044 goes south and 1064 goes north to the Mount Logan trailhead. There’s a sign here pointing to the right at the T intersection towards Mount Logan. I found the Avenza maps app loaded with the Arizona Strip West geocoded PDF to be extremely valuable for this part of the trip. That map is available on the BLM website. Google maps does not have these roads correctly. Neither does my Garmin map. This road is definitely high clearance, and I would recommend a 4 x 4.

The road ends at the trailhead. There’s no restroom or water here, but there’s a nice parking area and an interpretive sign. The view from the parking area is spectacular but the view from the summit is even better. There were only two entries in the trailhead in the last two months. This area doesn’t get much traffic. The trail follows along the edge of the cliff up to the summit. The trail is faint in places as it’s buried under Ponderosa pine needles. There is a row of pinecones in the trough of the trail.

It’s a short half mile up to the summit. When you get there, the view is overwhelming. You are looking down into Hells Hole, a canyon that is multicolored and very deep. If heights bother you, you’re going to want to stay back from the edge. You can see all the way over to the west end of the Grand Canyon here. If you’re not sure where the Grand Canyon is, you will see to the south a butte that could only match the name of Molly’s Nipple. That tower is on the north side of the Grand Canyon.

It’s an even shorter half mile back to the car because it’s downhill. It was still early afternoon so I headed out to spend the night at Kanab, Utah before driving home the next day.
 
Sep 15 2025
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 Guides 34
 Routes 143
 Photos 1,000
 Triplogs 116

69 male
 Joined Dec 26 2018
 Phoenix, AZ
Menunkatuck-Mattabesett Trails, CT 
Menunkatuck-Mattabesett Trails, CT
 
Hiking avatar Sep 15 2025
GrangerGuyTriplogs 116
Hiking6.80 Miles 794 AEG
Hiking6.80 Miles   2 Hrs   59 Mns   2.53 mph
794 ft AEG      18 Mns Break
 
1st trip
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I am section hiking the Connecticut portion of the New England Trail (CT-NET). This day I led a small party of the Meshomasic Hiking Club on Sections 8 and 9 of the CT-NET. This portion includes parts of the Menunkatuck Trail, the southernmost section of the NET, and the Mattabesett Trail which heads up toward Middletown. The portion described here starts at a large parking lot at CT-80, and continues north through Cockaponset State Forest. After intersecting the Mattabesett Trail at a T-intersection, it turns west, through a geologically interesting area called the Broomstick Ledges.

While the Menunkatuck section is easy enough, the section through the Broomstick Ledges finds the hardest possible (and most interesting) route through the rocky terrain.

The trip this day ended at the Bluff Head Parking on CT-77.
 
Aug 20 2025
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 Guides 34
 Routes 143
 Photos 1,000
 Triplogs 116

69 male
 Joined Dec 26 2018
 Phoenix, AZ
Menunkatuck TrailNew Haven, CT
New Haven, CT
Hiking avatar Aug 20 2025
GrangerGuyTriplogs 116
Hiking7.37 Miles 732 AEG
Hiking7.37 Miles   4 Hrs   39 Mns   2.07 mph
732 ft AEG   1 Hour   5 Mns Break
 
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
I am section hiking the New England Trail (NET) through Connecticut. The southernmost section of this trail starts at Long Island Sound in Guilford, but is entirely on roads until the first trail section that starts at Clapboard Hill Road in the East River Preserve in Guilford. The Blue-Blazed Menunkatuck Trail continues north through Nut Plains Woods and then the Timberland Preserve.

This trip was on NET Sections 6 and 7, which run from Clapboard Hill Road to CT-80, where there is a large parking lot. I made the hike with my son's family, including the 2-year old in a backpack and the 7-year old walking. I was informed later that they don't usually hike this far in a single day.

It is a pretty trip, though, fairly flat, and was a good family outing.
 
Aug 13 2025
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 Guides 34
 Routes 143
 Photos 1,000
 Triplogs 116

69 male
 Joined Dec 26 2018
 Phoenix, AZ
Mattabesett TrailMiddlesex, CT
Middlesex, CT
Hiking avatar Aug 13 2025
GrangerGuyTriplogs 116
Hiking4.84 Miles 990 AEG
Hiking4.84 Miles   3 Hrs   47 Mns   1.74 mph
990 ft AEG   1 Hour    Break10 LBS Pack
 
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In August of 2025, I organized a Meshomasic Hiking Club trip on the Mattabesett Trail, a portion of the New England Trail (NET) Connecticut Section 12 in Middlefield and Middletown, Connecticut. Our party ranged in ages from 3 to 68, although the youngest was in a backpack. We met at Route 66 and 147 and then shuttled a couple of cars to the Wesleyan Woods trailhead on Country Club Road where we started the hike. Although I was the nominal leader of this trip, as it turned out, most of the other adults in the party had hiked this trail before.

