High Tech's '10 Chunk Hike

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1403.9	N.Y. 9D (230')	230
1404.4	Camp Smith Trail to Anthony's Nose (700')	700
1405.4	Hemlock Springs Campsite (550')	550
1405.6	Manitou Road, South Mountain Pass (460')	460
1409	U.S. 9, N.Y. 403 (400') Peekskill, N.Y. 10566 Cold Spring, N.Y.	400
1409.2	Old Highland Turnpike?paved
1409.5	Graymoor Spiritual Life Center?Fran-ciscan Way (520')?blue blazes to ball-field	520
1409.6	Old Westpoint Road (550')	550
1411.5	Denning Hill (900')	900
1412.3	Old Albany Post Road?Chapman Road (607')	607
1414	Canopus Hill Road (420')	420
1415	South Highland Road (570')	570

Shenandoah Tenting Area
Day: 29-2010
Daily Mileage: ~11
Mileage: 1417.2

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1417.7	Dennytown Road (860')?water faucet on building	860
1419.3	Sunk Mine Road (800')	800
1421.4	N.Y. 301, Canopus Lake, Clarence Fahnestock State Park (920')	920
1425.6	Shenandoah Mountain (1,282')	1282
1426	Long Hill Road (1,100')	1100
1427.1	Shenandoah Tenting Area (900')	900

07/11/10 5:50 pm
My Location: N 41°30'44.93", W 73°48'19.46"
247 m
Map It

The hike today was long and uneventful...I mean very uneventful, only 2 good views and 2 deer and the rest of the day was just walk, walk, walk. Weather a bit cooler, but when the sun hits you, you know it.

There is a big party at the RPH Shelter a mile or so away, put on by the ALDHA, but the campsite here is good, the water out of a well, cold and clear, and I just don't feel like being around a large group of people.

Morgan Stewart Shelter
Day: 30-2010
Daily Mileage: 10.3
Mileage: 1427.5

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1428.4	Hortontown Road RPH Shelter (350')?32.8mS; 9mN	350
1428.7	Taconic State Parkway (650')? underpass	650
1431.9	Hosner Mountain Road (500')	500
1433.5	N.Y. 52 (800') Stormville, N.Y. 12582	800
1434.9	I-84 overpass; Stormville Mountain Road (950')	950
1437.3	Mt. Egbert (1,329')	1329
1437.4	Morgan Stewart Shelter(1,285')?9mS; 7.8mN	1285

07/12/10 8:15 pm

Didn't sleep the greatest last night...that and the tent was dripping with condensation on the inside of the rainfly, made for a very slow start to the day. Once I started, I got to RPH Shelter quick, but was greeted by cold drinks and the leftovers from the shin-dig over the weekend. Was told about a meeting that was going to be held there tonight (with the possibility of food once again). I felt the vortex trying to suck me in, and it almost won...but I decided to leave there at about 12:15pm, just as the heat of the day was getting going. But luck was with me, the trail was mostly shaded, a cool wind picked up, and it wasn't too terrible, but I did sweat quite a bit. Did get some nice views from the vistas for my efforts though. Didn't detour at NY52 to go to the deli, instead I kept hiking to the shelter. Got here, ate and set up camp because it looked as if it might rain. No rain yet but I think we will probably get some before the night is through.

On the medical front: my knees still hurt on down hills quite a bit. New blisters, to go with the new boots, are unusually painful when I drain them. Also, as I expected, I lost my toe nail on my left little toe (I stubbed it on the 2nd or 3rd day out and the nail turned black) but it didn't hurt at all because I let it fall off on it's own.

11:45pm

Think I heard a bear, then the rain started.....

Telephone Pioneers Shelter
Day: 31-2010
Daily Mileage: 7.8
Mileage: 1435.3

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1437.4	Morgan Stewart Shelter(1,285')?9mS; 7.8mN	1285
1438.5	Depot Hill Road (1,230')	1230
1440.4	Old Route 55 (750')	750
1440.7	N.Y. 55 (720') Poughquag, N.Y. 12570	720
1441.9	Nuclear Lake outlet (750')	750
1444.9	West Mountain (1,200')	1200
1445.2	Telephone Pioneers Shelter (910') ?7.8mS; 8.8mN	910

07/13/10 6:00 pm

Well, no one heard or saw a bear, it might have been two hikers coming in late to the shelter.

Woke up this morning to a few drops of rain, but packed up and left in good time. Hiking was relatively easy. Got to Nuclear Lake and took a long break and a swim. Lovely lake and good for so many jokes (3 eyed fish, will I glow in the dark, where are my super powers etc....). Hiked on to the shelter. My intent was to take a nap, hike to the 2nd road to the deli and then hike till I found a place to camp. But when I awoke from my nap is was raining and threatening to get worse, so I decided to stay here tonight, even though I am low on water and the source here is dry.

