Date: 2012-06-22
From: Shaghticoke Mountain campsite

To: Ten Mile campsite, CT
Miles today: 5.5
Weather: clear sky

We awoke about 5:30 a.m. and immediately set about breaking camp to take advantage of the cooler morning temps. About 6:00 a.m. we discovered that we were not as far around Shaghticoke Mountain as we first thought and clearly had not passed the campsite, as there it was in front of us. We doffed our pack, pulled out our Ursack, boiled water from the creek and had a hot breakfast of oatmeal, fig bars, and hot chocolate. After breakfast we topped off both water bottles, dropped iodine, took a photo and resumed the march south.8:00 found us at the first NY/CT sign and the weather was already hot, humid and dead calm - no wind at all.By 8:45 we were already starting the descent down towards Bulls Bridge. We took a rest stop and switched out our water bottles. We also met 3 hikers (Kim, Kim & a guy). The trail at this point was well groomed and we were moving faster. Around 9:15 we met NOBO thrus Trail Dance, Strider, and Fog. Just after that encounter, we encountered a black rat snake crossing the trail ahead of us. During our 10:15 rest stop, Willie Boy headed up past us with a soaking wet long sleeved fishing shirt. Willie Boy reminded us that one of the fastest ways to cool off is to lay on the large rocks. We knew that trick, but it was tucked so deep in our brain that we weren't practicing it.About a half-hour later, we stopped on a large log and took an extended water break. No sooner had we started than more thru hikers appeared and we met Chuckie the Fish, and Princess Goah. Shortly after setting off the trail made a final set of long switchbacks and we found ourselves at a small stream. Being nearly out of water and an unknown distance from Bulls Bridge, we remembered Oak's advice from 2011; "Now!" We filled one bottle with water, but held off the iodine. Just a few moments below the stream we crossed a low stone wall strewn with a half dozen empty gallon water jugs. Some found trail magic, but not us.At the bottom of the mountain we found ourself on a gravel road and made a right turn and started a road walk. Being largely sunlit, we donned our wide brimmed hat. After about a mile we heard cars and soon intersected the road to Bulls Bridge. Knowing of a convenience store just across the bridge, we turned east and headed to the bridge. Just before the bridge we stopped on one of the many boulders lining the highway to prevent parking to drink the last of our pure water. Bandaid and Laces, a thru hiking couple, were headed back to the trail as we were about to depart. We crossed through the covered bridge, over an old canal, and cut across a gravel parking lot and a small mown field to the now visible c-storeThe Country Mart is an oasis for long-distance hikers. We found nearly desired re-supply item, including BIC mini lighters. We purchased a 20 oz. apple juice, a 1 liter Mountain Dew, and 1 liter of water (we wanted a 3rd clear bottle based on our consumption rate). We adjourned to the two picnic tables out front and drank our apple juice straight down and amazingly (to us) our entire Mountain Dew. While foraging in our UrSack for something to eat, Gato suddenly appeared from across the field. Lightening Jack appeared about ten minutes later while we were setting on a milk crate under a window shade eating some tuna with mayo. After the tuna, which contained extra salt, we started on our liter of water. Moments after drinking pure water, we were seized with massive cramps in both legs and in all the big muscles. It was as if someone had flipped a switch or opened a valve and were torturing us. Pain! Massive pain! An 11 on a 10-point scale! We tried to walk and could only hold ourself up between the two tables. Thoughts of calling 911 and being carted off to a hospital in an ambulance flashed in our brain. Was our hike so quickly and easily over? We kept trying to stand and walk and eventually the cramps began to subside. We grabbed both our poles and hobbled across the highway to a shady strip and paced back and forth in full view of Gato.The cramps gone, we returned to the tables and packed for departure. We headed back across the field and gravel lot, took photos of the bridge and headed back to the trail. We had two options. Take the first blue blaze trail to the left which intersected the A.T., but followed the river south or walk on further to the white blazed A.T. and miss the river. We opted for the more scenic blue blazed trail. Our choice provided us a well groomed trail along a small bluff overlooking the river below. We were disappointed when we regained the white blazes and the trail disappeared into high grass and brush.Shortly after passing under power lines, we arrived in a fir thicket with a trail intersection and no guiding blazes. The wear of the trails indicated we should turn left. Good decision, as minutes later we found ourself on a metal foot bridge over a Housatonic River tributary. To our surprise, when we stepped off the bridge we found a large grassy field and saw an elevated privy. Were we at the Ten Mile shelter. We didn't see anything resembling the shelter photos we had studied pre-trip nor was there a shelter sign. There was a sign announcing Ten Mile campsite. Huh! We dutifully took out our phone to document the site with a photo for a future blog post. While examining the site, the wind suddenly picked up, dark clouds began to appear and we decided that due to our earlier cramps, a clearly approaching storm and a four mile hike over a hill to the next shelter that we would go ahead and make camp for the day. No sooner had we pitched our hammock and rigged the trap as a lean-to than it began to rain. As we listened to the storms increasing intensity we could also hear the flow of the adjacent river increase in volume. We just hung snug in our hammock with feet elevated and enjoyed the solitude.Just after dark, the fireflies came out. Hundreds and hundreds of fireflies were hovering over the grassy field by the privy flashing their lights in search of a date. We were enjoying the event until one lone, off course firefly floated in front of us and lit his glow plug. FLASH! Our eyes were so accustomed to the dark we actually had a moment of flash blindness.The rain continued off and on until dawn.