This section of the blue-blazed NET starts out on an old road, before evolving into singletrack among tall grass. Our seven-year-old did a great job of spotting the blazes as we climbed up toward the summit of Higby Mountain. Just a little short of the summit, we took a cross-country detour to an overhanging rock, almost a cave, where the “Old Leatherman” would spend nights as he made his 365 mile loop every 34 days in the 1880s.

Upon leaving the cave, we kicked up a nest of ground bees that stung a couple people. In our haste to leave the bees, our track wavered a bit as we aimed for the coordinates of an old plane crash. While I thought this was the crash of a Cessna 172 from 1966, it turned out that this was the remains of a twin-engine Beechcraft 18 that crashed in 1954.

Following the visit to the wreck, we headed to the top of the mountain, back to the blue-blazed trail, and enjoyed the rest of our hike at a leisurely pace. The hike finished up at a small restaurant near where we parked the cars that has a walkup window selling ice cream, which several of us enjoyed.
 
Jul 07 2025
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 Guides 34
 Routes 143
 Photos 1,000
 Triplogs 116

69 male
 Joined Dec 26 2018
 Phoenix, AZ
Wind River Loop, WY 
Wind River Loop, WY
 
Hiking avatar Jul 07 2025
GrangerGuyTriplogs 116
Hiking33.60 Miles 4,284 AEG
Hiking33.60 Miles3 Days   5 Hrs   51 Mns   
4,284 ft AEG
 
1st trip
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Four old men set out for an adventure in the Wind River Range of Wyoming. The original plan was to start from the Big Sandy Trailhead, hike north along the little-used Highline Trail that parallels the Continental Divide Trail, loop around Dream Lake, then south along the CDT, turning off east toward Shadow Lake, over Texas Pass to the Cirque of the Towers, and out via the Big Sandy trail. It didn’t turn out quite as planned due to altitude sickness of one of the party, but it was a great trip nevertheless.

The road to the Big Sandy Trailhead is suitable for passenger cars when it is dry. We stayed overnight at the trailhead; there are 4 campsites there and by the evening all were filled. In the morning, we took the Highline Connector (7094A) to the Highline Trail (7094) and headed north. Along the way, Boulter Lake is beautiful and was a picture and rest break. A mile or so beyond was the ford of the East Fork up to our knees at Poston Meadows. We then continued climbing along upstream along the East Fork, arriving at our first camp along the East Fork at the intersection of the Francis Lake Trail about 1 pm. There is a clump of trees there with good campsites. Francis Lake Trail was even less distinct than the Highline Trail.

On Day 2, we continued the hike upstream along the pretty East Fork. Where the Highline Trail bears away left from the river, the East Fork Washakie (7092) trail fords the river and heads northeast toward the CDT. It looked vague and faint. The trail then climbs through a spectacular pass, faint at times. Just past the turnoff to Silver Lake, the Highline Trail essentially disappeared, and we messed around a while hunting for it. If I had just followed my GPX track, it would have been no problem, but, like a pilot flying upside down through clouds, I just didn’t believe my instruments. This area is marked “Problem Section” on my posted route. This part of the trail is gorgeous, hiking through massive vistas and open meadows. The junction with the Monroe Lake Trail / Scab Creek Trail (7110) is also confusing, as the worn track heads that way, and is invisible on the Highline Trail. By this point, one of our party was showing significant signs of altitude sickness so we stopped at a campsite just short of a large lake along South Fork Boulder Creek, way short of our destination for the day, and prepared to start heading out the next morning.

On day 3, we headed back the way we came on the Highline Trail, and then took the Crossover Trail just south of Cross Lake over to the CDT / Fremont Trail (7096). This is a good and distinct trail. We continued south on the CDT and took a break near Silver Creek, where we were visited by a very aggressive marmot, marked with a waypoint on my route. I forgot to turn on my recording for a while after that, leaving a gap in the route. Eventually we reached the ford of the East Fork again. This involved walking some pretty marshy trail first, and then the ford. After we crossed and put our boots on, we discovered another previously unseen crossing just a little ways beyond. We were able to scout around for a rock hop on that one. We headed up the hill and eventually found a camp spot in a thicket above an unnamed pond just north of Marms Lake.

