Date: 2006-08-01
From: Stewart Hollow Brook Lean-to

To: Belter's Campsite
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: few clouds

Not many miles, but again they were difficult. Got started about 7:15am, our usual time. After a couple of miles of easy walking along the Housatonic River, there was a steep climb of 700' up Silver Hill. Although it was early and relatively cool, we were all sweating buckets by the time we reached the summit. My hiking kilt was completely soaked and I was able to wring at least a cup of liquid out of my "wicking", hi-tech sleeveless t-shirt. Wicking just doesn't work in 90% humidity.There was another 700' climb before lunch with an intervening steep descent. One of the hikers said this is getting us ready for what's to come.After lunch we headed for Pine Swamp Branch Lean-to, where we planned to fill up on water and to have a rest. Cheesewhiz, Goldfish, and Mr. McGruff from the younger crowd passed us along the way. We were resting in the shelter with a mosquito coil burning to keep down the bugs. I doffed my pack and headed down to get 2 liters of water, having already drunk 3-1/2 today. As I was pumping, the storm, which had been threatening, grew closer and the sky darker. CheeseWhiz, who also got water, and I hustled to get back to the shelter before the rain started when we felt some random big raindrops. We were none too soon. While we were gone Teddy and her sister, Little Girl, had reached the shelter.It was quite a storm and all nine of us stayed dry. When it had ended at 4:30pm, we moved on. Veto suggested curtailing our hike at Sharon Mountain campsite, three miles short of our intended destination. He has lost his normal get-up-and-go and is complaining of a sore throat, making swallowing difficult. He thinks he might have strep throat; I think he might have Lyme. We plan to nero in Salisbury CN tomorrow and get him to a doctor to check this out.When we got to Sharon Hill, we found it dripping wet from the rain and mosquito-ridden. The three miles on to our intended camp at Belter's Campsite "looked" fairly easy on the profile. Moving on had the advantage of making time in the relative cool after the rain, rather than in the even higher temps of close to 100* predicted for tomorrow. We decided to go on, even though it meant we'd be getting in late.The profile lied. It was harder than it appeared, and we were all dripping wet with sweat when we arrived to set up camp just after 7:30pm. The campsite was in a grove of large pines, and the campground was cushioned with pine needles. We set up our tents and Veto his hammock. He was even more tired, so I offered to pump water for him if he let me use his rebuilt filter, which works much better than mine. By the time I was ready to cook, I needed my headlamp. I had mashed potatoes with gravy, and chomped on some jerky while it was cooking and cooling. I had to Deet-up while dinner cooled a bit, as the mosquitoes were really getting ferocious. I finally finished eating and cleaning up about 9:15pm, which is why I'm doing this journal a day late from Salisbury. Had hoped to get a sponge bath, but settled for a wipe down with baby wipes. Then it was down for a sound sleep, not waking until 5:30am.On! On!