Date: 2013-07-20
From: ny55

To: 10 mile river shelter
Miles today: 17.3

7.20.13 Saturday day 111NY55 - Ten Mile river shelter17.3 miles - 8.5 hoursGot a hitch outside of the Pine Grove motel from local land maintainer Claude in his huge Ford Excursion, told us history of Nuclear Lake on the trail ahead. Private company did nuclear experiments many years ago, some sort of accidental low radiation escape, as a result, government bought land. Trail was rerouted through it since it is already government land. Strange, that's as far as we got before he dropped us off. Thanks Claude! Short hike to Nuclear Lake, trail takes you next to pretty lake, looks shallow, surrounded by trees, some large white rocks across way. We come up to the Professor as he is standing on a flat rock peering out into the water. We say hi, he tells us he is going into town @ next road, ipad in hand to make online reservation. Big smile like he is happy to escape heat humidity and rest up for the day. Trail is relatively flat, fast & easy around here. Nice place to do high miles if weather not so extreme. We descend to country road, a pack is laying next to Dover oak, largest on AT, huge. Wide base, branches out low and wide, arms curl all directions. I wasn't expecting it to be so close to the road, in the middle of the trail. Walking Stick walks from across road to his pack with full water bottles. Tells us he got it from house across street, talked with owner, she said AWOL guide is incorrect, yes she allows hikers to get water however book says go to purple house, there is none, they painted red, this causes confusion. Descent into nice wetland area, boardwalk takes you through cattails, tall grasses, over stream, turn around for great views of ridge. Over train tracks to Appalachian Trail metro train stop to NYC on weekend. We take photos there, train comes & goes we rest @ Nature Nursery hiker lounge with Flavor Saver, Waffles & have lunch. Across street several fence styles on private cow pasture & farm fields, great views of ridge as walk thru field. Border cross into Connecticut!! On Hoyt road, trail map box has "CT NY" carved into it, later on trail is Connecticut sign on tree. PL snaps pic as i smooch that tree to continue my tradition. glad to be here, my first time to this state. Connecticut!!! If it wasnt for spell check, I'd constantly be spelling Connecticut incorrectly. Hot humid sweaty climb up hill. Not many hiking past few days due to heat. Chaffing is getting worse. Some zero in NYC, some yellow blaze ahead, some got off trail completely. We push on slowly surely. Heat makes me appreciate cool breezes, shade from trees, splashing stream water on face. At bottom of hill is Ten Mile River, waste no time taking a swim. Cold flowing water feels so refreshing after several days heat hiking. We make our way into the waist deep water fighting against current. Alternate sun bathing on rock then dunking back into water, big smile on face like i was a little kid again. Small fish bite my feet and legs then dart off. In the shallower still water I can see cray fish under the rocks. Shelter is a minute away, we arrive to find Flavor & Walking Stick there, catch up on stories as we have dinner, enjoying cooler weather as sun goes down. Open field in front of shelter allows us to see clear night sky, moon and stars.