Ten Mile River Lean-To
Day: 32-2010
Daily Mileage: 12.7
Mileage: 1448.0

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1445.9	County Road 20, West Dover Road, Dover Oak (650') Pawling, N.Y. 12564	650
1448.3	N.Y. 22, Appalachian Trail Metro?North Train Platform (480')	480
1448.5	Hurds Corners Road (480')	480
1449.1	Pawling Nature Preserve (675')?trail register	675
1453.6	Leather Hill Road (750')?dirt	750
1454	Wiley Shelter (740')?8.8mS; 4mN	740
1454.2	Duell Hollow Road (620')	620
1455.2	New York?Connecticut State Line (400')Hoyt Road Wingdale, N.Y. 12594	400
1455.9	Conn. 55 (580') Gaylordsville, Conn. 06755	580
1457	Ten Mile Hill (1,000')	1000
1458	Ten Mile River Shelter (290')?4mS; 8.4mN	290

07/14/10 5:25 pm

Since I had no water (and once again not the best night's sleep), I got up fairly early, ate and packed up. The Deli at the 2nd road crossing was calling. Got there in good time, even with wet rocks and a steady drizzle. Got a steak egg and cheese sandwich which was excellent! Hiked on to Wiley Shelter were I bumped into some people I had already met, and some new ones (the bunch up this time...the all-star game - baseball). The pump there seems to be broken and the next shelter was 4 miles (I really had no intention of staying there anyway) so off I went. Came to a good water source shortly after (Although I still had a quart, I filled a 2nd). Then I CROSSED INTO CONNECTICUT! Thank G-d I am out of NY! The trail seems to be better so far (although steeper) and there is much more water about. Ten Mile Hill had OK views and the trip to the shelter was quick. I even took a "bath" in Ten Mile River (or was it the Housatonic) which felt great (the temp and humidity crept up after the rain stopped). Feet water logged, but feel ok and so does everything else. But the Hot, Hazy and Humid weather is back in force tomorrow according to the forecast. Hope I get a good night's sleep tonight.

Mt. Algo Shelter
Day: 33-2010
Daily Mileage: 8.4
Mileage: 1456.4

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1458	Ten Mile River Shelter (290')?4mS; 8.4mN	290
1458.2	Ten Mile River (280')?footbridge	280
1458.9	Bulls Bridge Road (450') Trail to Bulls Bridge Parking Area	450
1459.6	Schaghticoke Road (320')	320
1461.3	Schaghticoke Mountain (1,331')	1331
1462.5	Connecticut?New York State Line (1,250')	1250
1462.9	Indian Rocks (1,290')	1290
1463.5	Schaghticoke Mountain Campsite (950')	950
1465.4	Thayer Brook (900')	900
1466.4	Mt. Algo Shelter (655')?8.4mS; 7.3mN	655

07/15/10 4:40 pm

Woke up after a good night's sleep. Did my usual routine and was off. The walk along the Housatonic River was great, good overviews of the rapids. But once the trail started going up Schaghicoke Mnt the trail got much harder and I wore out quickly. I took a long break and a nap at Schaghicoke Mnt Campsite and then continued on to here. Got here at around 1:30pm but was bushed. Set up camp, took a "bath" and then took another nap. Awoke not too long ago (long nap) but still don't have a lot of pep...maybe the trail is catching up to me. Tomorrow I have a short hike to Kent and hope to spend the day washing clothes, relaxing, getting some REAL FOOD and doing more relaxing, maybe that will put the pep back into me.

Kent, CT
Day: 33-2010
Daily Mileage: 0.3
Mileage: 1456.7

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1466.4	Mt. Algo Shelter (655')?8.4mS; 7.3mN	655
1466.7	Conn. 341, Schaghticoke Road (350') Kent, Conn. 06757	350

07/16/10 10:10 am

Note: this entry is quite detailed because I realized I have never written down exactly what happens when a hiker reaches a town..so I recorded everything I did for that reason.

Boy what a big day....a whole 0.3 miles, but it isn't a zero day, but I need the break. My 2nd smallest toe on my left foot is raw, it looks like the whole toe was a blister that popped, so it hurts bad. On top of that my cloths stink from being wet all day (from rain and SWEAT), and I just need a day in town!

As stated in the Thru Hikers Handbook, the church let me set up my tent, so I don't have to stay at an expensive B&B. There were no showers able but I was able to wash up in the bathroom. Now in The Village Dinner waiting for breakfast, then off to do laundry.