Day 4, we headed south on the CDT to the intersection with the Hailey Pass Trail 7111 at Marms Lake. Since leaving the Big Sandy TH we had seen no one up to this point. From this point south, however, we started seeing LOTS of people. The wilderness experience was over. From here, we were on the super popular Cirque of the Towers loop. Although we had planned to go there, there was no way with the altitude sickness we were going to make it over Texas Pass, and once I saw the masses, I think I wasn’t too disappointed. We finished the trip passing Marms, Dads, Mirror and Meeks Lakes, turning off the CDT at the Big Sandy Trail, staying on the Fremont Trail back to the Trailhead.

By the time we were back to the car at 9100’, the altitude sickness cleared (this always amazes me how this works), and we headed over to the Big Sandy Lodge where everyone enjoyed burgers and soft drinks, before heading back for our long drive to Seattle.
 
Jun 21 2025
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 Guides 34
 Routes 143
 Photos 1,000
 Triplogs 116

69 male
 Joined Dec 26 2018
 Phoenix, AZ
Shenipsit Belding Preserve, CT 
Shenipsit Belding Preserve, CT
 
Hiking avatar Jun 21 2025
GrangerGuyTriplogs 116
Hiking5.73 Miles 437 AEG
Hiking5.73 Miles   3 Hrs   21 Mns   2.02 mph
437 ft AEG      31 Mns Break10 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
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I joined a day hike sponsored jointly by the Meshomasic and New Haven Hiking Clubs for a walk along a section of the Shenipsit Trail and through the Tankerhoosen and Belding Wildlife Management Areas near Vernon, CT. Much of the walk is along the Tankerhoosen River and is one of the prettiest sections of the Shenipsit. Frederick Belding acquired the Belding WMA land in the early 1900s, turning it into a hunting and fishing camp. In 1981 his descendants donated the land to the State of Connecticut, who continue to manage it. It is a popular place for birding. The butterfly garden has fallen into decline since I was last there. Lebbeus Bissell acquired the land that became the Tankerhoosen WMA around the same time, and also turned it into a private recreational reserve. The state acquired this land in 2011. We also took a tour off the Shenipsit through the Tankerhoosen WMA through a field full of wildflowers in bloom, and a side trip to a Revolutionary War era cemetery.
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Moderate
  6 archives
Jun 15 2025
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 Guides 34
 Routes 143
 Photos 1,000
 Triplogs 116

69 male
 Joined Dec 26 2018
 Phoenix, AZ
Grafton Loop Trail - East HalfWestern, ME
Western, ME
Backpack avatar Jun 15 2025
GrangerGuyTriplogs 116
Backpack19.89 Miles 6,847 AEG
Backpack19.89 Miles1 Day   8 Hrs   6 Mns   
6,847 ft AEG27 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
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I joined an Appalachian Mountain Club - Maine Chapter - backpacking trip to western Maine to hike the eastern half of the Grafton Loop Trail near Grafton Notch State Park. As it turned out, most of the hikers dropped out except me and the leader, who was 20 years younger than me. Joshua was incredibly patient with this old guy. I did fine on the trail when the grade was less than about 15%, but a lot of this was much, much worse than that, especially going down, as is common on AMC trails.

There were fantastic views from Puzzle Mountain and Bald Pate East Peak. There are several good campsites along the way. We stayed in Lane Campsite. Lots of opportunities for water as well. Waterfalls near Lane Campsite were spectacular.
 
Jun 08 2025
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 Guides 34
 Routes 143
 Photos 1,000
 Triplogs 116

69 male
 Joined Dec 26 2018
 Phoenix, AZ
Mattabesett Lone Pine Loop, CT 
Mattabesett Lone Pine Loop, CT
 
Hiking avatar Jun 08 2025
GrangerGuyTriplogs 116
Hiking11.96 Miles 1,968 AEG
Hiking11.96 Miles   6 Hrs   2 Mns   2.22 mph
1,968 ft AEG      39 Mns Break10 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
Partners none no partners
For National Trails Day, 2025, I joined a hike led by the Connecticut Forests and Parks Association, the maintainers of the Blue Blazed trail system in Connecticut, for a classic Connecticut hike. The trip forms a lollipop loop involving the New England National Scenic Trail, here called the Mattabesett Trail, and the Lone Pine Trail through Braemore Preserve, which has, you guessed it, one really big pine tree.

