Candi's Corner: Wanderlust and Passions

I haven't dropped off the face of the earth yet, it is just that blogging had dropped off my to-do list somehow. I can't believe how long it's been before I posted a blog entry! We've driven across country since then and currently reside in the heart of Connecticut, also known in our household as Dunkin' Donuts Country, since there is practically a Dunkin' Donuts shop at every corner, ah, the temptations. For the record, I haven't given in yet! (Yay!)

Needless to say, we are super excited about spending the Fall in New England, and definitely looking forward to NOT spending the winter here and heading south to Florida. It's been a great five-week here, weather (up until last week) had been awesome, and we already managed to sneak in a couple of trips to Vermont and NYC, as well as couple of hikes here. I really need to catch up on my blogging.

Our current assignment is in Waterbury, CT, a very run-down city to say the least, but the surrounding area is beautiful! Our first weekend here, we checked out the Farmer's Market in Litchfield, and did a hike in White Memorial Conservation Area. I'll post a few photos from our hike, and hopefully catch up on more blogging later.

Bear Mountain is the largest peak in Connecticut at 2,316 feet. And it was recommended as a great hike for viewing Fall foliage. I must admit here that if you are in Connecticut or New England during Fall, you'd have to work really hard to not enjoy foliage everywhere you look. Even at work, I glance out of the hospital window to a spectacular fall scene. But I digress, if you are in the area and looking for a moderate hike to bond with nature in a beautiful fall day, the hike to Bear Mountain summit is for you.

The trailhead is about three miles north of Salisbury, CT off Route 41. Everyone in CT seemed to have had the same idea as we did the day we did the hike, as the parking lot was overflowing to the road. I am happy to report, however, that we did not encounter many people. Perhaps the crowds were taking different routes than we did.

Undermountain Trail rises straight up for about two miles then it joins the Appalachian Trail for another mile or so to the summit of Bear Mountain. It is a beautiful hikes where you are surrounded by rocks, streams and low bushes until the view opens up to amazing vistas.