Hiker’s Notebook — Hitting the Alander Brooke Trail

MILLERTON — On a warm Sunday, I ventured to escape the heat of a mid-August afternoon under the bright-green protective canopy of the Alander Brooke and CCC Trail. After the minor delay of forgetting my boots at home, I laced up my well-loved Merrells and took to the trail for the perfect mind-clearing and balancing activity to bridge one week to another.

This 2.6 mile hike is accessible from Under Mountain Road in Millerton, just off of Route 22. I headed down the road, passing the trailhead marked by visible signs on the left, and followed the arrows up a bit toward a parking pulloff.

After parking and retracing my steps a short way down the road, I headed down the Alander Mountain trail. Immediately I was under the full coverage of the trees above, engulfed by the sights and sounds of nature.

Although there were no other hikers to be found on this late afternoon, the wide trail appeared to be heavily trafficked and well marked. The compact and colorful fallen leaves, scattered pinecones and acorns set the trail aside from its fern and vegetation linings.

Shortly after beginning, I approached a fork in the trail and, following the signs, went left toward the easier Alander Mountain trail. As I winded through the trail with manageable inclines and declines, I followed the blue trail markers which appeared frequently on the trees.

Photo by Grace DeMarco

Although my heart beat rapidly and I was getting a workout, my mind and body calmed the second I stepped off of the concrete and onto the trail. The sights and sounds around me captured my attention and I absorbed everything I could in the 2.6 miles that separated me from the edge of the woods and the resumption of real life responsibilities.

The trail remained non-technical and beginner friendly with easy footing, allowing me to keep my head and eyes up. Along with the marginal wood ferns, the trail was lined with common witch hazel, white birch and the occasional white baneberry. I was greeted by chipmunks and squirrels who scurried across the trail ahead of me, and the birds, visible and hidden, accompanied my trek with their songs.

Along with the melodious and regular crunch coming from under my boots, the flow of an upcoming body of water bubbled through the brush. The trickling water added to the already present harmonies of nature all around me. Shortly after, at about 0.6 miles, I approached a culvert and crossed over a small stream toward another split in the trail.

At the fork, the blue trail veers to the right and straight up Alander Mountain, but bare left for the CCC loop which remains manageable and beginner friendly. Although the loop was unmarked, the trail was unmistakable.

It seemed to be the road less traveled, in the best way possible, as the trail thinned and wound toward a shaded downhill stretch. Here, I was even more a part of my surroundings. The trees provided refuge from the sun which peaked through the gaps in leaves, offering a welcoming and cooling breeze. A black and white striped feather had dropped from its original wearer and was now, like the leaves, a part of the trail.

As I approached the tip of the CCC loop, marking the halfway point of my adventure, I curved through a grassy area and was met by a frog who hopped across into the shelter of the nearby foliage. I heard the frog longer than I saw him, as the leaves rustled with its every movement.

Photo by Grace DeMarco

After walking around a white birch road block, two stone walls corralled the trail until the loop circled back and met up with the blue trail.

The scent of pine and something sweet lingered in the air when I stopped for a moment after hearing rustling in the grass. From out of the brush, turkeys, one after the other, emerged just feet ahead from my right. Some ran, some flew, but no less than twenty turkeys flapped their wings and waved me goodbye.

After they finished their grand gesture, I stood there and thanked myself for lacing up my boots and walking the trail. To encounter animals and plants in a place we all share is a gift. Taking the time for myself and getting out there was the best thing I could do.

As the warmth of summer lingers and gives way to fall, it is the perfect time to grab your old and dusty boots from the attic and get back out there. It is also the perfect time to step out onto the trail for the first time. Let the breeze push you toward the everchanging landscape of the forest, especially through the changing of the seasons. The trails will always be there for you.

Alander Brook and CCC Trail is not the only trail in the area. For a moderate 5-mile trail look to Mount Frizzell and Brace Mountain Loop Trail. For a short, yet steep, trail with waterfalls, look to the Quarry Hill Trail. For an easy 2.4 mile hike, look at the Mary Moore Cliff Trail Loop.

For more information on hikes nearby, complete with maps, reviews, and difficulty ratings, alltrails.com is a great and free resource.

Whether it’s short, long, fast, slow, completely flat or a vertical climb, the trees will overshadow your worries, and the breeze will carry you along. The hardest part is getting there.

After that, it’s just a walk in the woods.