We started at the Stage Coach Road Trailhead just off CT-17, and followed the Mattabesett Trail generally south and east to the large Bluff Head parking lot. West of CT-77 the hike is along rugged blocky basalt ridges known locally as traprock. We continued across CT-77, which is a fault line separating the basalt ridges from the older Paleozoic metamorphic basement rock, mostly gneiss and schist, hiking through the "Broomstick Ledges", which are a series rugged ridges on which the trail makes a concerted effort to follow the hardest and most interesting path through.

Entering the Braemore Preserve, we eventually intersected the Red-Blue Blazed Lone Pine Trail, and began our westward journey back toward the starting point. When the Lone Pine Trail reaches CT-77 again, it jogs left along the road, eventually picking up below the Bluff Head Ridge and following along the base of it. There are a couple ways back to the National Scenic Trail. We took the Blue-White blazed North Slope Trail back up the hill to the Mattabesett Trail. The North Slope Trail is an easily walked two-track that climbs the hill steadily.
 
Jun 01 2025
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 Guides 34
 Routes 143
 Photos 1,000
 Triplogs 116

69 male
 Joined Dec 26 2018
 Phoenix, AZ
Appalachian Trail - CT & MALitchfield, CT
Litchfield, CT
Hiking avatar Jun 01 2025
GrangerGuyTriplogs 116
Hiking8.11 Miles 1,973 AEG
Hiking8.11 Miles   5 Hrs   30 Mns   1.55 mph
1,973 ft AEG      17 Mns Break
 
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Hiked the section of the Appalachian Trail in CT between Kent and Bulls Bridge with the Connecticut chapter of AMC. Thanks to Claire for leading the trip. The trip was postponed from the day before due to heavy rain. It was a congenial group. I'm still figuring out how to take pictures when hiking with a large group. I got a few more today than on the hike earlier in the week. There were a few viewpoints, a couple of flowers, and probably the high point was the clear black bear prints.
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
There were a couple Pink Lady's Slippers along the way. On the south facing slope near the end of the hike were a few other flowers.
 
May 29 2025
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 Guides 34
 Routes 143
 Photos 1,000
 Triplogs 116

69 male
 Joined Dec 26 2018
 Phoenix, AZ
Chatfield Hollow State ParkMiddlesex, CT
Middlesex, CT
Hiking avatar May 29 2025
GrangerGuyTriplogs 116
Hiking7.96 Miles 1,309 AEG
Hiking7.96 Miles   4 Hrs   46 Mns   1.71 mph
1,309 ft AEG      7 Mns Break2 LBS Pack
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
I'm back in Connecticut for the summer. I did an approximately 8 mile hike in Chatfield Hollow State Park / Cockaponset State Forest in Killingworth. It was a drizzly morning, but suitable with a raincoat and by halfway through the trip, I could take off the coat. The hike was with the local Appalachian Mountain Club Chapter. As such, there were sixteen of us on the hike. It is hard to stop and take photos with a group that size. We hiked on multiple trails through the Park and the Forest, starting from the parking lot along CT-80, taking the Chimney Trail (green) to the Lookout Trail (white) to the East Woods Trail (blue), back to the Lookout Trail, to the Ridge Trail (red), stopping for lunch at the mill pond. There were a pair of cormorants fishing in the pond, and we watched one swallow a fish bigger than its own neck! Then continuing on the Deep Woods Trail (orange), to the Pond Trail (orange-white), back to the Deep Woods Trail. After crossing the road, we walked the Paul Wildermann Boardwalk, and finished back to the cars on the rest of the Chimney Trail. The track I published doesn't completely cover any of the trails except the blue-blazed East Woods, trail. It is pieces of all the rest.
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
There were a few Lady Slippers in bloom.
 
May 03 2025
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 Guides 34
 Routes 143
 Photos 1,000
 Triplogs 116

69 male
 Joined Dec 26 2018
 Phoenix, AZ
Morse Canyon Trail #43Tucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar May 03 2025
GrangerGuyTriplogs 116
Hiking15.39 Miles 4,105 AEG
Hiking15.39 Miles1 Day   2 Hrs   31 Mns   
4,105 ft AEG23 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
I led an Arizona Backpackers Club hike for an overnight adventure in the Chiricahua Wilderness. After an overnight at the Sycamore Campground along Turkey Creek Road (nice outhouses), we headed out on the Morse Canyon Trail. There is limited parking at the trailhead. Be sure not to block the turnaround, as people come up here with trailers. The dirt road coming in was a little rough, but easily driven with a small SUV.

