Date: 2009-06-25
From: High Point Shelter - Trail Mile: 850.4

To: Pochuck Mtn Shelter - Trail Mile: 838.0
Miles today: 12.4

Day 5[Jess has arrival here at Pochuck Mtn Shelter.She made it to the Unionville, NY PO 10988 (Trail Mile: 843.3) early this afternoon, and picked up her supplies. She plans to continue further on to the Pochuck Mtn Shelter.She sent a photo with the caption: "6/25: Harvey taking a nap on the way out of Unionville. Apparently Town Day is not as restful for him as it is for most others."Her journal entry:]What a day!! It was pretty hot, and we spent a lot of time slogging through muddy lowlands, then climbing hills (not too rocky, thank goodness) in wet sneakers. A couple meadows and fields, and even one field being mown (DD - sorry, didn't see the farmer/tractor, but it was cut and put into windrows all in one pass. Which machine is that?). One neat thing is that farmers will build steps up and over wire fences, rather than put in gates. Rather steep, if only 4-5 feet high, but H handles them like the old pro he is. Did I tell each of you he likes to use escalators?One thing H does not do well is hang out in town while I pick up supplies sent to the post office by Harvey's GrandPop or while I run into the general store to get any thing else we hadn't anticipated needing. The muzzle (poor kid) helps to keep down on noise and hopefully soon will be enough of a deterrent that I won't need to actually put it on. Tropical Thunder, Lizzie, and Saw Man were already at the PO and were kind enough to let H stay with them, but he still made a ruckus. We'll work on it. Still hopeful some of TT's hiking-with-dog knowledge and L's trail manners will rub off on us.Took a long time hanging out on the porch at the general store, charging the cell phone, eating lunch, and generally resting. H apparently wasn't too rested b/c he decided to take a half hour nap not half a mile outside of town. I wasn't going to argue, not in this heat. (See photo.)The rest of the day was spent slogging through more muddy trails and steep hills, interspersed by a road walk and then a trip three quarters of the way around a swamp. (Why 3/4 rather than the other one quarter, you ask? Because the bridge that normally skips the road portion puts you out halfway around the swamp, and the local trail conference wants to put you back on the original trail asap, no matter how inconvenient. Oy!) Finally out of the swamp and you can get some much-needed water on a house up the hill. Many thanks to Korean Guy for the half-English half-sign language conversation deciding that he would stay with the packs while I ran up to fill both our waters. Then a tough climb at the end of the day up to Pochunk Shelter. Roots and Pittsburgh are gracious enough to let H and I stay in the shelter, and Pittsburgh built a fire hoping to keep mosquitoes away. Good idea, working somewhat well. Turning this iPhone light off will help, I'm sure! Hung clothes out either to dry or get washed if it rains, and had cold lasagna (rehydrated last night in case we didn't make town in time for lunch) for dinner. Was better than hot lasagna!! To sleep now listening to croaking frogs, H's shores, and a coyote in the distance. Very glad H is too exhausted to notice!! Sweet dreams, all!41° 16' 15.72" N 74° 30' 53.33" W, 900 ftFor HarveysMom by Harvey's GrandPop