September 24 – Junction at Gulf Hagas Loop Trail (Day 189 – milepoint 2077.4)

I’d be surprised if it got much above 50 degrees today, which made crossing the West Branch of the
Pleasant River a bit of an ordeal. Foot-numbing c-cold!

After the river crossing, the Trail meandered through a forest of huge, white pine trees (some up to 130 ft), an area called The Hermitage.

According to the Trail guide, “In the colonial days, the biggest and best of these white pines were used as masts for sailing ships and warships, and were considered property of the crown. Anyone caught poaching one of these trees, was hanged.”
Magnificent forest.

Redwood, Cosmic Ivy, and I arrived at the junction of the Gulf Hagas Trail late in the afternoon, stashed our packs in the woods, and attempted to cover the 5-mile Gulf Hagas loop before dark. I had been told about this place by a kayaking friend of mine from Maine. He made me promise I wouldn’t pass it by and I’m glad I didn’t.

Referred to by some as the Grand Canyon of the East, it has it’s own unique majesty, only similar to The Canyon, though, in that it has a stream running through it. A very deep, narrow gorge, definitely one of the most beautiful places on the Trail. Wish I had my boat.

We finished the loop just before “too dark” and joined Paka, Achilles, and Chewy, who had already made camp at the junction. Feeling good but pretty tired after my first 20+ mile day in over a month.

Aquaholic