The climb up to the ridge went surprisingly fast. Morse Canyon trail is in great shape, as it must have been maintained recently. Turtle Mountain Trail had a few deadfalls, but not bad. I wasn't sure about my conditioning, and most of the crew was much more athletic--and younger--than me. At Monte Vista Peak, the view was somewhat obscured by the haze from the Stronghold Fire about 50 miles to the west; I couldn't smell it but some in our party could. There is an outhouse at the summit. I thought it seemed fine, but some of our party were not impressed.

There is a lot of dormant stinknet weed (Globe Chamomile) along the ridge. This invasive plant will probably lead to yet more fires up here. Crest Trail 270B was in pretty good shape but Crest Trail 270D was the worst with lots of deadfall, and the the last half mile to Aspen Saddle was very sketchy and hard to find.

We camped at Aspen Saddle; from there it is about 0.6 miles to Eagle Spring which had plenty of water in the concrete springbox. It wasn't difficult to filter out the green stuff. There was a 25 MPH wind blowing most of the night across the saddle, and in the morning, with temps around 38F, we were anxious to get going.

Crest Trail 270C up to Chiricahua Peak is mostly missing, but the direction to the peak is obvious. We were freezing in the wind, though, and we actually missed the summit by a few yards in our anxiety to get out of the wind. The trail down the north side of the peak is in great shape, however, and from there, we were out of the wind and started to warm up.

We took Crest Trail 270B back to the Mormon Ridge Trail 269, then down the Mormon Canyon Trail 352, which again was in excellent shape.
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Stinknet
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Eagle Spring
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation None
Nothing in bloom yet.

water 1 out of 5water less than maxwater less than maxwater less than max Eagle Spring Dripping Dripping
Spring box was full of water. It was easy to filter the algae out, and we pulled lots of water for our party.
  2 archives
Apr 27 2025
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 Guides 34
 Routes 143
 Photos 1,000
 Triplogs 116

69 male
 Joined Dec 26 2018
 Phoenix, AZ
Havasu National Wildlife RefugeNorthwest, AZ
Northwest, AZ
Kayak avatar Apr 27 2025
GrangerGuyTriplogs 116
Kayak19.12 Miles 593 AEG
Kayak19.12 Miles   8 Hrs   19 Mns   2.60 mph
593 ft AEG
 
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
HAZ - Event
I led an Arizona Backpackers Club trip into the Havasu Wilderness via Kayak. The itinerary was basically the standard kayak trip from Topock Marina to Castle Rock at Lake Havasu through the Topock Gorge, with a four-mile walk into the wilderness on the Arizona side to Jackpot Spring.

We all met at the takeout point at Castle Rock and met the outfitter, who took us upstream to I-40 and the put-in point at the Topock Marina. We started out on a beautiful Monday morning, hoping to avoid too many power boats on the river. About 3.1 miles downstream, there is the remains of a gaging station and a small beach where we pulled off. The trick was finding the way along the cliff adjacent to the wash, which was choked with vegetation, and climbing up the cliff to the gaging station, and the remains of an old road. The road led around the tamarisk, and down into the wash.

We then hiked up the wash about two miles to the spring and back to the river. While two of us hiked, two hung back at the river and did some local exploring, as well as a little map research, where they found the petroglyphs further downstream.

Continuing after our hike, we alternately paddled and floated with the current, eventually stopping at the petroglyphs, and moving on to Castle Rock for the pickup.
 
Apr 07 2025
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 Guides 34
 Routes 143
 Photos 1,000
 Triplogs 116

69 male
 Joined Dec 26 2018
 Phoenix, AZ
Snake Gulch to Table RockNorthwest, AZ
Northwest, AZ
Backpack avatar Apr 07 2025
GrangerGuyTriplogs 116
Backpack12.00 Miles 670 AEG
Backpack12.00 Miles1 Day   3 Hrs   19 Mns   
670 ft AEG23 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
I led a small Arizona Backpackers Club trip to Snake Gulch in the Kanab Wilderness. We had near perfect weather. It was not hot, not cold. We came in via the paved forest highway 22 road from Fredonia, as the ranger did not speak highly of the conditions of Forest Road 461. There is a lot of deadfall in that area, and one could have been blocked by trees on the road. We drove out on 461; it was doable. The spur off FH22 to the trailhead was easily managed in a Subaru Cross Trek.