10:50

Breakfast was great. I got the "one, two three breakfast". That's one piece of french toast, two pancakes and three eggs with bacon. Now at the laundromat doing my skanky cloths. It will feel great having clean, dry cloths again! There is also a very convenient plug to recharge my cell phone while I wait.

12:57pm

After the cloths were done, I did some food shopping (I screwed up on my next mail drop, so I am short on food) and then went back to the tent and repackaged everything. I set the tent in the sun to dry, but boy was it Hot (thermometer read 100 in the sun). Got a drink at the Gas Station, now in the shade drinking and writing this.

2:04pm

Then it was off the pharmacy for some supplies then to the outfitters for stove fuel. I also found some enzyme stuff said to get the stench out of anything, so I got it and tried it on my backpack pads. We'll see how it works. Then off to the Kent Pizza Garden Pasta & Grill for a mushroom swiss burger and a Long Trail Ale (any beer with that has to be good....I had to try it).

The more I do in this town the more I like it. Everything is so close; just wish I could get a real shower here without getting a $100 room. Maybe someone in Kent will read this and make a place for hikers to shower...hint hint.

Please note: somehow my journal got wiped from my cell phone AND my server, so the entries from here till my entry for July 19 is a reconstruction.

After lunch I used the library's computer / internet for a bit (more for the A/C than anything else. Then just hung out around town. Bumped into Cheeseburger and Rainbow and told them about the church. After they checked in, the sky started to turn dark. Me and another hiker headed off to the Shanghai Restaurant for dinner and bumped into another hiker who was staying at the Fife & Drum. The three of us had dinner as the rain started to fall. He offered the use of his shower, which I of course accepted. It was nice being clean, at least for a short time. The rain stopped and we headed back to the Church. I hoped for some ice cream, but Kent rolls up the sidewalk around 10pm so I just went to bed.

Woke up to a very wet tent. Went to The Villager Restaurant for breakfast once more. Had the French Toast this time. Went back and started to pack up, and put my tent in the sun to dry. By the time I got out of there it was about 10am.

Stewart Hollow Brook Lean-to
Day: 35-2010
Daily Mileage: 7.0
Mileage: 1463.7

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1469.5	Skiff Mountain Road (850')	850
1470.2	Caleb's Peak (1,160')	1160
1470.9	St. Johns Ledges (900')	900
1471.4	River Road (480')	480
1473.7	Stewart Hollow Brook Shelter (400') ?7.3mS; 10mN	400

07/17/10

Today I actually had fun. The hike out of Kent along the road was not too hot, nor the field walk that followed. The uphill was not too bad and then I hit St. John's Ledges. I took a long break at the top, where there was an overview, then I started the, very steep decent, mostly on rocks. I must be a masochist or something, because I ENJOYED this part of the hike. It was hard, don't get me wrong, but it was also fun. Then I hit the long flat road walk along the Housatonic River. At first I could not see it and the no-see-ums were terrible (10-20 per swat), but finally the river appeared (although the flies did not disappear). Got to camp fairly early, set up, cleaned up in the river and took a good long nap. When I awoke, who was there but Bearclaw AND Blueberry. Blueberry got off the trail at Glenwood NJ due to illness and her husband (Bearclaw) was slackpacking until she got better. I was glad to see she was well and back on the trail again!

Was woken up by quite a lightshow. A pretty good thunderstorm rolled in. Got the tent pretty well soaked on the outside, but was dry inside. But I ended up having to packet it wet the next morning.

Silver Hill Campsite
Day: 36-2010
Daily Mileage: 3.2
Mileage: 1466.9

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1474.1	Stony Brook Campsite (440')	440
1476.1	River Road (460')?spring	460
1476.9	Silver Hill Campsite (1,000')	1000

07/18/10

Got here around lunch and took a break at the trail intersection for lunch. Since my book said it had a vista, I thought I would go check it out before hiking on. No vista, but it was THE NICEST campsite I have seen: picnic shelter, tables, a water pump, privy and a PORCH SWING. It also has a sunny area perfect for drying my soaked tent. So I got my backpack and put my tent out to dry. My intent was to pack up in a few hours and move on, but my "Inner Voice" said "I'm done for the day". Was joined by a ridge runner with a sore ankle then by 3 thru hikers while I was taking a nap.

Please note: this ends the "reconstructed" part of the journal.

