Date: 2018-06-24
From: RalphÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Peak HikersÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ (RHP) Cabin 

To: West Dover Road - Pawling
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: clear sky

The terrain and landscape today was much like yesterday. When I departed the RPH Shelter at 0700, the air was soupy thick. The trail crossed over a footbridge, worked its way through a swampy area and then under the Taconic State Parkway. From there the trail began a steady rise up Hosner Mountain, crossing through more blowdown along the way. In this section some very large trees were snapped in half, indicating that perhaps a twister had hit here.I stopped at the top of the climb to stretch and to call my sweet Which Way. While we chatted, Quesadilla and Overdrive hiked by. A minute later came Steamboat. Rarely do hikers actually walk together for more than a few minutes during the day. However, shelters and other waypoints bring us together throughout and at the end of the day.  Coming down the mountain I ran into a man walking up with an ax and a tree saw. He introduced himself as Elvis the 4,000 miler, saying he had hiked the AT twice in the 1970s. He was responsible for maintaining a section of the trail. I must say that he is doing a great job, as the AT was well manicured all the way down to the next road crossing. More ups and downs and road crossings dominated the next several miles. I hiked over Stormville Mountain, crossed over I-84 and then climbed Egbert Mountain. A shelter is located along the ridge of Egbert. I stopped there for a quick lunch and to refill my water from a pump well. The water was cold, but it tasted of metal. In the last 5 miles of the hike the trail took me around Nuclear Lake where I saw a swimmer and a woman on a paddle board. I also spotted my daily deer close to the lake. It started to rain just as the trail turned away from the lake to go up West Mountain. As is usually the case, I had picked up the pace after lunch. When the rain started, I kicked it into overdrive. Three miles (and a couple of wipeouts on slick rocks) later and I was crossing West Dover Road. This is where the Dover Oak stood mighty and tall. It is the largest tree on the AT and is estimated to be over 300 years old. Steamboat was already at the road when I arrived. He was heading into the town of Pawling, NY to catch a train to New York City, where he would meet a friend. He said that Quesadilla and Overdrive were on their way down to the road too. They were also looking for a ride to Pawling, where they could take a train to the city. I was headed into Pawling for the night, so I called the Pawling Cab Company to request a lift for the four of us. The rain was coming down hard now and we were taking cover under the big oak. The water was puddling up on the road and the girls jumped in it and started rinsing the dirt off their legs and arms. I bet the two of them would have never imagined 3 months ago that they would be taking a bath in the middle of a highway. The taxi arrived about 20 minutes later and we all piled in and headed to town. The driver dropped us all off at the train station. Steamboat and the girls walked up to the platform to catch the next train to NYC. Never mind that they were smelly and drenched. The Station Inn was across the street from the train depot. That is where I was staying for the night. I got to my room, took a shower (aahh) and cleaned up my gear. The train tracks run right down the middle of the cute little town of Pawling. On the other side of the tracks from the Station Inn several eateries and other businesses lined the street. My first stop was the laundry mat. As I was finishing up there, Epic came around the corner drenched from a second storm that just came through. He said he was going to do some laundry and head about a mile down the road to sleep at the town pavilion. I told him he could get a shower at my room and that there was plenty of room on the floor if he wanted to sleep there. His eyes lit up as he replied with a resounding ¢Yes!¢. After getting Epic settled I went to find a place to eat. The hot wings appetizer was showing up just as Epic showed up. He was dry and refreshed from the shower. He owns a combatives school in the Seattle area. They teach Brazilian Jujitsu and other self defense skills. His clientele ranges from after school programs to Special Forces Soldiers. It was nice to have an opportunity to get to know him a little better.Back at the room, Epic dialed up a movie on his Amazon Prime Account. I fell asleep in the opening minutes. A perfect ending to another good day on the AT. Counting down the days and miles until WW is at my side again.Peace & Blessings - Next StepElevation Data: Ascent - 3,370Descent - 3,140Grade - 7.0Weather:Day - 77 / AM Clouds PM RainNight - 59 / ThunderstormsOver the Horizon: Salisbury, CT (Rendezvous With Which Way)