Date: 2003-06-24
From: Stewart Hollow Brook Lean-to 

To: Pine Swamp Brook Lean-to 
Miles today: 10.0

Aloha! "Ahhh... geezz Louise! I said turn off the downspout not turn on the furnace!" Now admittedly I don't know who Louise is but I do know about the furnace. Summer has arrived - in full force!   Yesterday, or possibly the day before, I awoke to 48* and hiked in low 70* temperatures. Today I trudged ten whole miles in 90+ temperatures. What happened to the upper 70s and all the 80s? It was hotter than hell. I was just as wet from sweat at the top of these mountains as I was during the last rainstorm. Okay, that might be an exaggeration but I was still dripping. Thanks to the Ridge Runner this morning, who turned on her weather radio, I can competently report that I will be as miserable the next two to three days as I was today. More 90+ days. Summer has arrived... damn it!   Though the heat played a major part in my day, it wasn't the only player. Heat or no heat, it was a pleasant day with wonderful company and babbling brooks to help with the heat along the way. The company started right off by running into my previous day's trail angels, Dan and Maria.   It turns out that they are like me; looking for conservation property to buy. As a matter of fact, they had met with our very own Surefoot yesterday evening to look at a piece of property that the ATC has for sale. Such a small world. Today they were running the portion of the trail that parallels the Housatonic River to look across at the same property. They also had plans to walk the 11 acres later today. They were sounding somewhat excited about the parcel so maybe something good will work out for everyone. My fingers are crossed for them. Nice folks.   The rest of the day was spent ambling along either beside the river or above it. I played leapfrog with the Ridge Runner throughout and Rooster caught up to us in no time. Her arrival was kind of humbling actually. Here I was thinking I was doing all right and had made 4 miles in good time only to have her arrive at the same spot and time after having hiked 11 miles. What's wrong with this picture? Maybe, just maybe the 20-year difference in our ages plays a part. Maybe.   I did get my second fording of a stream today. The Guinea Brook is running a little higher and faster than normal so crossing via the normally above water rocks with boots on wasn't happening. Off with the boots and on with the aqua shoes. As with everything else out here it was fun. It also gave me my first brook bath for the day. Brooks, heat, humidity and stench all go so well together! The Ridge Runner and Rooster joined me in the crossing and sponging. It's a family affair!   With the heat bearing down on us we chose a vista for our lunch spot. While munching away on chicken salad, Hickory Farm cheese and crackers, we were joined by two-day hikers. Somewhere during the lunch they took pity on us and offered up an orange (shared between Rooster and me), a banana (Rooster's) and a soy milk (mine!). They were all so tasty. My mahalos to our latest trail angels. Their timing couldn't have been any better if they had tried.   The rest of the day was UP and down mountains with barely the energy to go either direction. It had to have taken me half a day to go a measly 5 miles I'm happy to report though that everyone was miserable and not just me. Misery really does love company.   Now though I'm happily enmeshed in my tent after another, and even better, brook bath and oriental chicken with vegetable dinner. (Yummy Char, thanks!) This brook bath even included a full strip down, sit in the stream and scrub bath. It was wonderful! I'd be reborn if I could just get a manicure. And pedicure!   Besides what I've already told you about the day the only other thing to report is that the Ridge Runner, Rooster, Spot and Daniel (from France), and a father and son weekend team are here to join me this evening. All, except Daniel, are tenting due to the nice evening temperatures and heavy bug population. (Rain then sun and heat equal tons of mosquitoes.) Rooster has offered me the opportunity to go into Salisbury, CT tomorrow and share an outrageously priced room with her. It's tempting. But if the truth be known, it's all going to depend on how I feel at the 12-mile mark before I can say yes to a 16-mile day. The heat is playing hell with me right now. I'm not ruling it out but I'm not ruling it in either. Guess we'll see tomorrow.   For now though I believe it's sleeping bag time. I'm hoping for an early morning departure to beat some of the heat. Early to bed and early to rise makes for... a much cooler hiker... in this case. So for now I'll bid you a good night and tell you to sleep with the air on. And point it in my direction!BSandTs: enough sweat to take a bath in. Summer is here1AandPs: still feel the knees on the downs with the heavier pack weight. Getting better though.MandGs: Louise's furnace!... waah!Critter count: 1x small toad, 9x chipmunks, 6x squirrels, and 2x turkey vultures circling overhead after getting a whiff of me!