Half Knot
03-28-2013, 16:22
I've been a bit behind in getting a touch base intro out there. so here 'tis. At nearly 48 years old, I'm just rediscovering hiking. Got fired up last summer after doing the short half mile Moss Glen Falls trek in Morrisville, VT, followed by a recommendation by the Green Mountain Club to try the Sterling Pond Trail in Stowe. The latter was a quick eye opener. Just 1.1 miles long but with 1,100 feet of elevation change. Still, my family managed to make it up (including my 69 year old mother) and my 13 year old and I continued the remaining half mile to the top of Spruce Peak. How can one not be hooked after that type of trek, and those views?
We're based in eastern Connecticut and are blessed with all those blue-blazed trails. Plan to get to far more of them this summer, and my guess is my 13 year old will be at my side. The rest of the family can take it or leave it, by my 13 year old is my outdoorsgirl!
We've never hiked the AT, and odds are with obligations the nearest I'd see to a thru hike would be after retiring (if that ever happens in this economy!). But with the trail just a couple of hours from home, section hikes are not out of the question. Just a matter of finding the time (grrr).
Any and all advice will be welcome - my only experience is as a Boy Scout. But those were the days of canvas tents, clunker steel toed boots and raggedy external frame packs. It's not even close - I'm starting from scratch here.
I got a few things over the holidays, including the very cool BioLite stove! But the necessities? Still yet to be invested in. I just picked up an REI Lookout 40 from the Outlet. At less than $60, it was too good a deal to pass up. And I'm hoping a 40L pack will get me through what I need for mainly day hikes and maybe a spot overnighter until we can free up some time for longer trips.
Sorry this rambles a bit, but thanks for listening.
Half Knot
We're based in eastern Connecticut and are blessed with all those blue-blazed trails. Plan to get to far more of them this summer, and my guess is my 13 year old will be at my side. The rest of the family can take it or leave it, by my 13 year old is my outdoorsgirl!
We've never hiked the AT, and odds are with obligations the nearest I'd see to a thru hike would be after retiring (if that ever happens in this economy!). But with the trail just a couple of hours from home, section hikes are not out of the question. Just a matter of finding the time (grrr).
Any and all advice will be welcome - my only experience is as a Boy Scout. But those were the days of canvas tents, clunker steel toed boots and raggedy external frame packs. It's not even close - I'm starting from scratch here.
I got a few things over the holidays, including the very cool BioLite stove! But the necessities? Still yet to be invested in. I just picked up an REI Lookout 40 from the Outlet. At less than $60, it was too good a deal to pass up. And I'm hoping a 40L pack will get me through what I need for mainly day hikes and maybe a spot overnighter until we can free up some time for longer trips.
Sorry this rambles a bit, but thanks for listening.
Half Knot