First touches of autumn, Beaver Pond, White Memorial Foundation, Morris, Connecticut. September 26, 2025, 2:34 PM. #hiking #autumn #forest #lake

They say a rainy November day in Connecticut can be dreary, but sometimes you just need to look around and look closer. Finch Brook Preserve, Wolcott, Connecticut. November 7, 2019, 4:24 PM. #hiking #autumn #forest

🧵1/8 September 22, 1983, 42 years + 1 week ago today: The ascent of Little Bigelow was gradual and the new trail well laid-out. The AT reached the ridgeline of the mountain and traversed a series of rocky knobs, several of which had open ledges. The sun had finally broken through. #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/7 September 22, 1983, 42 years + 1 week ago today: Morning emerged reluctantly from the murk, leaking a cold, bleak light through the persisting deluge. I glanced outside, rolled over, and slept in until 8:30. #backpacking #hiking #AppalachianTrail

One of those rare cool, clear August days, New Britain Reservoir, Southington, Connecticut. August 8, 2020, 4:16 PM. #hiking #forest #lake #summer

🧵1/7 September 21, 1983, 42 years + 1 week ago today: The Appalachian Trail climbed a very steep half mile to the summit of the South Horn, one of a pair of open, rocky crags rising above the north shore of the pond (as you might guess, the other is called North Horn). #hiking #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/7 September 21, 1983, 42 years + 1 week ago today: After the P.O., I stopped at the Stratton Diner for what could very well be my final two cheeseburgers on the Appalachian Trail, some french fries, a coke, and some ice cream. #backpacking #hiking #AppalachianTrail

The morning clouds are slowly lifting, but still clinging to the Berkshires. View from Jug End, Taconic Mountains, Egremont, Massachusetts. August 25, 2025, 10:45 AM. #hiking #mountains #view

🧵1/6 September 20, 1983, 42 years + 1 week ago today: I crossed the South Branch of the Carrabassett River at another wide, shallow ford amid a lush forest filled with dense undergrowth and began the ascent of the Crockers. #backpacking #hiking #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/5 September 20, 1983, 42 years + 1 week ago today: I really wanted to hike the thirteen tough miles over four major summits today and make it to the Post Office in Stratton before it closed this evening. #backpacking #hiking #AppalachianTrail

Colorful decay 5. Bloody brittlegill and fallen leaf, Woodtick Trail, Wolcott, Connecticut. September 15, 2019, 5:47 PM. #hiking #forest #mushrooms #fungus

🧵1/5 September 19, 1983, 42 years + 1 week ago today: The grades moderated along the crest. Most of the final mile to the summit was a series of gradually-ascending terraces. Dark, soggy tundra was interspersed with ledges of naked rock dabbed with lichen. #backpacking #hiking #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/9 September 19, 1983, 42 years + 1 week ago today: A thin, halfhearted drizzle began to fall. The first couple of miles of trail consisted of short, steep climbs connecting long, broad plateaus. #backpacking #hiking #AppalachianTrail

Beautiful morning for a hike, Riga Plateau, Taconic Mountains, Salisbury, Connecticut. August 22, 2025, 9:38 AM. #hiking #forest

My friend Dave at the beginning of the Mount Race cliff walk, Appalachian Trail, Taconic Mountains, Mt Washington, Massachusetts. Looking southeast across the Housatonic Valley to Twin Lakes and the Litchfield Hills. August 23, 2025, 11:26 AM. #hiking #mountains #view

Mid-70s teenage delinquent chic. Had slightly more hair than I do now. #humansOfBlueSky

🧵1/4 September 18, 1983, 42 years + 1 week ago today: The Appalachian Trail continued northeastward, crossing a bunch of small knobs along a low ridge and skirting a few sphagnum bogs resembling lonely moors. #backpacking #hiking #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/4 September 18, 1983, 42 years + 1 week ago today: The thirteen miles of Appalachian Trail between Routes 17 and 4 wound through a landscape of bogs, lakes and low ridges. #backpacking #hiking #AppalachianTrail

October afternoon above Plunge Pool, White Memorial Foundation, Morris, Connecticut. October 12, 2023, 2:36 PM. #hiking #autumn #forest #lake

Crisp autumn hike, Sleeping Giant State Park, Hamden, Connecticut. October 27, 2022, 3:41 PM. #hiking #autumn #forest

🧵1/6 September 17, 1983, 42 years + 1 week ago today: I crossed Bemis Stream on the floor of its narrow valley on a wooden footbridge (an unusually effete touch for Maine) and commenced the final mile of ascent to Maine Highway 17. #backpacking #hiking #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/4 September 17, 1983, 42 years + 1 week ago today: The trail over the long series of knobs which constituted the Bemis Range was slippery and hazardous from the rain, though not as bad as most of the trail I have walked in Maine. #backpacking #hiking #AppalachianTrail

Royal blue and vivid orange sunset, Hidden Lake, Fall Mountain, Plymouth, Connecticut. September 9, 2019, 7:35 PM. #sunset #hiking

Sunset geese and lily pads, Scoville Reservoir, Wolcott, Connecticut. July 19, 2020, 7:28 PM. #sunset #hiking

🧵1/4 September 16, 1983, 42 years + 1 week ago today: The bottom half of the trail up Old Blue Mountain was an instant replay of the ascent of Moody. #backpacking #hiking #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/5 September 16, 1983, 42 years + 1 week ago today: The descent into Sawyer Notch from Hall Mountain was long and steep, threading along a crumbling footway. The trail crossed a gravel lumber road and Sawyer Brook in that narrow, wooded valley. #backpacking #hiking #AppalachianTrail