We were agog at all the pictographs and petroglyphs. We moved slowly coming in and slowly coming out, taking tons of pictures. There was great water at the table rock spring, and adequate campsites near there. There was less evidence of camping than I expected.

The sagebrush encroaches somewhat on the trail, but passage was easy in long pants.

water 1 out of 5water less than maxwater less than maxwater less than max Table Rock Spring Dripping Dripping
The spring was dripping but the springbox was full of cool, clear water.
 
Mar 08 2025
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 Guides 34
 Routes 143
 Photos 1,000
 Triplogs 116

69 male
 Joined Dec 26 2018
 Phoenix, AZ
Black Hills - AZT #14Tucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Backpack avatar Mar 08 2025
GrangerGuyTriplogs 116
Backpack17.75 Miles 2,237 AEG
Backpack17.75 Miles1 Day   3 Hrs   21 Mns   
2,237 ft AEG23 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
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I had planned to lead an ABC party up on Passage 23 of the AZT this weekend, but snow the day before made even driving to the Peeley Trailhead a doubtful proposition. So I aimed for a section of the AZT I had not done, the northern third or so of Passage 14. Two of us drove to the Freeman Road Trailhead. The drive on Freeman Road from AZ 79 is very smooth. Good parking at the trailhead. The hike south starts on two-track for a mile or two, before becoming singletrack as the trail ambles around Antelope Peak. We met two through-hikers and 2 segment hikers, and ran into a party of ATVs at the well. We made good time getting to Beehive Well, which had awesomely good water in a full tank. We found a nice campsite on top of a small hill just south of the well with a 360 degree view, and no cow or rodent deposits. On day 2, we headed back north, discovering that we hadn't noticed how much downhill we had made the day before. Saw lots of wildlife: 3 mule deer bucks, 1 doe, several hawks, quail, chipmunks, and heard two owls. The sunset was definitely outdone by the sunrise.

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water 3 out of 5water 4 out of 5 Beehive Well 76-100% full 76-100% full
Water was clear and the tank was full.
 
Mar 01 2025
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 Guides 34
 Routes 143
 Photos 1,000
 Triplogs 116

69 male
 Joined Dec 26 2018
 Phoenix, AZ
Charles M. Christiansen Trail #100Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Mar 01 2025
GrangerGuyTriplogs 116
Hiking11.22 Miles 1,180 AEG
Hiking11.22 Miles   4 Hrs   11 Mns   2.89 mph
1,180 ft AEG      18 Mns Break6 LBS Pack
 
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Needed a good 10+ mile conditioner. This one always meets the requirement. I posted my gps track which almost exactly matches the official route I posted 2 years ago, except around the Dreamy Draw Trailhead, which was under construction previously. There are still a few unsigned junctions that can mess you up, but for the most part, the posts with yellow and purple trail markers show you the way. Follow this track and you won't go wrong.

I started at first light and finished about 10:30 am. I was glad I had the sun at my back the whole way.
 
Nov 18 2024
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 Guides 34
 Routes 143
 Photos 1,000
 Triplogs 116

69 male
 Joined Dec 26 2018
 Phoenix, AZ
Mattabesett TrailMiddlesex, CT
Middlesex, CT
Hiking avatar Nov 18 2024
GrangerGuyTriplogs 116
Hiking11.82 Miles 1,574 AEG
Hiking11.82 Miles   6 Hrs   24 Mns   2.01 mph
1,574 ft AEG      32 Mns Break5 LBS Pack
 
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We headed south on the Mattabesett trail from the parking lot at Millers Pond State Park. To get to the point where the blue-blazed trail enters the park on Foot Hills Road, take the Red Trail, then the Yellow Trail southeast from the parking area, until intersecting the Mattabesett. Make a sharp right turn and follow the blue-blazed trail down to the white-blazed trail and the lake. The park map indicates the blue and white trails are the same for the next half mile, so we missed that actually the blue trail follows the shoreline for a while.

Two-thirds of the way around the lake, the Mattabesett turns south, leaving the park a while, and about a mile from the lake, switchbacks up a cliff, and then arrives at Bear Rock with nice views to the northwest. There is a steep chute off Bear Rock, or you can take the gentle blue-red blazed route around the chute. The chute was full of leaves so we opted for the bypass.

