For the second year in a row, the Shelton Trails Committee organized a day's-end hike, starting at Huntington Center at the foot of Lane Street, moving along the Recreation Path to as far as it is completed on the Huntington end, and onto the section still under construction, ending at the power lines. In spite of a confusion of starting times and duration, an enthusiastic group put their lives in our hands for an enjoyable, and different, guided hike.
Participants are briefed on the route, destination, and logistics of the hike. In other words, we're going from here to there, bring water and bug juice! And
don't get lost!
This was an opportunity to meet new people, and pooches.
And they're off! Terrance talks the wary group into following him into what could prove to be a harrowing experience, trekking into the unknown. Not to worry, as Terrance has been on this same tour at least once, and has only suffered minor bruises and an insignificant bear mauling.
Although not a scripted part of the tramp, folks seemed to be lured by the scenic Means Brook flowing under this bridge on Lane Street. Several inches of rain the past few days had brought the streams and brooks back to life.
Terrance leads the tail end of the group through the always-enchanting Shelton Land Trust's Lane Street meadow, home to deer, hawks, and assorted critters, many of which can often be seen especially around dawn and dusk.
At the high end of the meadow, Teresa's newly planted walnut tree was declared "Off Limits" to deer, bear, and curious passers-by.
At this point we entered the woods, and it was not long before twilight became darkness. While there was still some natural light, however, the hardy group continued on over the Rec Path, through Huntington Woods, and onto the as yet unfinished section under construction. Braving protruding roots and toe-stubbing rocks, we were able to follow the rough path to its convergence with the power lines, where we stopped to collect survivors just as it became necessary to turn on our flashlights, glow-sticks, and burning torches. We marched back in the dark, stopping occasionally to listen to the eerie howling of a lovesick coyote, or was that a werewolf? Shucks, it was just someone's cellphone ring-tone! Needless to say, we made it back to our starting point, and a head count assured us that any grizzlies or mountain lions will have to go hungry for another night.
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