Date: 2015-07-25
From: Pine Swamp Brook Shelter

To: Stealth Camping North of the Missing Bridge 
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: light rain

I got up and on the trail early in the hopes to beat the heat and humidity, and to get in lots of miles.Initially the weather and trail were both beautiful. The AT was up on a ridge line, and the tread was fairly smooth. I was making good time and really enjoying the hike - except for the buzzing noise. It was coming from somewhere down in the valley and was quite loud. It was so loud I felt sorry for the poor animals who lived in the woods.Finally there was a break in the trees and I could see down into the valley. The buzzing noise was caused by cars going around the Lime Rock race track near Falls Village, CT. I could see part of the track, grassy areas with tents and spectators sitting on the lawn, and cars going around the track. The mountains curved around the track. The sound reverberated in the valley, making the track sound like a giant beehive the entire morning as I hiked up on the ridgeline. The AT crosses US 7/CT 112, and that is where my day took a huge turn. There was a notice informing hikers of an AT detour due to bridge work. I would now be doing a considerable road walk and walking extra miles! Fortunately there were plenty of signs clearly marking the detour. But it still did not make walking on the road pleasant or safe. It was hot, humid, and dusty. The hard pavement was also rough on my left foot.I had no choice, so I trudged along the road, facing traffic and carefully watching for the AT detour blazes - white blazes with an orange backing.I soon realized that I was passing the very same race track that I had listened to all morning. One of the guards at one of the gates apparently took pity on me and asked if I wanted to come in and walk inside the grounds to avoid the traffic along the road. I thanked him, but explained that I needed to follow the blazes and the trail. I also asked if there were cold drinks and ice cream for sale.He was very kind and escorted me to the concessions area. I did not want to over stay my welcome, so I quickly purchased 2 footlong hotdogs with sauerkraut, a diet coke, and ice cream - for a whopping $21.00, and finished them off as quickly as I could.I am not a racing fan. (My husband was once given tickets to Daytona, and I was SO thankful I did not have to go with him.) A very nice man and his son sat with me for a while at a picnic table and explained what was going on. The cars were regular street cars, but with tweeked engines.I was still eatting when an older guy came by my table. He started out by saying "So you guys are hiking the trail?" I looked around. It was just me and my pack at the picnic table. I said excuse me, and he repeated it. Again, I looked around trying to figure out why he was addressing more than just me. (Then I realized he had obviously been drinking and probably was seeing double.)p>I tried to be polite and said yes, I was thru hiking the AT. He seemed very surprised that a woman my age was hiking alone. He proceeded to tell me he had not thru hiked, but had hiked a small section, and then he started to tell me how to hike the AT! I am not sure why the guy approached me or thought I wanted advice from a drunk guy who never thru hiked the AT, but I was not interested. At this point, I have hiked several hundred miles. Everyday I seem to learn something new. So I do not profess to know everything about hI king the AT. But I am getting more than a little tired of older guys who admit they have never done this trying to give me advice.The guy could tell I was trying to cut him off. I did not want to cause any trouble, so I simply told the guy I needed to finish up my meal and get back through the gate. But the next time this happens I plan to ask whether the older guys also approach middle aged guys and give them advice about hiking the AT. Bet not!I left the track and hiked past a beautiful church and very old cemetery.   The church had a trail journal for hikers to sign out by the road and seemed to be hiker friendly.   They were also having a photography show, and I desperately needed to charge my phone. I was allowed to charge my phone while I enjoyed the photography show and talking with the folks in charge.I went further on the road and into Falls Village, past many well kept homes. As I finally got close to the end of the detour I saw a home with a big tent in the front yard with lots of tables and chairs under the tent. Next to the road was a little wagon with a sign for hikers to help themselves to the water and cucumbers (not sure exactly what they had in mind concerning the cucumbers), which were also in the wagon. I stopped for the water. So did another hiker, a southbounder. I started to see a few southbounder recently. Northbounders and southbounders exchange information about what to expect up ahead - such as whether water is available, good places to eat or stay, and places to avoid.The folks who live in the house explained that the tent, tables, and chairs were for a birthday party about to start, and they invited us to join them for some of the food. They did not have to ask us twice. I thanked them profusely, but warned them that we were very stinky hikers and they may not want us at their party. They said they did not care. I figured I gave them fair warning, now it was time to eat!We enjoyed fresh fruit, nuts, cookies, crackers, cheese, and tea. I also enjoyed talking with the southbounder about what was coming as I headed north.I did not want to over stay my welcome and it was getting late in the day, so I moved on. The detour ended just down the road. A bridge, the Iron Mountain Bridge, was completely gone, which was the reason for the long detour.The AT finally returned to the woods. The trail offered nice views of the falls for which Falls Village was apparently named. I stopped briefly to take a few pictures, then moved on. Once well back in the woods I found a lovely flat spot just off the trail to pitch my tent. It was getting late, I was tired, and a storm was coming. The Limestone Shelter was just 2 miles further, but it was 1/2 mile off the AT. I already hiked enough extra miles for the day. So I stopped for the night.At about 9:30 p.m. I heard some branches breaking. A storm was coming, so initially I was not concerned. But then I realized that the sound had a rhythm to it and it was getting closer. Then I noticed the accompanying thud sound, and a weird labored breathing sound I did not recognize. (No, it was not me.)I quickly realized it was some rather large animal running in the dark through the woods, and it sounded like it was running right towards my tent. Most likely it was a deer. Many folks, including me to a certain degree, think of their tent as a safe little cocoon, where once they get in nothing can get them. Obviously that is not true. Anything that really wants in can chew, bite, or claw their way through the thin material. So basically the tent, at best, keeps out rain and bugs, but little else. We just do not want to think about it. Obviously if we did, no one would sleep at night.Under the circumstances I decided my best course of action was to blow my whistle in the hopes that whatever seemed to be charging in the dark towards my little tent would change its course. I let out two quick but very loud blasts. It worked. Whatever was charging towards my tent changed course and headed off in another direction.The AT is calling. I will answer the call in the morning, provided I can get the adrenaline rush under control and get some sleep tonight.