03-23-2013 Gettysburg, Walking Union Lines

Had a great walk at Gettysburg National Military Park.  The walk covers 1/2 of the Union Lines as they existed on the third day of the battle.

Start at the visitor center, exit by the back patio and take the path to Meade's Headquarters.  Cross Taneytown Road and walk up to Cemetery Ridge.  Turn south on Hancock Ave., walk along the ridge toward the Pennsylvania Memorial.  The field that Pickett's Charge crossed is on your right.  The Confederate High water mark is also on your left at the corpse of trees.  Little Round top will be noticable as you pass the Pennsylvania Memorial.  While the climb is small from this end the view is quite spectacular.  The best way back (unless you want to double the distance and walk the Confederate Lines) is to return.

On the way back there was a small brush fire at Wiekert House and I stopped an helped the Ranger extinguish it.  Nothing like a little excitement during a pleasant walk. 

        Links

• Gettysburg National Military Park
• Army Staff Rides - Gettysburg (and more)
• Cemetery Ridge Walking Tour (available in Battlefield Bookstore)
• Wikipedia - Gettysburg Battlefield
• Wikipedia - Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center
• Wikipedia - Gettysburg National Military Park
• Licensed Guide - Stuart Dempsey (highly recommended)
• Gaslight Inn (great B-N-B at Gettysburg)

Create Maps or search from 80 million at MapMyWalk

10/15/2012 - Laura's Tower, Stockbridge

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Stockbridge Massachusetts is a great place to park and walk.  This walk starts at the town hall (where you can park).  The trail head is hidden at the rear of the parking lot.  The trail is maintained by the nation's oldest village improvement society, The Laurel Hill Association is (founded in 1853).  After a few hundred yards, you come to a grove with a rostrum. At the far end of the grove the path continues along the slope of Laural Hill and eventually comes to the trail head parking lot on Park Street. Space is limited here, and imo far better parking behind the town hall.

The trail is well marked and there is a magnificent suspension bridge over the Housatonic River.  After about 1/2 mile the trail divides with the left fork going to the Ice Glen and the left fork climbing 600 feet to Laura's Tower (constructed in 1931).  The right fork leads to the Ice Glen. Some earlier Ice Glen hikers included: Oliver Wendell Holmes, Herman Melville, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and William Cullen Bryant.

There is a bit of rock climbing involved to cross the Ice Glen.  On the other side you can follow a dirt road to Ice Glen Road and loop back to Stockbridge.

After the walk stop by the Red Lion Inn or Alice's Restaurant for lunch.


Links of interest:

• Housatonic Heritage - Laura's Tower
• Application Mountain Club - Laura's Tower
• Stockbridge What to Do (includes Laura's tower)
• Panoramio view from tower
• Wikipedia - Laural Hill Association
• Wikipedia - Ice Glen
• History and Botany of the Ice Glen
• Wikipedia - Stockbridge
• Wikipedia - Alices Restaurant
• Red Lion Inn
• Story of Laurel Hill Association
• Laurel Hill Association Trail Maps
• Youtube Video - Hiking to Laura's Tower 

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09/30/2012 - Monthly Log

Throughout the summer I have been tarty updating my blog.  I ruptured a tendon and I've been hobbling along instead of walking. Also adding a few pounds. I still manage to log a few miles: June 85; July 57; August 50 and in September 56 miles. Total mileage as of September, 2012 was 3,184.

In May we vacationed in Western Virgina and walked several Civil War Battlefields, including: Harper's Ferry, Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg, New Market and Appomattox. In June we took a trin trip to North Creek, stayed overnight and walked around the town. In July we explored Schdack Island and Merck Farm, in Vermont. During August we walked to breakfast breakfast at the Saratoga Track.

In September we vacationed in the Berkshires and walked up and down on Mount Greylock, explored the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, and walked a few loops around Stockbridge (Naumkeag, Ice Glen).