Date: 2018-06-17
From: Mt Algo shelter

To: Silver Hill campsite
Miles today: 10.6

I woke up at 12:20 to the sound of someone setting up camp near me and occasional flash of a headlamp towards my tent. I wondered who would hike so late and why. When I got up at 6 after yoga River was standing outside looking at the tent wondering when it arrived because she didn't hear it. I took the path out to the privy excited to see the baby birds this morning and there they were. I sat down next to them and they didn't move a feather. I took a couple of pictures as they watched me, completely silent. Nature is funny sometimes but I have to say these birds know they're safe. I've not met a hiker out here that would touch or disrespect them in any way. But being able to observe them so closely is amazing. On the way back down the privy path I saw River talking with someone over by the midnight tenter. And then I promptly tripped on something in the path and went face down with a huge thud. How is it I can climb mile after mile of mountain with 35# on my back without falling but I can't walk the privy path. River and the midnight tenter both turned and asked if I was okay, and I was. We all had a great laugh. It was actually pretty funny. Turns out Bags had arrived back in Pawling at 4pm from the NYC train after an excursion there. She's meeting friends up the trail and her best option was to night hike from Pawling here, thus her late arrival. I had breakfast, cleaned up, packed up and was out of camp around 7:30 after sending Brian a happy father's day text with the picture of the baby birds. From the shelter I hiked .3 to cross Schaghticoke Rd scoring an apple for trail magic at the road and began climbing. I'm guessing the 1st climb was Skiff Mt but it wasn't marked in my guide. When I reached Caleb's peak I took a rock seat and sent a picture of the sign and view to Michelle and Caleb. Then I called my Dad to wish him a happy father's day. It's always great to talk to him and he never fails to make me laugh. He said my Mom reads him my journal posts, like a bedtime story and that when I get to Mass he'll bring me beer and ice cream, since he hears I'm now fond of those. He loves the journal and would like to meet the "cast of characters" which had me rolling! He's charmed by the people I meet out here and the ones I'm lucky enough to spend time with. I do hope he gets to meet some! After chats with fellow hikers including a father and young boy out for the weekend River and I descended St John's ledges much to the disapproval of our knees. These are extremely steep stone steps and boulders down to the Housatonic River. The weather was really hot and humid and even descending offered up a good sweat. When we finally got down we were greeted by a really pleasant riverside walk for about 4 miles on River road which was closed to traffic and a wide dirt road. There was a small Beach area along the way and we stopped there wondering if we could swim. We were trying to look it up with the poor signal we had when we saw a family arrive across on the other shore. The children jumped in the river. So we took off some clothes and sat on rocks in boxers and shirts allowing the water to cool us off from the waste down. Somewhat refreshed but feeling drained, we headed off on some more level walking trail and stopped at Stewart Hollow Brook shelter, rested and cooked a hot lunch because we were feeling so depleted. This would just about empty my food bag. Grizzly, Turtle Mom and Culligan were there eating and resting. It's hot out! After leaving there we hiked more along the river and thru 2 fields before the 1 mile ascent to Silver Hill campsite. I always hate a good climb at the end of the day! At the campsite we found a section hiker on the wooden swing enjoying the view. Greg chatted with us for a few and then offered us a Heineken. He'd carried up a 12 pack. Of course we had one! No sense in the poor guy carrying them down full tomorrow! Grizzly and Turtle Mom arrived shortly after. They swam in the river an hour hoping to hike further today but the heat is too much and they made camp here, enjoying a beer also. When the beer was gone and River and I had eaten the dregs from our food bags the Trailer Park Boys arrived. They cowboy camped on the deck over by the swing. It was a pretty full campsite tonight with nice amenities including potable water from a hand pump, covered picnic pavilion, the deck and swing. The heat makes me more tired so I'm in my tent with my food bag stowed in the bear box by 8. Tomorrow we'll hike .8 down and walk a mile to to the town of Cornwall Bridge CT. We've rented a place for the night tomorrow and we'll take the day off so we aren't hiking in 90° heat.