Talcott Mountain State Park

Photo by Dave Maliar

March 7th 2012

Sometimes familiarity loses its luster.  You say you could eat pizza every day because you love it so much but if you really had the chance to throw down with a pepperoni pie 365 I am sure you would get sick of it and you would probably lose.   I'm usually the kind of guy who is always searching for a new adventure but not with this place.  Not with Talcott Mt. 
I could live up there.  I've even day-dreamed about winning the lottery and purchasing at any cost the tower that sits on top, surveying all of Connecticut from its perch.  Maybe it's because this place has endless memories.  Maybe because this is the first hike I remember having with my childhood friend Jeremy and his dad.  These are both very likely but you cannot deny the grandeur of its views.

When I first started dating my wife I discovered that she had never been to Talcott Mt.  Not only that but she had never heard of it.  I guess this could be understood considering she was from another area of the state.  One afternoon I thought it would be perfect to surprise her with the quick trip up the east side of the mountain.  At sunset, this is possibly the best place in the state to be, with the mountain's western face being sheer and wide open to the direction of the setting sun.  Heading up CT Rt. 185 through Bloomfield into Simsbury to the main entrance for Talcott Mt. State Park, she had no idea where we were going.  She even seemed a little annoyed; she hates surprises.  Well I guess the same way anyone hates surprises before they arrive.

She seemed even more annoyed as we hurried up the steep path to the top, racing the setting sun.  It's a quick 1500 ft. climb to the top (elevation 860 ft.) via the tower trail.  We got there just in time.  With what seemed to be only seconds to spare, we wiped the sweat off our foreheads sat down and enjoyed a moment that would without a doubt define our relationship.  Sometimes it's the hardest climbs that have the best rewards.

So the morning of March 8th 2012 my long time friend Steve and I where trying to figure out where we wanted to spend the morning of one of the nicest days you could imagine for an early March.  We both had to work in the afternoon so we had to stay local and we couldn't spend a whole lot of time.  Along with Steve and my new best friend strapped to my stomach in the Baby Bjorn we set out for the Heublein Tower at the peak of Talcott Mt.  This was to be my son Christopher's first real hike.  The beginning of what I am sure will be a long string of adventures.

The weather was perfect.  A high of 57 degrees and not a cloud in the sky.  There has been a few inches of snowfall over the last month and the remains of that are still visible on some of the northern facing slopes and in some of the coniferous groves where there is more shade.  Steve and I decided to take a different route to the top today.  The backdoor so to speak.

The 62 mile Metacomet Trail cuts right through the West Hartford Reservoir # 6 and up through Talcott Mt. There is a 3 mile loop trail the encircles the reservoir that is perfect for running and even just a quick stroll to get out of the house.  Around the north western side of the reservoir the path branches off up towards the Heublein Tower.

The warmth of the last few days, including the major warm up of today, melt water has created some muddy obstacles on the trail.  Other obstacles included downed trees from this past October's record snow storm that have yet to be removed by the spring clean up crews.  Steve and I discussed a possible trip to aid in that effort sometime soon.

Photo by Steve Wild

Some key things to note about trail etiquette.  Etiquette does not just concern your dealings with other people on the trail, it also concerns the trail itself.  When you come upon obstacles such as water and downed trees it is important to have as little impact as possible when finding the best route.  With the heavy foot traffic that these trails see it can make a very negative impact on the immediate environment surrounding the trail if new paths are constantly being blazed to overcome every tough stride.  The widening of the path can cause undo stress and erosion that can not only make the problem worse but can disrupt some of the fragile micro ecosystems in the area.  If you are afraid of mud, this may not be the place for you.  If your limbo skills are a little dusty then you should stay on the paths that are already cleared of downed trees.

Nothing beats preparation.  This is spring time.  You can be quite confident that you are going to run into a few challenges along the way so be prepared, wear your boots, your old sneakers, or anything that you don't mind getting roughed up.  The bottom line here is no matter what you do it is never a good idea just to blaze your own trail.  If you are interested in volunteering with the spring cleanup below I put a few links to organizations that you should contact.  It is best to get involved with one of these organizations as opposed to just going out on your own.  They have the experience and know-how that can be extremely useful .  Never mind the great people you will meet along the way. 

Photo by Steve Wild

So on our way the top between the few people tracks and occasional deer tracks I don't think we noticed much else.  Sometimes being on these trips in more about the companionship and conversation than anything else.  That is until we got to the top.  Just like every time before any words you try to speak to describe what this place makes you think are a complete injustice to what you feel inside.  Christopher LOVED it.  Standing on the edge with the wind blowing in our faces it was beautiful.  I don't think Christopher ever felt wind like that and he seemed unsure of how to breath, gasping for breath.  Maybe the view was just that breathtaking, but considering he is only 4 months old I thought maybe not.  We snapped some quick pictures then turned away to shelter him from the wind and have a quick snack at the picnic area just south of the tower.

This is probably one of the best places in Connecticut to bring your family for a Sunday summertime picnic.  Just like anything else however, there are a number of inherent dangers that are associated with the cliffs of Talcott Mt.  So please be sure to keep a close eye on your children but let them explore!  I'll bet they learn more from exploring out there than they ever will anywhere else.

A quick descent back to the car near the MDC water treatment facility and we were back to reality and on our way to work.  The whole trip only took us about 2 hours but it was well worth it.  These are the times that you have to live for so squeeze them in whenever you can.

My new motto:  At all costs find a way to get out there!



Further Info on the Talcott Mountain State Park

Google Directions to the parks main entrance can be found here.  Park on Summit Ridge Dr. and the Tower Trail head is located up on the left.

Google directions to the West Hartford Reservoir # 6 can be found here.

According to the Friends of Heublein Tower website "The Tower is open from Thursday through Sunday from 10am to 5pm from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day.  From Labor Day through the end of October, the Tower is open daily from 10am to 5pm.  Hours and dates are subject to change. For more information, call the Department of Parks and Recreation at the Tower (860) 677-0662."

 Links

Friends of Heublein Tower
http://www.friendsofheubleintower.org/

Connecticut State Park Info
http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325272 

Reservoir #6
http://www.themdc.com/west_hartfordres.shtml


Trail maintenance volunteering links

Metacomet Trail and other Blue Blazed hiking trails in CT
http://www.ctwoodlands.org/trail-work
or
http://www.ctwoodlands.org/volunteer

Appalachian Mountain Club (Appalachian Trail)
http://www.ct-amc.org/trails/index.shtm

Sleeping Giant State Park
http://www.sgpa.org/trailmaint/trailmaint.html



                                Here's to many more great adventures!!!!!

Photo by Steve Wild