Date: 2010-07-30
From: Schagiticoke

To: Stewart Hollow
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: broken clouds

Day 11 - Fri July 30Schaghticoke Campsite. we don't get out of camp until 11:00 because we are cooking a big breakfast for everyone at the shelter. There is a wonderful sense of community out on the trail. Because of the stress - people start to share. They know that someday they will be out of water, short on food, or in some way need assistance. I suppose in larger terms there is really only one trail and we are all on it. When we depart Genevieve and I each have only a cup of water. That is because we had to pack the water up the mountain. But no worries there is a small stream in about 3 miles. We are using a Katadyn Pro Hiker water filter. We get water from small streams. We are headed to Stony Brook campsite along the Housatonic River. Genevieve has inserted a zero day so I can fish. The first part of this 9.5 mile hike has some climbs but the last 3 miles is a flat hike along the river trail. It turns out to be much more difficult than planned and everyone is going very slow. We can't tell from the maps or guidebooks but there is a very treacherous section - St Johns Ledges. It is a near vertical 300 foot downslope with 3-6 foot square bolders. A slip could mean a serious injury or worse. Genevieve and I touch base by cell phone at 6:00 per our standard procedure and she gives me a heads up. She has already made it down and is on the flat. Wood Rangler and Soulpatch and Fuzzy pass me up after their diversion into Kent for supplies. I don't reach the Ledges until just before dark. Soulpatch has already made it down but dropped his pack at the bottom and climbed back up to wait for me. Looking out for the old guy. I get to the bottom at 8:05 just before sunset at 8:15. Soulpatch beats it for camp since I was safely down. It is now completely pitch black dark so I break out my flashlight. It is a super high powered micro flashlight but starting to go low on batteries but I havw spares. It decides that the only mode it it will stay in is the "strobe" mode. I feel like I am in a Blair Witch project movie. I walk and walk and walk and walk seems like the trail will never end. Genevieve meets me halfway with Soulpatch and they guide me to camp. We arrive at 10:30. I am exhausted and feet killing me. I promise myself to do better planning on long hike days. The boys have brought supplies and 12 beers from Kent and before I get my tortuous boots off Soulpatch comes over to ask if I will cook. Of course I say yes. I brown 2# ground beef, make a gravy with a small amount of the 2# bag of flour they hauled up the mountain, and Genevieve makes two recipes of mashed potatoes. We have to use every little pot, pan and cup in camp to accomplish this but in the end we have a nice shephard's pie with beers. We get a case of the stupids and do an Indian dance around the campfire with pots and pans and empty water bottles for drums. Everybody decides to zero the next day. The thru-hikers are off their schedule but they like Genevieve's company and my cooking and I guess it pumps some energy into their trail. After 1400+ miles I suppose they are a little weary. Everyone sleeps well this night.