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Outdoors: Knobstone Trail Knobstone Trail - Day 1 April 1, 2006 We hit the road about 9AM, in two cars. The plan is to drop one vehicle at the trail terminus, Delaney Park. Then my wife will drop me at the start of the trail, in the Deam State Recreation Area. Delaney Park is several miles from the nearest state highway, and though there are three different places where signs direct travelers to turn from the state highway towards the park, once off the state road the signage stops. Eventually we make it and drop off the car, though recent heavy rains have transformed the access road to the backcountry parking area into a running stream that nearly claims our car as a victim. We stop in Salem for lunch, and then it's on to the southern trailhead. My wife and I part by 1:30 PM, and I'm on the trail, turning at the last moment for a final wave before the trees intervene. I hear her honk the car horn as she drives away, and I feel a rush of excitement and anticipation as I realize that I'm going to get to spend four days in the woods. Any illusion of spending those days alone is quickly shattered as I encounter an empty tent set up a few hundred yards from the start of the trail. A bit further on it's a family of three. Then a pair of horses with riders on a parallel trail. Then a couple with two dogs. I'm a little alarmed at the population density, but press on. Fortunately, the "crowds" diminish after the first couple of miles, and I see no one the rest of the day. The trail is marked with rectangular white blazes quite similar to those I've seen on the AT. On this segment and in this season the blazes are superfluous, as the trail is very distinct, and even badly eroded in spots. Flexible brown markers are set up every mile along the trail, so it is very easy to gauge one's progress. The first two or three miles are easy, with gently rolling terrain. Shortly after, the trail begins climbing and descending a series of knobs. I convert my pants into shorts and doff my hat as I start to warm up. Around mile six the trail passes near the summit of Round Knob. I scramble to the top and find a cleared area with a fire ring. There are views in every direction, though obscured by leafless trees. It's about 5 PM and tempting to stop for the night, but with only six miles in and more daylight left I decide to continue. Somewhere between MM 7 and MM 8 I stop at a strongly running stream to prepare dinner and filter water for tomorrow morning. I fire up the Esbit and add just enough water to cover my instant dinner, adding more water in small amounts as it is absorbed into the food or boils away. A grouse is drumming somewhere nearby, but I can't spot it. Cooking, eating, cleaning up, and filtering water takes me about 40 minutes and I'm on my way, hoping to make what I assume is a good camping spot around MM 10. It's already 7 o'clock, so haste is required. I pass MM 9 around 7:30 and find that it's getting difficult to see. The trail is running along a narrow ridgeline and there are vast expanses of briars to either side. I give up on the idea of reaching my original destination and begin scouting for an alternative, peering into the gloom and eventually getting out a headlamp. I start to set up and soon realize that the briars are just too thick, so I press on a bit further before settling on a spot right next to the trail. While setting up the tent I learn that I'm one stake short. At first I decide to let the fly flap in the light breeze, but it's either too loud in stronger breezes or too much like an investigating animal in the lighter ones. A brief headlamp assisted search nets a sturdy stick to serve as a stake substitute, and I'm able to get to sleep, despite the indistinct sound of voices from somewhere in the valley below. Knobstone Trail Journal - Day 2