Date: 2010-08-03
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Miles today: 0.0

Hello All,Whew, it has been a long time since I last had access to a computer and a lot has transpired since my last email. Quick update; I have been hiking with another fellow since about 20th of July; Dodger (Jim Dodge), 61 years old, corporate pilot. He is a strong hiker and it's been good to have someone to talk with and do things together when we get to town etc. He is usually at the destination much earlier then me but nice to have someone there you know when you get there. We currently are at Manchester Center VT on the AT but have taken a zero with a couple from Greenville SC. Out of the clear blue I received a message on my phone from Sue Brown (one of the GNHA hikers from Greenville) inviting me to come visit her and her husband Kim at their Lake George NY summer home. When she heard that I was traveling with a friend she graciously invited him as well. They picked us up in Manchester Center and drove a long way back to their beautiful home right on the lake. The food and hospitality have been outstanding and it will be hard to get back on the trail again tomorrow but hike we must. Kim is a retired orthopaedic surgeon and so we have kept him busy addressing our aches and pains. You would have to see the lake to appreciate the beauty of the surroundings. There is also a lot of Revolutionary War history in the area. We are not far from Lake Champlain, Tiaconderora (sp), Benedict Arnold's campaign, etc.Quick rundown, Cuz Sue put me back on the trail at Wind Gap PA on 7/11. The day was cloudy and we were soon driving in a very heavy rain, made it to the trail head but I decided to wait at the BK a mile down the road until the rain stopped which it did in about 3 hours. Back on the trail and tried to stretch it to a church hostel at the Delaware Water Gap but ran out of daylight and started hiking with my headlamp on. Headlamp was very dim due to old batteries and walking for me was treacherous. Finally came to some rocks with a grassy level spot overlooking the Delaware River Water Gap and bridge. Listened to the traffic crossing the bridge a good part of the night but just thankful to have found a place to rest. Next morning crossed the bridge into NJ. Hiking the trail in NJ was sort of like hiking home as I was raised in the eastern part of the state but really did not get to the area of the trail.High Point NJ was where the rocks were suppose to change and become easier to travel but there seemed to be still too many to make for easy hiking. Made it thru NJ and into NY which in many ways was similar to what I had just passed through. Generally, we were walking up and down on mountain ridges with some views to the side and occasionally had to rock climb over sharp outcroppings. Due to the heat wave and drought conditions in the NE a lot of the leaves are falling off the trees creating a rather bizarre landscape. Saw my last rattlesnake on top of West Mtn just south of Bear Mtn. NY. Almost stepped on it as it was on the edge of the trail next to a blueberry patch. Heard the rattle and stepped back in time to get out of the way. Bear Mtn. SP was jammed with people when I went through just before crossing the Hudson River Bridge The last 10 miles of NY suddenly changed and I was walking on well graded relatively smooth trails and it continued right into CT. Southwest CT is beautiful with neat homes and yards, farm lands and pastures and it was much wetter and greener then the previous states. Onto MA (Massachutes) which was similar to CT but considerably longer distance and not many views so was ready to hit VT. Crossed into VT on 7/29. VT is pretty but now instead of all rocks we have mud and then some rocks and boulder fields. Not many views unless you go to the top of several of the fire towers that they have left up on top of the mountains.We have gotten into the habit of stopping at every chance we have at deli's, convenience stores and ice cream shops to eat, fresh food is always on our minds. Often we will buy the food and then since there is no place to eat inside will eat it on a bench outside the store, sometimes even in the rain. We definitely know what it feels like to have people look at you as if you are a vagrant and thinking the town is going to the dogs. In Salisbury CT we did this with a cold rain falling and both of us were chilled. I was shaking and eating out of a 1/2 gallon ice cream carton when a lady came by and said you must be thru hikers. She was the only one that had a clue,, I guess the ice cream tipped her off.We are starting to see south bound (sobos) hikers coming down from ME. Most seem to be young people full of confidence as they know they have crossed the most difficult part of the trail in NH and ME. What they may be forgetting is that they have 1600 miles to go and the atrition rate is just as high for them as it is for the nobos. We are seeing lots of beaver ponds with their well made dams sometimes at eye level as we cross below on the trails. We haven't seen a moose yet (first one that does will get a beer from the other one) but have seen their footprints and droppings. Looking forward to NH with mixed emotions, everyone talks about the beauty of the state while also the difficulty of the hiking. Evenings have already started getting colder up here, in the 30s for a night or two, will have my cool weather gear mailed up soon.I have sent Kim, my friend from Franklin my latest photo CDs and she will try to put them on as she has time. Thank you Kim for all your efforts.We are at mile post (mp) 1639, 540 miles to go.Again, as always thanks to all for your encouragement and prayers. Shagman aka Keith