The Seasons of Sections

After several years of hiking in the mountains, I decided to descend from above treeline. Several hike lists had been completed, and I wasn’t getting any faster in charging up those steeps.

Most of my peak bagging efforts were day hikes. Up early, summit, turn around and get down before dark to sleep in a warm bed (or tent.) I began to cast my eye to other more relaxed hikes that were still goal oriented. Section hiking became the focus.

Getting Lighter

In pursuit of the mountains, I’d had to carry some weight, regardless of season. An injury at elevation puts you at greater risk of succumbing to conditions, not just the initial injury. Wehn you’re 4-7 miles into a wilderness area, It’s going to be some time before help arrives. I always carry the 10 essentials, but in the mountains, there were more layers, more water, more weight. Now, some of these section hikes would include road walking and civilization. A smaller pack, a single water bottle, a wind shirt or a light fleece would be all I’d really need. Another lifted weight was strictly psychological. Section hiking in some of southern New England’s open spaces was a cell phone call away from assistance, and it would arrive without delay.

Car Shuttles and Google Earth

Planning hikes was actually more difficult in some cases. Many section hikes were group hikes, and required scouting areas for legal parking. One-way hikes meant leaving transport at the endpoint to shuttle hikers back to the beginning. I was often scrutinizing Google Earth to try to locate a public space to leave cars where they’d be secure as well as convenience stores or shelters to break for lunch, etc.

A Little Help From Your Friends

My solo hike days went away during my section hike seasons. The car spotting required at least two drivers to be efficient and worthwhile. I reached out to a few other hikers who were in the same boat- they needed a wing man to accomplish these as much as I did.

The Beauty in My Backyard

While the cities in New England are densely populated, you would be surprised by the open space and hiking trails outside of the metro areas. Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts all boast a trail the runs the length of the state. These hiking trails offer excellent opportunity to discover the natural beauty just outside your door.

The Mountains Beckon

Over a few years, I would hike the length of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and cross the border into New Hampshire. Heading north, my section hikes inevitably returned me to the mountains. Now the trails became more rugged again and with longer drives pushed me into multi day hikes with overnights in the back country. My transition to backpacking had begun.