Peter Marteka
Mica Ledges Reward The Mattabesset Trail Hiker
October 17, 2008
The pyramid loomed through the autumn splendor in the valley of Mica Ledges, beckoning me as if I were some explorer looking for a gold-filled tomb.
But I wasn't in ancient Egypt and this wasn't exactly a real pyramid. It's a rock known as "the pyramid," a huge granite boulder rising out of a forest in the wilds of Durham. It's a signpost along a section of the blue-blazed Mattabeset Trail a path that runs in a horseshoe shape from Middletown south to Madison and Guilford and back up to Berlin, where it meets the Metacomet Trail.
The 53-mile trail is perfect for those who want to do a long, bring-a-pound-of-gorp-and-a-dozen- energy-bars hike, or those looking to do a break-a-bit-of-a-sweat-and-enjoy- the-fall-foliage walk. I did the latter, exploring a mile-long section from the pyramid south along the stunning Mica Ledges to the historic Selectmen's Stones, a pile of rocks denoting the border of Durham, Guilford and Madison.
The beauty of this trail system is that there are multiple access points and ample areas to park. I parked at the end of Cream Pot Road and hooked up with a blue- and red-blazed access trail. When walking the Mattabeset, pay attention to the blazes because it is easy to get off track. Be on the lookout for the double or triple blazes on trees — this denotes a major turn in the trail.
The area around the pyramid is a fun place to explore. Those who are daring can attempt to climb to the top of the boulder and plant a flag or take a picture and show it to the grandkids one day to prove you conquered the Great Pyramid of Durham. An orange-blazed side trail takes hikers along some craggy ledges.
But the highlight of the visit is climbing to the top of the Mica Ledges. Almost immediately after the pyramid, visitors take a strenuous climb to the top of the ledges. But the sweat is worth it as the views of the surrounding hillsides and the farms below are spectacular, especially as the foliage begins to reach its peak.
The half-mile-long ledges are dotted with pockets of mica and quartz. Growing up in Portland, I used to find huge chunks of mica. Then my brother and sister and I would shave off bits of the layered rock and use it for play money. The aroma of pitch pines that dot the top of the ledges brought me back to summer days on the outer Cape.
At the southern end of the ledges, the view is marred by a new housing development that has taken out a swath of emerald green that was once a rich farm field. It's ironic that the development along North View Drive has ruined the view south from the top of the ledges. It also serves as a stark reminder of the repercussions when farmland is developed in a state that loses 8,000 acres a year.
The Selectmen's Stones provide a good turnaround point for this visit. Don't mistake it for just a pile of rocks. Upon closer inspection, the rocks have dates and initials carved in them going back to the 1800s. The stones were carved as proof town officials had inspected the boundaries of the towns under a law known as "perambulating the bounds."
So go climb to the top of the pyramid, smell the pitch pines or make your own mark in a stone as proof you visited a place where three towns meet.
For video of Mica Ledges in Durham, visit courant.com/marteka
There is a parking area at the end of Cream Pot Road. Take Route 77 to Cream Pot Road. Pass the town garage and continue to the end of the road. Column ideas and suggestions are welcome. Peter Marteka can be reached by phone at 860-343-5239; by mail at The Courant, 373 E. Main St., Middletown, CT 06457; or by e-mail at pmarteka@courant.com.
E-mail:
pmarteka@courant.com
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