Watching the clouds drift past at the reservoir at sunset. New Britain Reservoir, Southington, Connecticut. September 11, 2019, 7:16 PM. #sunset

Watching the clouds drift past at the reservoir at sunset. New Britain Reservoir, Southington, Connecticut. September 11, 2019, 7:16 PM. #sunset #hiking

Walking through a stunted highland forest of dwarf pines inside a stationary cloud over Mount Bushnell, Taconic Mountains, Sheffield, Massachusetts. August 25, 2025, 9:15 AM. #hiking #forest #trails #fog

🧵1/7 September 15, 1983, 42 years + 1 week ago today: When I finally attained that summit, I checked my watch and discovered that it was almost 9:00. I had consumed two hours in hiking two-and-a-half miles. #hiking #backpacking #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/11 September 15, 1983, 42 years + 1 week ago today: Last night was a memorably cold one, easily topping two very frosty nights I remember from Georgia. Some mornings are so icy you hate to leave your sleeping bag. #backpacking #hiking #AppalachianTrail

Sawyer Brook in Sages Ravine, Appalachian Trail just north of the Connecticut state line, Taconic Mountains, Mt Washington, Massachusetts. August 22, 2025, 2:26 PM. #hiking #forest #stream

🧵1/5 September 14, 1983, 42 years + 1 week ago today: A note at Speck Pond Shelter informed me Frye Notch Shelter, which I had been hoping to reach tonight, was still under construction and presently lacked a roof. I was not going to make it there, anyway. #hiking #backpacking #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/10 September 14, 1983, 42 years + 1 week ago today: Last night was wintry, topping even Monday night for cold. Today was a perfect backpacking day: about fifty degrees and sunny, with another invigorating breeze. #backpacking #hiking #AppalachianTrail

October rainstorm 2. Mad River ravine, Wolcott, Connecticut. Monday, October 19, 2020, 6:16 PM. #hiking #autumn #forest #river

🧵1/14 September 13, 1983, 42 years + 1 week ago today: The Appalachian Trail descended alongside Moss Pond's outlet brook to Gentian Pond. A trail shelter was perched atop a small ridge flanked by the pond on one side and another great view to the south on the other. #backpacking #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/12 September 13, 1983, 42 years + 1 week ago today: After Page Pond, the AT scaled steeply up to Wocket Ledge. Open rock faces just off the trail provided the best southward views I had yet seen in the Mahoosucs. Clouds wreathed the peaks of Madison and Adams. #hiking #AppalachianTrail

Ridge crest trail, Appalachian Trail, Taconic Mountains, Salisbury, Connecticut. August 21, 2025, 11:51 AM. #hiking #forest #meadow

🧵1/7 September 12, 1983, 42 years + 1 week ago today: There was some steep, rocky scrambling down into the col between Mount Hayes and Cascade Mountain. Cascade was a visual feast. #backpacking #hiking #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/10 September 12, 1983, 42 years + 1 week ago today: I had one final meal of solid food before resuming the backpacking phase of my trip today and my return to gourmet fare like rice and instant oatmeal. #backpacking #hiking #AppalachianTrail

Sun dappled forest. Mattatuck State Forest, Plymouth, Connecticut. July 27, 2020, 6:34 PM. #hiking #forest #trails

🧵1/4 Pictured L-R: The Carters and Wildcat viewed from Mt Madison over Mt Washington's Chandler Ridge on September 9. September 11, 1983, 42 years + 1 week ago today: A long climb up Mount Moriah passed over a bunch of open ledges. #backpacking #hiking #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/3 Pictured: Carter and Wildcat viewed from Mount Madison over Mount Washington's Chandler Ridge on September 9. September 11, 1983, 42 years + 1 week ago today: I made my best time of the day on the Imp and North Carter trails despite the long climb, #backpacking #hiking #AppalachianTrail

A different perspective, laceflower and clover blossoms with the Taconic Range as a backdrop, Rands View, northwest slopes of Prospect Mountain, Salisbury, Connecticut. August 19, 2025, 2:22 PM. #hiking #forest #meadow #mountains

Sunlight and shadows dance beneath the hemlock forest canopy, southern slopes of Mount Race, Taconic Mountains, Mt Washington, Massachusetts. August 23, 2025, 10:24 AM. #hiking #forest

🧵1/4 Pictured: Wildcat Mountain from Cascade Mountain shot September 12. September 10, 1983, 42 years + 1 week ago today: When it finished with the cliffs, the Appalachian Trail traversed about a zillion steep little knobs known as the Wild Kittens. #backpacking #hiking #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/4 September 10, 1983, 42 years + 1 week ago today: The AT joined the Lost Pond Trail for the first mile today, following the course of the Ellis River through Pinkham Notch and brushing the shore of a pretty lake. #backpacking #hiking #AppalachianTrail

Lazy September afternoon at the beaver pond. Marino Pond, Plymouth, Connecticut. September 11, 2020, 4:21 PM. #hiking #forest #pond

Golden pond. Herron Pond, White Memorial Foundation, Morris, Connecticut. October 1, 2021, 12:37 PM. #hiking #autumn #forest #lake

🧵1/10 September 9, 1983, 42 years + 1 week ago today: I made my way to Thunderstorm Junction, a spot where several trails intersect in a high saddle between three of the five peaks of Mount Adams. #backpacking #hiking #AppalachianTrail