Continuing South, pass Harvey Road where there is parking, and Higganum Road, where there is parking, then enter a long stretch south toward Madison Road (CT-79). We didn’t quite make the road before our hard 3-hour turnaround time, and headed back north. Once again, we stopped for the view at Bear Rock. On arriving at Millers Pond, we enjoyed a sunny lunch on the first levee, and then continued clockwise around the lake back to the parking lot.

Although our GPX track with all the GPS noise recorded 11.8 miles, the smoothed track suggests we hiked 9.9 miles.
foliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observation
Autumn Foliage Observation None
All the leaves are on the ground.
 
Nov 16 2024
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 Guides 34
 Routes 143
 Photos 1,000
 Triplogs 116

69 male
 Joined Dec 26 2018
 Phoenix, AZ
Mattabesett TrailMiddlesex, CT
Middlesex, CT
Hiking avatar Nov 16 2024
GrangerGuyTriplogs 116
Hiking5.87 Miles 1,195 AEG
Hiking5.87 Miles   3 Hrs   2 Mns   1.99 mph
1,195 ft AEG      5 Mns Break5 LBS Pack
 
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On a pretty fall day in November 2024, I did the next section of the Mattabesett Trail. I’m finally getting back to this little project. I parked at the Aircraft Road Trailhead. There is room for 3 cars there adjacent to the paved highway, but a post in the middle can be tricky to get around. Be careful if you park in the middle.

I headed north on the trail. I had a mile to go to link up with my previous section, so that was my turnaround target. With all the leaves on the ground, I depended upon the blue blazes, which were good except for one corner on the return trip, where I got off track a little.

I was out and back to my car in about an hour, and then headed south. At first the southbound trail is a pleasant woods path, but then it goes over some big granite outcroppings in the most difficult way possible. The trail scrambles up and down the outcroppings to no particular objective except to be fun, I guess. About a mile from Aircraft Road the trail crosses, then follows, a major powerline right-of-way, finally dropping into the woods and following along a pretty brook across the way from a picnic area and parking at Saybrook Road. I turned around when I got to the road, getting back to my car in 3 hours.
foliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observation
Autumn Foliage Observation None
All the leaves are on the ground.
 
Sep 25 2024
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 Guides 34
 Routes 143
 Photos 1,000
 Triplogs 116

69 male
 Joined Dec 26 2018
 Phoenix, AZ
Chatfield Hollow State ParkMiddlesex, CT
Middlesex, CT
Hiking avatar Sep 25 2024
GrangerGuyTriplogs 116
Hiking5.42 Miles 724 AEG
Hiking5.42 Miles   4 Hrs   10 Mns   1.48 mph
724 ft AEG      31 Mns Break
 
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I hiked some roads and trails of Chatfield Hollow State Park with the New Haven Hiking Club in late September, 2024. A few trees just starting to turn. Starting from the parking lot on CT-80, we hiked up the road to the Lookout (white) trail, a little of the East Woods (blue) trail, the green loop, then back to the Lookout trail to the Ridge (red) trail, to the old mill pond, where we had lunch. I finished on the road back to the car, as I had an afternoon appointment.
foliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observation
Autumn Foliage Observation Light
 
Sep 01 2024
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 Guides 34
 Routes 143
 Photos 1,000
 Triplogs 116

69 male
 Joined Dec 26 2018
 Phoenix, AZ
Mohawk AT Loop, CT 
Mohawk AT Loop, CT
 
Hiking avatar Sep 01 2024
GrangerGuyTriplogs 116
Hiking34.29 Miles 6,681 AEG
Hiking34.29 Miles3 Days   3 Hrs   47 Mns   
6,681 ft AEG25 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
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Two of us took a 4 day, 3 night backpacking trip on the Mohawk Trail / Appalachian Trail loop in western Connecticut. The Mohawk Trail was at one time the Appalachian Trail, but the AT was rerouted in the late 70s to its present alignment west of US 7. It makes a nice backpacking loop, with multiple camping opportunities on the way at reasonable intervals, somewhat rare in Connecticut. The first 4 miles or so are all on roads, mainly due to an abandoned section of trail in Cornwall Bridge. This trail is in places being rerouted off roads by the Connecticut Forest and Parks Association.

While camping on the AT is first-come-first-served, the backpacking sites on the Mohawk Trail are supposed to be reserved by sending in your request to the CT-DEEP two weeks ahead.

We parked at the intersection of US 7 and CT 4 in the town of Sharon, just across from a nice bistro, seemingly open weekends only.

