Date: 2016-06-29
From: Bennington, VT

To: Bennington, VT
Miles today: 0.0

Tuesday, June 14th we celebrated Sweeper's birthday by having breakfast at the Apple Pie Restaurant. An added bonus was a thru-hiker named Future Dad who we met the night before joining us. He has thru-hiked the PCT and is a very interesting and positive person, we like him lol. After breakfast we hiked out which meant almost immediately crossing over the Delaware River and entering New Jersey. Wednesday the heat really cranked up a notch and we shelter hopped for our snack and lunch breaks so that we had water and shade. Caboose accidentally dropped her toilet paper bag in to the privy hole which was gross but she did the right thing and got it out, not a great experience for her but funny for us. Before ending our day at High Point Shelter we went down to the nearby beach and Ginger Patch and I went swimming which was so refreshing. Ginger Patch hiked ahead of us that night to meet up with his cousin in NY. Thursday we took it easy and hiked in to Unionville, NY to resupply and enjoy some deli sandwiches before continuing on a few miles to Pochuck Mountain Shelter. We packed out some beers and had a great time hanging out with our new friends Big Foot, Look Out, Spidey, El Auto and Chili Pepper. Friday morning we walked on the long boardwalk near Glenwood, NJ which for me was best part of the state! That afternoon we entered New York and were immediately welcomed by a crazed and potentially rabid raccoon followed by a lot of ridge walking. Our treat for the day was having ice cream at Bellvale Farms Creamy which was delicious. Saturday we had a rough morning hike with a steep descent to the road crossing NY17 where Jane (North Star's amazing girlfriend, thank you so much to both of you) picked us up and drove us 30 minutes to their neck of the woods so that we could get lunch (pizza by the slice!!), resupply and do laundry. The challenge was then getting back on the trail that evening with our heavy packs and going up a mountain (usually the case out of town) with obstacles like the lemon squeeze and a rock wall. Sunday was exhausting and overwhelming with people everywhere celebrating Father's Day. We hiked up Bear Mountain and had lunch at the top, descended the mountain and passed by a lake full of families relaxing and cooking, went through a zoo where the bear cage is the lowest point on the entire AT and then crossed over the Hudson River before finally hiking the last few miles to the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center where we camped. Monday we made it to RPH Shelter just after lunch and spent a few hours resting during the afternoon heat. Then we continued on a few miles to camp near a deli/pizza place off of NY52, we had pizza for dinner and fantastic breakfast sandwiches the next morning. Tuesday we lucked out and were treated to several trail magic experiences, first at Wiley Shelter by a thru-hiker named Super Hip and then from several coolers on the way to Ten Mile River Shelter. While setting up our tents near a group of Jewish camp counselors we randomly heard someone say Ginger Patch and there he was, he'd only hiked 4 miles that day with their group lol. **Shout out to anyone who put water by the road crossings in NY, it's been very hot and the water sources aren't reliable so we really appreciated it.**Wednesday morning was a rough start after eating a bite of a Hostess powdered donut that was not only expired but growing mold, yes that's apparently possible. The day got much better when we entered Connecticut and on the way to Silver Hill Campsite went for an afternoon swim. Thursday was an intense morning trying to make it to Falls Village to meet up with Ginger Patch's friend Alyssa. While he is the only one that made it by noon the rest of us got there soon after and we spent the rest of the afternoon drinking beer and eating cookies (thanks Alyssa, you're awesome!). We camped next to the Toymakers Cafe that evening and when heading to the woods to find a place to pee a family invited me in to their home to use their restroom and ended up giving me dessert which I enjoyed while telling them about the trail. Friday we had another lazy day and after enjoying breakfast at the cafe hiked to Salisbury, CT for lunch and to resupply. You know you're in the North when tortillas are in the International food aisle haha. We ended the day with a steep descent in to Massachusetts hitting 1500 miles and camping at Sages Ravine Campsite. Saturday Mismatch caught up to us at the top of Mount Everett and we all continued on to Tom Leonard Shelter where we met Secret Agent, Garfield and Stitch. My first and accurate analysis of the terrain in MA is that the trail can't seem to make up it's mind, even when a climb is evident they some how make it go down before bringing you back up... Not fun. Sunday the goal was to get to Upper Goose Pond Cabin as quickly as possible. We made it just before 4pm and it was already packed with hikers. Fortunately we got the last spots in the bunkhouse and had plenty of sunlight left to swim and enjoy the great view! We left the cabin early on Monday even though the caretakers were going to make pancakes so that we could avoid hiking too long in the heat and have time to hang out in Dalton, MA. It was a great decision as the ice cream shop Sweet Pea's and restaurant Jacob's were both quite good and we got there just as it started to rain. Tuesday was my biggest day yet, we had a marathon day and hiked 26.2 miles from Crystal Mountain Campsite to Seth Warner Shelter. Five miles in to the day we went to a nearby Dunkin Donuts and fueled up on caffeine and sugar before starting the climb up Mt. Greylock (the highest peak in MA). The climb went on for what seemed like ages but we reached the top just in time for lunch. The afternoon dragged on until the very end of MA when it kicked us out with a steep and rocky climb and in to Vermont.Today, June 29th, is my birthday and all our high mileage days helped us get to Bennington, VT in time to celebrate! We went to a local brewery for lunch, picked up dropbox/bday packages from the post office (thank you so much Maria, Sweeper's wife and Caboose's Mom, for the surprise whoopie pies and Maine inspired gifts!!), had a power 26 minute session (when you take a one ounce shot of beer every minute), went swimming, showered and did laundry (for the first time in over a week) and ended the day with pizza and a very jostled, chocolate cake (thanks Mom!). It was a great day and I am so lucky and thankful to have such wonderful friends to celebrate with. Thanks Caboose, Sweeper, Ginger Patch, Mismatch and Spidey (who had to hitch 7 rides to join us) for making my 26th birthday awesome!