Date: 2017-07-29
From: Telephone Pioneers Shelter Tent Site

To: Schaghticoke Mountain Campsite 
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: scattered clouds

7/29Telephone Pioneers Shelter Tent Site to Schaghticoke Mountain Campsite 18.3 miles Total Miles:  1464.1I awoke at my regular time and mentally prepared myself for another big day.  The plan was to aim for Schaghticoke Mountain Campsite,  18.3 miles away. This would make it possible to get into Kent, Connecticut early tomorrow for resupply.  After getting water at the stream by the trail, I headed out at 8:30.  Less than a mile into my hike, I crossed West Dover Road and beheld the Dover Oak, the largest tree on the AT.  In its 300 year lifetime, it has grown to an enormous size.  Had I fallen asleep against it, I might very well have slept twenty years.  After admiring its stature and taking some photos, I moved along.  After a few miles in the woods, the trail then began a   0.3 mile trek along a boardwalk over a swamp, which terminated at the Appalachian Trail Railroad Station platform.  Along the way, I met Hugh and his dog, Mollie. Hugh thru hiked the trail back in 1976, about the same time I first acquired the dream of completing my thru hike. Just out of the military at a difficult time in our history, Hugh decided to hike the trail to "shake hands with America."  We discussed the differences (he might go five days without seeing another soul on the trail and the only way to contact family and friends was mail and pay phones), as well as the similarities  (wonderful people, beautiful scenery, and Trail Magic).  We parted ways at the train station as I said goodbye to Molly and again thanked Hugh for his service to our nation.  Also at the train station, I met Land Shark and The Edge, two volunteers with the New York/New Jersey Trail Conference, who were headed out with weed eater and chain saw to work on clearing sections of the trail.  Such maintenance is never-ending, since brush quickly grows back to choke the trail, and trees will fall over onto it.  As I have said several times before, these maintainers are pure Trail Angels, and I thanked them for everything they do to help the hikers by helping the trail.  After getting my picture taken at the train platform, I headed out over several miles through farm pasture before re-entering the woods.  I passed a nifty wooden water tower near the trail, yet another little aside that makes the AT so special.  I then met Stan the Man, an avid hiker who plans on thru hiking in five years. I told Stan the Man that I was a Cardinal baseball fan. He had grown up in Peoria as a huge fan of the Birds on the Bat, but now he roots for the Mets. Since there is no longer any real rivalry between the Cards and the Mets, I neglected to tell him that my son Greg's first complete sentence was, "The Mets are pond scum."  Stan the Man proved he understands all about thru hiking by gifting me with a frozen bottle of Gatorade (Cardinal red, no less) as we parted ways.  Thanks again, Stan!  Today was perhaps the most idyllic day for hiking yet. It was cool, breezy, and sunny. Most of the trail today was in somewhat open forest, which allowed for the sunlight to shine in dappled patterns on the forest floor.  These patches of sunlight moved and danced as the breeze rustled the leaves.  Add the sounds of the woodland birds and the sight of scurrying squirrels, and it was an easy time to love being on the AT.  I've recently encountered another recent addition at some of the shelters, which have small, stocked libraries.  The one I saw today was particularly special, consisting of an enclosed box with shelves and a glass door, and the instructions to "Take a book.  Leave a book."  Maintained by volunteers,  these little libraries add a special, homey touch to the shelters.  Perhaps these libraries mean a bit extra to me, since my older brother, Mark, and my daughter's best friend, Julia, are librarians.  I hiked for several miles today with another Julia, who tries to get out and hike every day. A consulting engineer who specializes in waste water treatment, Julia spends half of each year in this area hiking and enjoying the woods and nature.  She is very knowledgeable about the area and shared numerous tips covering everything from water sources to trail conditions to the fact that the town of Kent recently added a coin-operated shower for hikers.  The time flew by as we walked and talked and, before I knew it, I was in Connecticut. As I do when I enter every new state, I set a bit of Beau free.  Julia actually extended our conversation by hiking with me to the road past her car, before we parted ways.  Well met, Julia, and thanks for sharing your afternoon with me.  The trail then went up and over Ten Mile Hill and crossed Ten Mile River over an impressive walking bridge.  Just yards past the bridge, the Ten Mile joins the Housatonic River, a noisy, boisterous river with lots of rapids, which I hiked beside for about a mile.  I left the river to begin climbing Schaghticoke (pronounced Scat-a-coke) Mountain.  At the foot of the mountain, I encountered my second Trail Magic of the day. Dora the Explorer left a cooler full of Gatorade by the trail. I quickly drank one before continuing up the mountain and then to the campsite. I guess the AT in Connecticut needs to remind us that she can hold challenges as well, and the hike up the mountain was quite arduous, but I was rewarded with a nice view from Indian Rocks near the summit. The trail into the campsite was very steep and rocky, and terminated in a wonderful little cul de sac near a stream.  I made it to camp at 7:45, later than I had hoped,  but with still more than enough time to set up camp before dark.  I said hi to Pippi and Mechanic before finding an area and pitching my tent.  Gravity also made it in before dark. Tomorrow we head for Kent to resupply and to consider if it's worth $2.00 in quarters to shower and then put back on the same sweaty, smelly clothes (no laundromat in Kent yet). That's a decision best left for tomorrow.