Date: 2014-06-27
From: Mt. Algo Lean-To

To: Pine Swamp Brook Lean-To
Miles today: 17.3

Hello Kitty and Trail Mamma had to head back home tomorrow so they hopped of the trail near our destination for the night - sad to see them go but we will see them at Katahdin! Parting is bittersweet - tough when they go but the thought of seeing them again makes it ok.Slept surprisingly well in the tent - odd since I have hammocked for so long I thought I would get uncomfortable. Feeling refreshed and up earlier to avoid some of the heat of the day. Hello Kitty and Trail Mamma walked down to the car for breakfast while Big Dawg and I ate in camp. Met up at the car and then the three of us headed out while Trail Mamma went to do more magic. The climb out of the road was not as steep as I expected but the climb up did seem to take longer than normal. However we made it up to Caleb's Peak and set our sights on the St. John Ledges for a break. More confusion in finding the ledges (farther than listed in the book) but we finally found the sign and a resting rock.Steep steep downhill descent from the ledges to the path along the Housatonic River - be prepared it can be challenging! We all made it down without incident and enjoyed the long walk along the Housatonic River - boy was it flowing fast! The rain two nights ago must have fed all the rivers that flow into the Housatonic because it was muddy water and moving quickly! Very neat to walk along the river for so long - nice terrain.Also found some trail magic near the parking area at the beginning - sodas and beer in a cooler! Grabbed two for lunch and pressed on past the shelter aiming for Silver Hill Campsite. Fast walking along the river that quickly changed when we started climbing up to the campsite - Big Dawg and Hello Kitty were not happy I didn't mention the climb. Stopped for water in case the pump did not work and then arrived at the site for a break.Nice camping setup! Picnic pavilion for cooking and shelter with a nice privy and a swinging bench chair - all shelters should have those chairs! Longer lunch and rest break but it prepared us for the ups and downs coming up ahead. It has been some time since we used our climbing legs and need to get them back into shape!The ups and downs got the blood pumping and the sweat flowing - the humidity was making it a little bit tougher climbing up. Hello Kitty was not a fan of the ups and downs but she had to push on until we met Trail Mamma. A couple of rests and some slower moving got us through all the climbs to West Cornwall Rd. Steep climbs in a couple of places but taking time on them makes it better.The tough part was finally here - saying goodbye and hiking on with our food box for Salisbury tomorrow. Mobius commented on how awesome it was our family was doing this together and he said we were a great family - very nice words from him.Packs loaded and goodbyes said they drove away and we tackled our last climb of the day - tougher with the extra weight and another Lemon Squeezer-like section going steeper up! At the top it was easy walking to the shelter but man was it buggy around the shelter! And we almost had a water issue but I found a source down by the dry stream bed to fill up at. (Found out later from Seabiscuit that if you go straight past the first dry stream bed you find a flowing source). It was an adventure getting to and from the water requiring bushwhacking and thorns and a hiking pole to clear the way.Mom and Stef arrived at their hotel ok and we shared the evening here with Mobius and Seabiscuit. A nice evening after we went from family mode to regular backpacking mode. Back to the AT in its entirety!