Date: 2015-06-25
From: Cornwall Bridge, CT

To: Brassie Brook Shelter
Miles today: 26.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Thank you to my mother-in-law and husband for the zero day in CT! It was a wonderful stay and I had a chance to re-gear and resupply.So today I started out with new shoes, socks and pack! The pocket zippers on my Osprey Aura pack started tearing in early May. It was getting difficult to zip the pockets so I emailed Osprey in late May about how to fix the zippers. They responded they could fix them and then decided to replace my pack altogether since I was thru hiking. So they shipped it to my mother-in-law's so I could swap packs. But for the hundred mosquito bites, bedraggled clothes and straggly hair (I actually cut my bangs crookedly with a Swiss Army knife scissors a month ago!), people may not think I look like I hiked 1478 miles when they see my new pack.Andreas and I started hiking from CT 4. Fortunately we did not have to ford Guinea Brook since the water level must have dropped enough to cross over some rocks. Andreas took off and I hiked a leisurely pace since I did not have a schedule to meet and did not have to out hike weather. I met a section hiker Gas who was carrying a chair on his pack and whose name I recognized from Trail Journals. This is his 11th year and he expects to finish the AT in a couple years. We chatted till I lost him as I powered up the next climb. I then got passed by Beowulf whom I had heard of but not yet met. I made it to the shelter and saw Prime and Beowulf there. After a snack I took off again. I met two southbound section hikers who were taking a poll on favorite states. I don't really have one but said NJ was surprisingly more enjoyable than expected mostly because I think people do not associate NJ with the AT as much as other states ... But maybe the best chance to see a bear. They said several hikers had mentioned NJ. At 2 pm, I ate lunch at Belters View which wasn't much of a view but had a good sitting rock. I then descended to US 7 where the dreaded detour started since the Iron bridge was closed. 0.9 miles on US 7 with traffic whizzing by as you walk along a narrow shoulder. I passed Lime Rock Park, a Motorsports road course.Then 2.2 miles on Darby Road. Fully resupplied, I felt the full heavy weight of my pack on my feet walking on asphalt. My feet were throbbing so I took a quick break at a picnic table near the end of the detour. Prime was there and Loon was asleep on the grass. Finally I moved on but not far since I decided to quickly soak my feet in the Housatonic River water fall. It was super slippery so I only soaked my feet. Feeling a little better, I moved on. I hiked the few miles passing Beowulf in a field with a view and Prime setting up camp. I arrived in Salisbury around 7. I hiked up the mountain passing the 1500 mile mark. I had 4.2 miles to Brassie Brook Shelter where Andreas was camped. We had planned on camping at the first shelter but the second one was only 1.2 further which is a lot at the end of a long day. New gear has its issues and my pack adjustments weren't quite perfect and I could feel hot spots on my feet. I passed Loon who had set up camp and a campfire. At Lions Head View I had 2 miles to go. So I hurried off trying to beat the dark. The last mile it was dark but I kept going not wanting to waste time getting my headlamp. Somehow I navigated over rocks, muddy trail and stream crossings barely able to see. Not my smartest move but I made it, and even miraculously found Andreas' tent amongst the numerous tents set up. It was hard to fall asleep because my feet throbbed so much!