Trail through CT and MA

imported
#1

" Just to say that CT and Massachusetts are my dual home-states. I’ve seen a lot of denigration of both states by hikers, probably with legitimate reason. As a completely unknown trail angel (I never give my name) I ask that people not be so quick to judge. There are cool people like me out there too; we’re just way under the radar, apparently.
I’ve also seen our CT/MASS countryside repeatedly described as “lame” by thru-hikers. I say to them: we treasure what we have left in our small states. Many before you have fought very hard for what you see, my father among them. They’re not all A.T. people; many were local conservationists working for the altruistic best.
Please have a little care before painting us with a lame brush. "

Received via email. I’m posting for the emailee (is that right, maybe emailer, ahh person that sent me the email)

ZipDrive

#2

I always thought that it all starts to kick ass again when you hit the CT border and only continues to get better the further north you go. Don’t know how anyone can call CT or MASS lame after spending the last two months in the Mid-Atlantic.

Ganj

#3

Hate the bugs but Conn was my almost fav stretch. A Yankee who hates bugs,hmm, I’ve been away from home to long. It’s always cool to hit a home state. I don’t care to hike up and down every fricken hill on the east coast so I do my BW’n thang but shoot, why are you out there? That’d be like going to your mom’s house for dinner and telling her that the food tastes lousy.:rolleyes

Bushwhack

#4

I thought that the trail through Connecticut was the best maintained section of the entire trail.

Peaks

#5

What is this about everyone trashing CN and MA? Who ever said anything about MA?–it’s just CN. Because between the inferior blazing, the snobbish locals eager to rip you off, the excessively LAME road-walking, and that obnoxious little speedway (where was the ATC on that one?), CN just ****ing sucks.

MA = Maine Jr. (w/ cheese) + REAL fish and chips at Limey’s & a good state.

Superior Hiker

#6

So, PA is being challenged as the worst state on the trail? I think the problem for PA, NJ, CT and MA is the time of year when the weather is hot and the hikers are just grinding out the miles without the exuberance of starting or the anticipation of finishing. I was at Kent, CT last weekend (mostly off the trails) and the woods were beautiful. Even with a record warm weekend, this one, will not be hot and the springs will be reliable. As a section hiker I did most of these states in the spring and fall and enjoyed it all.
Ambler, PA

Ambler Rambler

#7

I can’t tell if “Superior Hiker” is being facetious, but assuming he or she is serious…

Your experience in Connecticut (and it’s CT, not CN) was apparently at the opposite end of the spectrum from mine and that of many others I was around. I met some of THE nicest people in Connecticut (and Massachusetts, for that matter) while I was hiking, not to mention during other visits to the state. In particular, a local resident met five thru-hikers (myself included) at Baird’s General Store in Cornwall Bridge and made an unsolicited offer to take us to her home, let us stay in her extra cottage, feed us, and allow us to use her shower and computer. Her hospitality was incredible, and that wasn’t the only case of such generosity that I experienced in CT.

I often wonder how much our own preconceived notions about a particular area might affect our interactions with people. And our perceptions. Perhaps that’s something to think about. I met wonderful people in every state. I also encountered some who weren’t so open and outwardly friendly, be it in Georgia or Maine or somewhere in between. But I hesitate to make general assumptions about people, unless they’re directly unkind. All too often I hear, “People from New England aren’t friendly,” and more often than not, that’s said by folks who’ve NEVER even been there.

Each state on the A.T–each mile, for that matter–is unique. So is each person we meet.

ramkitten

#8

You are wrong. It’s CN.

Superior Hiker

#9

Glad some of you had a good experience in CT. Will try to do more trail magic next year so we get a better review. For Superior hiker it truely is CT!

socks

#10

I was just being a pest about the CT/CN thing. I was in a nit-picky mood. No biggee. (Even though it IS CT :o) I just get my ramkitten feathers all ruffled when I hear people from a particular area referred to as snobs. It’s like saying that people from CT are rich. (I’ve heard that one too.) Ha! Tell that to the very nice woman in Cornwall Bridge who took us in. She’s FAR from rich, but talk about generous. And even though I really appreciated the trail magic I received on three separate occasions in Connecticut, I don’t think the absense of it in an area indicates that the people aren’t as friendly.

ramkitten

#11

I thought that both CT and MA were beautiful. Unfortunately, this year, MA was a damn swamp from start to finish. Oh, and the bugs in CT-MA were the worst!

The funniest part is that I’ve lived in MA for my nearly entire life (for a long time in the Berkshires, too), and somehow I didn’t expect the bugs or the wetness.

We only ran into one Trail Angel in MA->CT, but we never expect to see them anyhow, so it wasn’t a disappointment. We did meet a lot of very nice people, especially the Cookie Lady and her blueberry farm in MA. She sold us a pint of blueberries for $.25, in addition to stuffing us with homemade cookies. Tres cool. :wink:

Oreo

#12

I think the CT section was actually one of the best blazed sections on the whole trail. Its beautiful and unique and special in its own way. Have hiked it twice (once on thru-hike). Yeah the towns are expensive, but there is no need to stay there. Grab a sandwhich and a coke and be on your merry way.
As mentioned above i think thru-hikers hatred for the middle sections has more to do with them being cranky, tired, hot, dirt, bug bitten and generally burned out. Hike these sections in the fall or spring, and I’m sure you won’t feel the same way. And it is CT!

A-Train

#13

CN

Superior Hiker

#14

Superior Hiker, you should notify the Connecticut state government of their error immediately! You can contact them via their website at:

http://www.CT.gov/

Eric

#15

Superior Hiker,
Did you have a bad experience in Connecticute?? I guess if you walk through 14 states, while doing a thru, you could have a bad experience in any of them.
When you are a long distance hiker, you have to look for the rainbow and not at the rain.

Grampie

#16

CN CN CN CN CN

Superior Hiker

#17

Ah Superior Hiker I know your problem. You thought you were in Connecticut but YOU were in CN! The C(a)N. That is a horrible place to get stuck. Now if you ventured into CT (that would be Connecticut) then you would see the beauty of the trail with eyes that can see. Get you over to CT and enjoy!

Skylander

#18

The can is a good analogy, but it was definitely CN.

Superior Hiker

#19

I was quite angry when I hit Connecticut. It is my home state, and the AMC and ATC took the trail out of the towns and hid us in the woods. My heart was broken because the trail no longer goes through Cornwall’s Covered Bridge which is my first memory of hiking at the age of 3. It was harder to resuply, and we missed alot of the states history and most unquie towns. So I was so angry through those two states! But that is for my own personal reasons.

I thing it depends on what direction your hiking. If your south bound the whites end and the mountains turn to rolling hills, but they didn’t get to Penn yet. But if your north bound I think you are just starting to get excited again in those states, knowing the Green Mountains and Whites are ahead.:girl

Buttercup

#20

I distintly remember feeling, outstanding the connecter trail is over after I hit ten mile river campsite. There was a runner( cant remember his name) who was friendly and proactive with sheperding the large groups and LNT education and I was felling great to be there. OUT OF THE MID-ATLANTIC at last! Felt like the trail said WAKE UP you are in New England@

yo-yo