Date: 2013-07-31
From: Schaghticoke Mountain Campsite

To: Stealth camp above Dawn Hill Rd. 
Miles today: 13.0

I slept like a champ last night. It was so cool when I woke up that I put on my down jacket and knee socks. It's not August yet, but it feels like fall weather. I packed up and ate my breakfast in my tent. It's a no-no, but I did it anyway. I like being able to taunt the mosquitoes. The first couple of miles out of the campsite were awesome dirt path. And for a moment, I wished that I had pushed on last night. Then I got to a half-mile rock-strewn climb followed by an even steeper, rockier half-mile down. Yes, I had chosen wisely. Half-way up the hill Catnap caught up with me. He'd pushed on to the shelter. He said that he was glad I hadn't done the hike last night, because no doubt I would have hated it. I barely know this guy, but he's got me figured out on that front! We got down to the road and started walking towards Kent, CT. It didn't take long before a pick-up truck with a wooden bed and no tailgate pulled up. We hoped in the back, and the driver dropped us off at the outfitter. I never even got a good look at the guy's face. But he wished us good luck and waved out of the back window as he pulled away. We perused around the outfitter, and I asked about my boots, just in case. No sign of them. I ordered a grilled 3-cheese sandwich with garlic pesto and a frozen hot chocolate. Omigoodness. Heaven. Pure heaven. I said good-bye to Catnap and headed down Main Street towards the Laundromat. It was a beautiful little village, and I wished I had more time to explore it. I got to the laundromat, and immediately felt unwelcomed. I honestly think that if they could have banded hikers from their business, they would have. There were signs everywhere saying how poorly hikers in the past have behaved (I certainly don't doubt it), and that we must now suffer for their sins. I was the only hiker in there, and the manager talked smack about me and hikers to the only other patron in the building. The other patron smiled nervously and looked at me apologetically, not really wanting to take sides. Every question I asked the manager was met with an answer dripped with condescension. If I hadn't had my heart set on clean clothes, I would have left. As it was, I just wanted out of Kent as soon as possible. To heck with them. I got the clothes washed and had planned to go to the library to get my trail journal updated. But instead, walked to the grocery store to grab a sandwich for lunch, and then I wanted to get back on the trail as soon as possible. I was deciding between buffalo chicken and roast beef, when I heard my name called. It was Catnap. He hadn't managed to escape town either. I asked him if he wanted to have lunch at a caf©. He said yes. So we stopped at the Village Caf© and grabbed a table outside. I had gazpacho and a greek salad. Our quick lunch turned into a four hour repose. The servers were so friendly and hospitable. They gladly let us have our table and let us plug in our phones. The town filled with hikers, many of whom I thought were far, far ahead. In the end, Kent redeemed itself. I was glad I had stuck around. But it was 3:45, and I needed to get moving. I hiked back out of town. It was an easy hike, and then it was tough. Really tough. It took a turn down St. John's Ledge. It made the "Agony Grid" look more like the "Mild Discomfort Grid." A few times, I had to sit down and scoot down some pretty hairy rock ledges. As if accentual the point, at the bottom there were rock climbers strapped into climbing harnesses. Thank goodness for that four hour break and fresh legs! Fortunately, after that Connecticut found her composure again- she definitely had a mean streak! There was a long five mile, gloriously flat and smooth river walk. I had planned to stop at the shelter, but I'd gotten a message from my friend, Russ, inviting me to stay with him and his wife in Hartford the next night. So I needed to make it a few more miles to ensure I met them at a decent hour. So I pushed on. It got dark and I pulled out my headlamp. The batteries weren't too fresh, so my feet looked washed in a pale blue light. The rocks and roots were hard to make out, so I found myself tripping and stumbling along. The bugs were bad, so I tried to use my head net, but that only obscured my vision more. I got to the end of the river walk and hoped to find a flat spot to camp. Instead, I found sloping ground, rocks and a gravel road. Not good. I hoped to push to the Silver Hill Campsite, but as I started the climb up the hill, I got nervous. I didn't know what, terrain-wise lay ahead. So I found a flattish spot just off the trail. It wasn't ideal. The trees were thick overhead, making it all the darker. But it would have to do. I set up my tent, and crawled inside. I had a dinner of fig newtons and trail mix. I also got a message saying that my boots had shipped, and they should arrive tomorrow. In the town that I just left. Oh, Montrail.