Date: 2010-07-13
From: Native Nursery & Garden Center

To: Schagticoke Mountain Campsite
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I was the first one up, had a quick breakfast of granola and an Arizona ice tea I bought at the deli yesterday in lieu of hot coffee. Hiked with Just Sauce which was a refreshing change to hiking alone. The occasional periods of conversation made the time and miles go by quickly.Had lunch at the Wiley Shelter and then crossed into Connecticut where we found some unexpected trail magic - a tall 20 gallon thermos of ice cold water lemonade mix and cookies. Simple pleasure of an ice cold drink on a hot day.Continued on and missed a turn so went about 1/3 of a mile before we realized we hadn't seen any white blazes for awhile. Unfortunately, we had gone downhill for that 1/3 of a mile and now had to go back up. Quickly found the missed turn and picked up our pace a bit as it was threatening rain and there was another shelter only a mile or so ahead where we wanted to get water, eat our second lunch and have a roof over our heads if it did rain. We made it there in enough time to get our water and get under cover before the skies opened up.Stayed about an hour and decided to go to another deli for dinner so hiked on and went 1/2 mile off trail to yet another deli. The road leading there went under an old covered bridge that George Washington had crossed.Daylight was burning and rain was again threatening so we got back on the trail and climbed Schagticoke (pronounced shat'-i-coke) Mountain planning to stop at a campsite 2 miles away. It was very steep and rocky with boulders and rock walls to negotiate. We were near the summit when we came to a viewpoint where we could see the mountains behind us and the drama of the clouds and rain coming over them. We only stayed at the viewpoint for 10 minutes but when we got back in the trees, the clouds moved in and we were losing light so had to put on our headlamps. Then it started raining. We ever so slowly picked our way up, down and over the rocks trying to find the next white blaze in the rain and dark. Many times Just Sauce went ahead to be sure we were on track or to find an easier bypass when we came to rocks and cliff faces that were too dangerous to cross in these conditions.The batteries in my hadlamp started to fail and coupled with my eyeglasses fogging up and spattered with rain, I was walking almost blind for awhile before I just had to stop and change the batteries because I kept tripping over things. When I popped the battery compartment cover, I broke the hinge, and the cover and batteries went flying. I got a bit hysterical and started to laugh. Just Sauce said, "Okay, this is now officially an adventure, as all true adventures are when things start going wrong."We searched the underbrush and located the parts that went flying, put in the new batteries and Just Sauce used duct tape to keep it closed. Much better - I could see where I was going again.Finally arrived at the campsite, set up our tents, chatted about what a great day it had been and retired. Just as I was about to fall asleep, I heard something large moving around nearby. I said in a loud disgruntled voice, "Go away bear, I'm just not in the mood." Just Sauce laughed, the bear or whatever it was went away and I fell into an exhausted sleep. Maybe I should re-think sleeping with my food bag in my tent. Hmmmm. Received an e-mail from Just Sauce regarding today's entry so I'll quote him: "You might be a hiker if...you are lost in the dark, in the rain, in the fog, with a broken headlamp and no hope for rescue, but you're having the time of your life."