AT Section Hiking, Woodstock VT to West Hartford 5/31/12

[grouseking]

In my half hearted attempt to hike the entire AT, I decided to hike the section from Woodstock VT to West Hartford, about a 12-13 mile day...complete with about 10 PUD's. But within all that up and down, there were many views, and barely any rocks. I also saw a bear cub about halfway thru the hike, a couple miles "south" of the Thistle Hill Shelter. This hike took me much longer than I thought it would thanks to all those PUDs. I started a little after 9am and finished about 7:45pm...the longest I have spent on the trail since I hiked Owls Head last October. But for some reason this ended up being harder. Anyways, pics tell the story better than I can, so here we go....

Not a mile into the trip, the fields started appearing. This would be a common all day long, much to my delight.

Hardwoods along the trail were beautiful

Not sure what flower this is, but it caught my attention.

I like trails like this...and there were no ticks!

I traveled thru several pine forests, all were awesome.

One of the better views of the day

I believe this is Suicide 6 Ski Area

The AT utilized the Old Kings Highway, which has apparently been around since the 1700s.

A lovely field near the top of a hill, where there were wild strawberries that were ripe!

View from the top

Cont on a min

 

[grouseking]

Part 2

One of the several road crossings

Couldn't get over the green fields.

The 2 miles before Thistle Hill shelter, the bugs decided to make their debut, and they more than made up for their absence the first several miles. I was forced to stop and put on the bug dope, and while doing so got bit at least 5 times. Anyways, when I got to the shelter, the bigs luckily went away, and I enjoyed a nice hour relaxing.

More flowers I don't know about...

Looking back towards Thistle Hill

More views, this time north.

Interesting view...I believe this is I 91 near White River Junt, not 100 percent sure though...

This is more for view people...I think this is Cardigan, blurry

Sure, why not one more?

Hope you liked yet another off the beaten path (to what we usually see on views anyways) trip report by me!

grouseking

 

[audrey]

A very pretty hike indeed, and bugs haven't chewed half the leaves off yet.
The white flower is a violet, perhaps Canada violet (Viola canadensis); the pink ones are maiden pinks (Dianthus deltoides), cousins to carnations.

 

[David Metsky]

I spend a lot of time in the 80's with the DOC working on that section of trail, doing many relocations as the ATC finalized the easements. It's nice to see that hikers (besides the thru-hikers) are enjoying the trail.

Does it still go by the Bunker Hill Cemetery?

Stop traveler as you pass by
As you are now so once was I
As I am now soon you must be
Prepare yourself to follow me.

Always a cheery sentiment when out on a hike.

 

[Snowflea]

LOVE that section of Trail! We used to "run" the AT from Sherburne Pass to W. Hartford as training, and all the ups and downs would leave us whipped every time. Thanks for the wonderful photos and trip down memory lane.

BTW, you have a photo of Thistle Hill Shelter but not one of the privy? It's one of the best on the entire Appalachian Trail!

 

[grouseking]

A very pretty hike indeed, and bugs haven't chewed half the leaves off yet.
The white flower is a violet, perhaps Canada violet (Viola canadensis); the pink ones are maiden pinks (Dianthus deltoides), cousins to carnations.

Thanks for the ID, for some reason it didn't look like a violet to me, at first.

I spend a lot of time in the 80's with the DOC working on that section of trail, doing many relocations as the ATC finalized the easements. It's nice to see that hikers (besides the thru-hikers) are enjoying the trail.

Does it still go by the Bunker Hill Cemetery?

Always a cheery sentiment when out on a hike.

I remember the AT guidebook talking about the cemetery, but I dont remember going by one. I was trying to make up for lost time by then, so I was trying to book it in some sections. I really did enjoy that hike, very scenic!

LOVE that section of Trail! We used to "run" the AT from Sherburne Pass to W. Hartford as training, and all the ups and downs would leave us whipped every time. Thanks for the wonderful photos and trip down memory lane.

BTW, you have a photo of Thistle Hill Shelter but not one of the privy? It's one of the best on the entire Appalachian Trail!

Ooh but I do! I had to pick and choose with my photos since I take so many of them...

All privies should have screens like this!

And I agree about the hills...they whipped me big time.

 

[Snowflea]

Haha, thanks for that!

The privy says "Cloudland" because when Thistle Hill Shelter replaced Cloudland Shelter ~15 (?) years ago, the outhouse structure was actually moved to the new location which is within the AT-protected corridor. Friends of mine were on the work trip that day. I can't remember how far they had to carry it...

 

[David Metsky]

Ah, the Cloudland Privy... That is a fine structure, I haven't spoken to its builder in a while. He's also responsible for several other fine privies along the DOC trail.