An Abundance of Spook

• Date: 3/27/2011
• Start: 41.873383, -73.391136
• End: 41.932774, -73.363266
• Distance: 7.28 Mi.
• Time: 6 Hr.
• Caches Found: 1

Our first hike of the spring took up two peaks, Mt. Easter and Sharon Mountain.  We started at the trailhead on West Cornwall Road and ended at the intersection of highways 112 and 7, just before the AT crosses the Housatonic River.  With a stop for lunch and a short geocaching detour, the total time ended up around 6 hours.

After a quarter-hour of hiking, we came upon a section where the blazes appeared to indicate a dead end.  The rock face seemed solid from our vantage, and we thought we may have made a wrong turn.  A pair of buzzards looked on as we pondered turning around, and I went to grab a picture of the ominous duo on their perch.  When I reached them, I found that the trail actually penetrated through the rock, forming a crevice through which we must pass.  It was one of the more interesting parts of the trail.

The views from the many vistas we climbed were spectacular, even with the lack of color in the foliage.  Several times, we had to stop and marvel at the amazing landscape.

After a couple hours, we decided to check for nearby caches.  Using c:geo, we found one close by, and began our search.  The directions seemed to take us off the trail, into a grove of thick undergrowth.  The trees tugged out our clothing, and the leaves clacked together in a cacophonous din.  It was this sound, we believe, that led the placers of the cache to dub it "Savage Castanet Dance."  We searched, and we found.  TNLNSL, as they say.

The trail manifested its own endearment as we hiked through its various flora.  We began to call it "The Forest of Spooky Trees."  One such tree was spotted a short distance off the trail, adorned with naught but dry, white leaves.  There were no others like it in the vicinity, that we could see.  I'm not sure what kind of tree this was, but it left a haunting impression.

We also heard several moans and squeals from out of sight, and we came to realize the wind was causing the trees to call out in a human-like and often disturbing manner.  We caught ourselves glancing around, watching for malevolent spirits amongst the trees.

Another spooky tree was this one, to which we lovingly referred as the New England Zerg Pine, or Pinus Zergus Holyshitus.  The trunk had shot off into various, twisting tentacles of living wood, covered in spikes.  Needless to say, we did not venture close.

Kenn was given the opportunity to try out his new titanium camping cookware and travel stove.  We munched on some delicious chicken sausage, freeze-dried scrambled eggs and applesauce.  It was chilly out, and we were happy for a hot meal.

Another interesting find was a marvelous view of some sort of race track, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Kenn later determined it was a driver training track of some kind.

Overall, it was a great first hike of the year, and of our hiking project.  We're looking forward to the next one!