Pine Swamp Brook Lean-to
Day: 37-2010
Daily Mileage: 6.8
Mileage: 1473.7

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1476.9	Silver Hill Campsite (1,000')	1000
1477.8	Conn. 4 (700') Cornwall Bridge, Conn. 06754	700
1477.9	Guinea Brook (650')?road bypass in high-water	650
1478	Old Sharon Road (750')	750
1479.2	Hatch Brook (880')	880
1479.9	Pine Knob Loop Trail (1,150')?to Housatonic Meadows State Park	1150
1480.3	Caesar Road, Caesar Brook Campsite (760')	760
1482.5	Carse Brook (810')	810
1482.6	West Cornwall Road (800')West Cornwall, Conn. 06796 Sharon, Conn. 06069	800
1483.7	Pine Swamp Brook Shelter (1,075') ?10mS; 11.9mN	1075

07/19/10 3:20 pm

Woke up early this morning due to being cold (wow...that was actually a good feeling). Since the others got going early, I got going early for me. The hiking was hard, but the slightly lower temperatures, overcast skies and a few rain drops kept me going. Took a break at Caesar Brook Campsite and then decided to go on to here (no water at campsite, some at Pine Swamp Lean-to). Since I figure my maildrop still isn't at Salisbury yet...my fault for not calling my mail drop person sooner, I guess I sill spend the night here since we are supposed to get thunderstorms latter. Now just relaxing in the shelter after retrieving the backup on this log file and reconstructing the lost entries. Not sure what happened, but my guess is I somehow deleted all the text from the file, then uploaded the blank file to the server. Luckily I only lost 2+1/2 days of entries!

Oh crap literally and figuratively. Not sure, but just had a bought of explosive diarhrea after dinner. Hope it was the dried beef and not a waterborne illness!

Limestone Spring Lean-to
Day: 38-2010
Daily Mileage: 12.3+
Mileage: 1486.0

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1484.6	Mt. Easter Road (1,150')	1150
1484.9	Mt. Easter (1,350')	1350
1486.1	Sharon Mountain Campsite (1,200')	1200
1486.9	Hang Glider View (1,150')	1150
1488.9	Belter's Campsite (770')	770
1489.3	U.S. 7, Conn. 112 (520')	520
1489.9	U.S. 7, Warren Turnpike, Housatonic River Bridge (500')	500
1490	Mohawk Trail Junction (500')	500
1491.8	Water Street, Hydroelectric Plant (530') Falls Village, Conn. 06031	530
1491.9	Iron Bridge (510')...Housatonic River, picnic area	510
1492.5	Housatonic River Road (650')?Great Falls	650
1493	Spring (750')	750
1494.4	Prospect Mountain (1,475')	1475
1495.1	Limestone Spring Shelter (980')?11.9mS; 8mN	980

07/20/10 8:01 pm

Woke up fairly early and felt good with no sign of whatever hit me last night. With the way the campsites were, I was able to pack quickly without disturbing anyone else. Last night the campsite proved it was near a swamp, it was buggy as hell. Thank G-d I got the tent and didn't go with just a tarp!

Left just after Tank, so we ended up hiking together. He just got on the trail where he finished last year (ran out of time) so his pace and plan matched quite well with mine.

At US7 the AT was detoured due to bridge construction. It even had an "Appalachian Trail Detour" sign in typical black and orange colors for road construction, and white blazes on orange signs. I just found it funny - I just imagined all the parents trying to look up an orange sign with a white rectangle in their teenager's drivers ed book. This added about a mile to today's hike.

Still saw, but didn't cross, the iron bridge. The Falls after it were fantastic. It must be one of the biggest waterfalls on the AT.

Hike all day was nice, and only a little hot. That is until the trail to the camp. It did have some interesting limestone formations, but it was almost straight down hill. I do not look forward to the hike back up it tomorrow. I must say that the spring here is one of the best I have seen on the AT, almost as good as Ice Water Spring in the Smokies.

Will go into Salisbury, CT tomorrow, hope my mail drop is there.

Vanessa's B&B in Salisbury, CT
Day: 39-2010
Daily Mileage: 4.4
Mileage: 1489.4

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1495.2	Rand's View (1,250')	1250
1495.7	Giant's Thumb (1,220')?rock formation	1220
1496	Billy's View (1,150')	1150
1498.5	U.S. 44 (700')Salisbury, Conn. 06088 Lakeville, Conn.	700

07/21/10 4:15 pm

Hike out of camp wasn't as bad as I had feared and the hike into town was fairly easy. Tank and I kept a good pace the whole way, with encouragement from the horse flies which harassed me all the way to town. Staying at Vanessa's B&B in town, a 200+ year old house. Actually the whole town is lovely, the court house, library, everything. Mail drop ended up being here 2 days ago, so no problem. As usual a shower and laundry are always nice. Now just kicking back waiting to order pizza for dinner. Along with myself and Tank, Bulldog, a blind thu-hiker is also staying here. Very interesting to get his perspective on the trail.

'10 Hike Map