Date: 2013-07-08
From: Undermountain Road, Salisbury, CT

To: Laurel Ridge Campsite
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today's miles for Miles: 8.5Total miles for Miles: 727.6------------------------------Today's miles for Side: 0Total miles for Side: 694.3------------------------------Today is Miles first full day with a full backpack since we had to leave the trail in the beginning of June. Side dropped her off at Undermountain Rd in Connecticut. Weather forecast is continued hot and humid with thunderstorms later. For the first two-thirds of the hike the mosquitoes were well behaved but they made up for it later.The trail was a slow climb up 1500 feet over six miles, steeper at the end climbing Bear Mountain. Only passed one hiker going the opposite direction up to that point. At the Bear Mountain rock observation point encountered four young ladies out hiking. They had questions about hiking the trail and we chatted for a while. One of the girls was painting a watercolor of the beautiful view. As Miles was leaving, a group of four young boys came along with their two YMCA counselors. One of the counselors was Smoke Bath who had hiked 700 miles on the trail a few years ago.The climb down Bear Mountain was steep and rocky. Crossed into Massachusetts shortly after. Passed Sage's Ravine. Kim and Bob took Bekki backpacking there when she was about eight.Planned to stop at Laurel Ridge campsite. Today is the first time on the trail using a hammock. Stopped by all the campsites and none had the right trees to hang the hammock. So found a place just off the trail, unfortunately on a hill which is a challenge in Crocs. Filtered water. The mosquitoes love to feast while your hands are all tied up. Some camp chores are easier done with a partner. Set up the hammock, washed up and changed into dry clothes. The hiking clothes were sopping wet so hung them on the clothesline (like they were going to dry). Pulled out some easy food to eat in the hammock because of the skeeters. Ah, the bearbag. That was always Side's job. Side had given me a lesson in the backyard before I left but I didn't have to hang one since they had bearproof metal containers for your food.Now about using the hammock. You need some sort of pad for warmth and to keep the mosquitoes from biting through the hammock. Mine doesn't cover the whole bottom of the hammock so have to try to keep it at an angle because you get better support and lay flatter in a hammock when you sleep a little askew. It is not easy to get in the hammock while keeping the pad in place and keeping your sleeping bag, liner and down jacket (used as a pillow) out of the way. I no sooner got settled in than it started raining so out to get the wet clothes off the line. Now where do they get stored for the night? Threw them on top of my backpack under the hammock. The backpack has a piece of Tyvek underneath which is tucked up into the pack cover to keep the pack dry. Boots are tied together and dangled over the hammock line under the rainfly. Hope they stay dry all night. Had connectivity and was able to call Side while laying in the hammock. Had a little water drizzling down from the hammock cord on one side. Great. Just as Miles ended the call, there was the first crack of thunder overhead. There were some good boomers and rain. Seems like everyday brings thunderstorms at one time or another. There were three other hikers camping here tonight. One was Wrong Way and didn't get the names of the other two. Miles really missed the company of her hiking partner today ... just not the same without him. Hoping he'll be back on the trail real soon.