For north central Connecticut, the call was for temperatures reaching 100-degrees today, with very high humidity. I rose early to drive out to the western highlands, hoping to complete the summit of Bear Mountain north to Sages Ravine.
I hit the road at 7:15 a.m., with temperature recording 80-degrees and brutal humidity. Arrived at the Under Mountain Trailhead Parking Area at 8:25 a.m., 52-miles away, holding at 81-degrees.
My plan was to head up the Under Mountain Trail to Paradise Lane Trail, take that underneath Bear Mountain to Sages Ravine area, and climb Bear Mountain from the north. Steep, but my recollection was it being better to go up this steepness rather than down.
Once reconnected to last weeks turn-a-round point (summit of Bear), I would scoot down the Appalachian Trail to Under Mountain Trail at Riga Junction, and use Under Mountain back to the parking area.
It was very hot and humid, I took it very easy and managed 3.5-mph average for the 6.4-miles. The climb from the start up Under Mountain and Paradise Lane ended up being 1040'. The effort up the north face of Bear added another 560' of climb.
Once finished, I noticed that the humidity out there dropped a little, but the temperature was recording 89-degrees according to my car thermometer.
Bear Mountain from Paradise Lane Trail
Meeting up at the AT Junction at Sages Ravine
Half-Way up the north side of Bear Mt with Mt Race in distance
Half-Way up the north side of Bear Mt with Mt Everett in distance
Almost the Bear Mountain Summit from the north
Bear Mountain Monument
AT heading south off Bear, Lions Head in distance
Kiosk for the Undermountain Trailhead
Roadside Memorial on Berkshire School Road in Sheffield, MA