The route crosses the Housatonic River on CT 4, and then shortly turns off to the left on Brook Road, and then begins to follow Popple Swamp Road for several miles. About 1000’ before the east end of Popple Swamp Road at CT 4, the trail turns off the road. We missed this turn and continued via road until picking up the trail again at the Cathedral Pines Conservancy. I’m planning to go back and add this section before publishing a guide for this trail.

Leaving the Conservancy, the trail follows Essex Hill Road and Great Hill Road briefly, before turning off on a farm lane where there is water, and up into the forest. Farther up the hill is another stream with good water. Near the top of the hill, the trail intersects the end of the Mattatuck Trail (42 miles long), a short distance from parking and a sign for restrooms. Shortly beyond, it comes across the top lifts of the Mohawk Mountain ski area.

Just before crossing CT-4, we came to Mohawk Shelter #2, where we spent the night. There is a pond with stagnant water in the picnic area nearby. Better water can be found a couple miles north at a spring along the trail.

Day 2: Heading north from the shelter, we climbed up to a good lookout point at Red Mountain (1646’). The trail comes out at Johnson Road and follows it for a bit. A reroute is in work in this area.

North of Ford Hill Road, the trail may be brushy.

The trail continues north, passing out of sight of Cream Hill Lake where there is a town beach at Lake Road. Further north, the trail has been routed away from an unnamed pond near N41.91205, W73.29573. It is a shame. It looks like the pond is quite pretty. The trail turns west, following, then crossing, a stream with very good water.

The trail becomes Wickwire Road, a closed dirt track that is easy walking. Eventually the trail turns off of Wickwire Road and becomes a brushy mess. It would be better to stay on Wickwire Road to the point where the trail crosses it again. That crossing is just a short distance from the Wickwire Shelter, where we spent our second night. The shelter wasn’t much used by people, but apparently more by bats, so we chose to stay in our tents out front. Reed Brook is nearby and might be a good source of water.

Day 3, we headed North from the shelter. There is a small peak labeled “Music Mountain” (1251’) on our map, and we took a short cross country scramble to get to its forested, rounded summit. I’m not sure, but the more notable Music Mountain is a small concert hall just north of there on Music Mountain Road.

Continuing west, just before crossing Music Mountain Road, the trail crosses a little wooden bridge with good water. There is an excellent view of a waterfall on the same creek from the road, and there is a nearby trailhead parking lot. After crossing the road, the trail descends along Dean’s Ravine with more views of a lower waterfall, although you have to detour off the trail to get to them. Soon you arrive at the large camping area at Dean’s Ravine.

The trail continues rolling up and down for a while and then begins a very aggressive ascent of Lookout Point (1201’). The trail climbs to this viewpoint almost directly up the fall line, and then descends the same way, in that annoying fashion of New England trails that predate the invention of the switchback.

Finally, the trail crosses US 7, passes a small stream with good water, and the Mohawk Trail terminates at Warren Turnpike, which becomes the AT.

We continued south on Warren Tpke., following the white AT blazes, then right on US 7 to cross the Housatonic River. Soon there is an AT trailhead, with a trail leading off to the left to follow the river a ways, before heading up to a small lump called Belter’s Bump. The Belter’s Campsite (with a spring and a toilet) on the AT is soon after, and we decided we’d had enough for the day and camped there.

Day 4: We continued south on the AT. Passing the Sharon Mountain Campsite, we encountered good water in a stream just a little beyond.

After Sharon Mountain, the trail goes over the shoulder of Mount Easter, not quite reaching its summit of 1392’. On the AT, we encountered more hikers than we had on the Mohawk Trail. We had only seen one day hiker on the Mohawk just leaving the trailhead at Music Mountain Road. We only met one long-distance through hiker on the AT (“Doc”), and a few people out for a few nights like us.

As we passed the spur to Pine Swamp Brook lean-to, it sounded like a big party there, but we didn’t see anyone. Passing over a couple of peaks, we then experienced a fairly steep, rocky descent to West Cornwall Road, with a major stream just beyond.

We carried on a little past the stream, but decided we had had enough, and returned to the road, with the idea of walking down to US 7 and getting a short Uber ride to our car. We hadn’t gone far when a local woman stopped to offer us a ride to our car, which we gratefully accepted.

We’ll go back for our grudge match with the sections we missed of our planned loop, and then I’ll complete the HAZ guide to the Mohawk Trail.
 
average hiking speed 2.04 mph
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WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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