by SoniS

Created on: August 27, 2008   Last Updated: September 22, 2008

Glad to get another opportunity of exploring the beauty of New England, we drove to Salisbury on a clear Saturday. We went through strawberry fields and freshly painted picket fences till we reached Bunker Hill Road, right at the foot of the famed Lion's Head trail. It provides access to the Appalachian Trail and boasts of being "the shortest hike with the greatest view". What they fail to mention is that it is also the steepest "short" hike ever!

We parked at the hiker's parking lot and started enthusiastically, trudging upwards, stopping briefly to admire a few mountain laurels here and there. After what seemed like ages of walking uphill, we came at the base of the Lion's Head where we were faced with two options. We could either take the almost vertical shorter trail or the easier trail which is longer but doubles back to Lion's Head. We decided on the former and scrambled up over boulders with the determination of a serious hiker. Along the way, we met a fellow hiker with a back pack almost double his size. He was doing the Appalachian. Apart from him, there was not a soul in sight.

But we plodded on steadily and suddenly came upon a clearing with a spectacular view! The state of Connecticut lay in front of us...with its vast expanse of mountains, lakes and fields dotted with picture-perfect towns. It was every bit worth the gruelling hike up 1738 feet! Needless to say, the view was a photographer's delight, a panoramic wonder.

I sat there for a while taking in the fresh mountain air...wondering at New England's calm beauty...couple of lakes glistened in the distance, a barn was barely visible with a wheelbarrow parked nearby...now and then, there was a rustle in the bushes and few chirps could be heard from the trees. It became clear to me that civilization has not robbed the East Coast of its lush greenery. In course of our hectic lives in metropolitan cities, it is not everyday that we get to shake hands with Nature...unguarded and unreserved.

All the while, ignored by us, dark clouds were gathering overhead. Since we didn't want to get caught in the rain, we quickly clicked a few photographs and began our hike back to the car park. On our way downhill, it was a lot trickier given the sheer descent of the trail. Thankfully, the sturdy branches extended by the friendly trees came in real handy. We reached the parking lot and just as we got inside the car, big, fat drops of rain began to splatter the windshield.

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