Recent Trips
On April 17 through the 19th, 2009, Troop 261 went to Boston to Hike the Freedom trail. We camped at Camp Sayre, which is at the end of the "T" (subway). We took the T into Boston and hiked the entire freedom trail. We had a list of questions to answer like a scavenger hunt. The boys had a great time answering the questions and hiking through the city. We had lunch at crowded Quincy Market, and saw a street show. We got only a few raindrops during the hike so we were lucky. We ended at Bunker Hill and took some troop photos there. Then we found a T station and headed back to camp. The kids had just as much fun at the campsite, cooking and firewatching. We had two adirondak shelters (3 sided) and a few tents.
We had a good start friday night. The mayflies were just about to come out. On Saturday we all went for a 3 mile hike and went fishing at the mouth of the Farmington River. There is a stone staircase coming out of the water and a foundation of a building nearby. It was apparently a loading warehouse for the larger boats that could not come up the Farmington River for bricks, tobacco, sandstone, and lumber. We fished from the staircase for half a day, No catch though. We learned a lot about the history of the Bissell Ferry and the settlement of Windsor, Connecticut's first town.
It was a grueling 3 day hike. The first day, Saturday, we drove in and parked at Rt 41. We hiked with full packs from there to Sages Ravine by way of Undermountain Trail and Paradise Lane Trail, then down the A.T. (Appalachian Trail) into Sages Ravine. We set up camp and made day packs so we could continue hiking. We went back out the A.T. and west toward Mt. Frissell. We came to the Mt. Washington road and crossed it, then up Round Mountain. Views are great from there. We could see about 30 miles all around. Then down and up Frissell. The summit has a book that we signed. Then down to the Connecticut High Point on the south slope of Mt. Frissell (2380ft). Then down and out to the three corners state line marker. Then all the way back up and down both mountains again and back to camp at Sages Ravine. This day was 13.1 miles (4.1 of which with a full pack)
The Next day, Sunday, We hiked up out of Sages Ravine on the A.T., then up Bear Mountain all the way to the top. This is Connecticut's highest peak (2356). Then down and up Mt. Riga, Then down and up Lions Head, all along the A.T. Then we came back but detoured down Undermountain trail out to the cars. We moved the cars to the Mt. Washington Road because its closer. Then we hiked into camp at Sages Ravine.
The last day, Monday, we had a leisurly breakfast trying to eat up all the food so we didn't have to carry it out. (Sure it's inside us but does that count?) We cleaned up and re-watered and hiked back to the cars for the ride home. We got home about 3pm.
Day one was 13.1 miles and 4 peaks, Day Two was 12.5 miles and 4 peaks. Day Three was 2 miles out to the car.
All total was 27.6 miles and 8 peaks.
(Zach, Jake, Jake, Taylor)
(Mr Rand, Mr Phelps, Mr Pickens, Mr Starbird, Mr Adams)
We couldn't have had a more perfect day! Sunny and 70 degrees with calm water. We started at the Drake Hill Bridge launch area, unloaded and waited for the trailer to go to where we portage around the rapids. When Walt got back, we loaded in and started off. The kids learned quickly how to steer the canoe. Walt kept up the rear in his kayak teaching kids who fall behind in paddling. It was a quiet serene day and we were ahead of schedule. We floated up to the Salmon Brook area where we stopped for lunch and loaded up to go around the rapids. We loaded up the trailer and the van and went up to the second drop point under the Rt187 bridge. The Rapids stop there. We got in and continued to the reservoir to the Meriman Road launch. Mr Schwab met us there with his speed boat and took some of the heavier stuff over to the campsite. We got all the stuff there and Bill and Clark Paddled one canoe over while Steve thought he'd tow the other two canoes. That's when the kids got wet! Thanks Steve.
We got into camp and all dried off. Bill and Clark went to meet Justin at the Park's Shed while Steve and the kids got the canoes ashore. After we set up camp, the kids made lots of food for us and ate by the fire. Then we all went out on the old dam to watch the Space Station go by. We learned some constellations while we waited. Then we saw it go by very slowly from west to south. We didn't see the Space Shuttle Atlantis following it on it's last flight.
The next morning Steve came back with the speedboat and took the heavier gear. We all got in the canoes and paddled back while Austin and Justin rode in the speedboat. When we unloaded at the boatlaunch, the kids got to go tubing behind Steves boat for a while. That was lots of fun to top off a perfect canoeing and camping trip.
(Joshua w, Conner W, Austin L, Justin W, Chris K, )
Camp Leaders (Mr Rand, Mr Pickens)
Ground Support (Mrs Welch, Mr Schwab and Mr Kuszaj)
On the water with us were (Mr Kuszaj, and Jake R)
CLICK HERE to download a "Google Earth" map file of the trip.
(must have Google Earth installed)
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