Date: 2014-08-08
From: Schaghticoke Mtn Campsite

To: Stewart Hollow Brook Shelter
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: scattered clouds

I was late breaking camp today, having slept extra. I was thinking that was bad and would not have time for a goal of 20 miles. The good was listening to the brook all night when I woke up. I stopped for a snack/water break at Mt Algo shelter but turned the wrong way when I left. Some clues said go one way and others the opposite direction. I resolved to start walking and turn around when I met a NOBO (Northbounder). Ten minutes later I met Man Bear who confirmed my suspicions I was going the wrong way. Of course, it was good I only wasted 20 minutes.When I arrived at CT 341 crossing, Walking Stick's family were just arriving and setting up for trail magic. He sat me in a chair and handed me an ice cold Gatorade. Since He had thru hiked in 2013 he was able to give me some insight on trail ahead, especially for New England. His girl friend, sister, Mom, and Dad were cooking hamburgers, hotdogs and welcoming hikers as they arrived. I often hear the adjective Southern attached to Hospitality, but this family showed me the South has no monopoly on giving strangers a warm welcome. When I left forty-five minutes later, I felt like I was leaving my family. This was good! My spirits were lifted as crossed a meadow and re-entered the forest.I had dual thoughts running through my mind as I ascended Caleb's Peak. My heart was glowing as I thought about the trail magic that had just happened but I was also wondering why the AWOL Guidebook noted "St. John's Ledges--steep stone steps down to Housatonic River." There had been steep steps before with no forewarning, why now? Does that mean something bad?Worse than bad--ugly. The total descent was over 400 feet but I'm not sure what percent consisted of the steps. Whenever I look over a steep ledge I get "neak in the wees" (weak in the knees but tongue-tied.) That happened here. Some steps were so steep I went backwards like going done a ladder. The descent was nerve racking because it seemed to go on and on. Most of the time the steps were 8 inches to 24 inches, but close to the bottom there was a ledge waist high.I took off my pack and first lowered it down, then kneeled down and jumped over while holding on to the rock to soften the landing. That wasn't bad without the extra 30 pounds pushing me. As I put the pack back on and finished the hill, I wondered how I would have--or could have--climbed up over the ledge.The rest of the way to the campsite was smooth walking along the graveled River Road. But I could not muster any bounce to my step now, even if I tried. It was good I had only two miles to the shelter. I was as much mentally exhausted as physically for the intensity of the cliff.As I reflected on my day, the title "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" popped into my mind. But it is all relative. I thought it was bad to lose time snoozing and backtracking but I would have missed the trail magic, so the bad was good. While sitting at the trail magic, a voice in my head kept whispering ,"better get going and get your miles." It was good to relax and receive the magic from Trail Angels. And doubly good because, the hamburger, hotdog, orange and cold drinks fueled me for the obstacle I was unaware I would be facing.And what seemed at the time as ugly, also was a valuable experience for me. I faced the challenge and will be stronger in many ways because of that. The challenge of completing a thru hike is comprised of many intermediate challenges that have to be experienced to be understood.