glorious day

Four days left until I have to go to work. Today was picture perfect; about 80 degrees, low humidity, not a cloud in the sky. I had Julie help me drop off a car at the trailhead for Hunger Mt, which I've hiked most weekends this summer, then drive me up to Worcester and drop me off at the Worcester Mt trailhead. Hunger and Worcester bookend the "Worcester Range" of several peaks splitting off the Waterbury/Stowe area from the Middlesex/Worcester area. There is a wonderful trail, the Skyline Trail, that meanders up and down along this ridge connecting all the peaks. After hiking up the first mountain, most of the trail is in a relatively high altitude forest; scrubby pines, lots of moss, bedrock and TONS AND TONS of moose crap. Really, everywhere. They must use the hiking trail as their main route, and just let loose wherever the need strikes.

The GMC guide book said the whole hike was about 14.4 miles; the signs pegged it as a bit less; it only took me about 6.5 hours (I kept the pace up but took a couple nice snack/relax breaks on top). Regardless my legs are tired and I have a couple blisters (man do i need new boots), but what a great hike. I didn't see another person until I got over to Hunger Mt. Now with no kids to cook dinner for its looking like a little hammock time is in order. Amazingly, unfortunately, I did not bring my camera on the trip. I did, however, pilfer this picture off the internet for you: