Well I didn't make it to Telephone Pioneers Shelter like I planned. It rain most of the day on Sunday the 22nd so I slept on the porch of the railway station before heading out on Monday.
I did 11 miles on Monday and passed Nuclear Lake ( I wanted to get some water from the nuclear lake but didn't) and stayed at Morgan Steward Shelter that night.
Tuesday I did 9 miles to RPH Shelter, it was probably one of the nicest shelters I've stayed in. It's made of cinder block and was a converted cabin. It was up high along a ridge. I stopped at the Mtn Top Deli to get a sandwich and pizza today. There's a no-hitchhiking law in New York and New Jersey so it's hard to get into towns along the trail to resupply so I'm having to eat at these little stores. They are more frequent in this stretch of the trail, probably because they know they have a captive audience.
Wednesday I did 19 miles Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, it's run by Franciscan friers. It's a homeless shelter. They had a soccer field and a pavillion there so we slept in the pavillion and tried to order a pizza from Dominos over the internet from one of the hiker's phones, but they couldn't find us, so we had to order from Papa Johns who after about an hour of driving around were able to locate us. It's been cold and overcast the last few days.
On Thursday I did 15 miles from Graymoor to William Brien Shelter plus a 7 mile round tripper into Ft Montgomery, NY to get some supplies. I crossed the Hudson River on Bear Mtn bridge and finally got to see my first bear and mountain lion...... in the Bear Mtn Zoo. The trail actually passed right thru the zoo. We got some strange looks and families kept their kids close when we passed by, I think they thought we were homeless people. The New York people aren't very friendly like the northern states. I also got to cross a 4 lane highway on a dead sprint. I think I had heat exhaution that day as I fell asleep around 7 PM and slept till 6 AM.
Friday was HOT, the trail was terrible, not well maintained, rocky and hard to follow. I could have easily gotten off the trail. I did 18 miles and finally got to Fritzgerald Falls around 10PM and decided to sleep under the stars.
It's Satuday the 28th of August and I'm in New Jersey eating a quart of ice cream and a couple hot dogs. I'll probably go to Wawayanda Shelter at mile maker 826 and stay there tonight, that'll be 14 miles for the day. I've sent some more pictures to my email, hopefully Mom and Dad will get them posted soon.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Massachusett to Conneticut to New York
Saturday August 14th and I left Dalton, Mass. I did 12 miles today to the October Mtn lean to. Not much excitement today, but I did get to pick and eat some wil blueberrys onWashington Mtn Rd.
Sunday, August 15th, I took it easy today and did 10 miles to Upper Goose Pond Cabin. It has a bunk house and the caretaker made pancakes for us. These spots where I can get a nornal meal are always great, I really appreciate them. It was nice sleeping in a bunk house to.
Monday I did 16 miles to Mt Wilcox South Lean 2.
Tuesday August 17th was an interesting day. I met probably the most interesting person on the trail. We were sitting in a McDonalds in Great Berrington, Mass. and a retired NYC policeman came up to us and asked if we were hikers on the ATC. He said he had a cabin a few miles up the road and offered to cook us dinner and take a shower. We had chicken, salad and mash potatoes for dinner. He had some crazy stories about being a cop in NYC, plus he had a moving business and somehow he knew John Lennon and Yoko Ono. I guess Mark Davis Chapman had even come up to him the day he shot Lennon to ask if John Lennon lived in the building (Dakota). I guess he knew John and Yoko pretty well, maybe from doing off hour security for them or from his moving business. He gave us his card and said if we ever get into any trouble to call him, he knows people at the FBI.
On Wednesday morning he took us back to the trail at Great Berrington, Mass and we hiked along the Housatonic River and past Shey's Rebellion Monument. We had a tough time finding good drinking water in this stretch. We did about 18 miles to to Brassie Brook Lean to. We passed over Mt Everett, Race Mtn and Bear Mtn. Bear Mtn probably had the best view, with small hemlocks and elm forests surronding us.
On Thursday we did 19 miles to Sharon Mtn campsite. The terrain is gratual climbs, flat with switchbacks. The people we met in Conneticut are friendly. I met 2 more people on the trail in Salsbury, CT... Flora and Fauna, two women from Georgia.
Friday I did 20 miles from Sharon Mtn campsite to MT Algo Lean to and hiked along the Housatonic River. We passed a hydroelectric plant at Falls Village. The day was hot. We also went up St John Ledges, about 1000 foot climb from Hoover Rd.
Saturday August 21, we hiked from Mt Algo Lean to up Schaghticoke Mt, across the NY border, past Ten Mile River to the top of Ten Mile Hill. It was a step climb of 700 feet in 1 mile to the top of Ten Mile Hill and I stayed at Wiley Shelter.
Sunday 8/22, we hiked a 5 miles to the Appalachian Trail Railroad Station which is about 2 miles from Pawling, NY. I probably do another 3 miles and stay at the Telephone Pioneers Shelter tonight. It's been 2 months today since I started and I will have covered 743 miles of the 2175 mile hike.
Sunday, August 15th, I took it easy today and did 10 miles to Upper Goose Pond Cabin. It has a bunk house and the caretaker made pancakes for us. These spots where I can get a nornal meal are always great, I really appreciate them. It was nice sleeping in a bunk house to.
Monday I did 16 miles to Mt Wilcox South Lean 2.
Tuesday August 17th was an interesting day. I met probably the most interesting person on the trail. We were sitting in a McDonalds in Great Berrington, Mass. and a retired NYC policeman came up to us and asked if we were hikers on the ATC. He said he had a cabin a few miles up the road and offered to cook us dinner and take a shower. We had chicken, salad and mash potatoes for dinner. He had some crazy stories about being a cop in NYC, plus he had a moving business and somehow he knew John Lennon and Yoko Ono. I guess Mark Davis Chapman had even come up to him the day he shot Lennon to ask if John Lennon lived in the building (Dakota). I guess he knew John and Yoko pretty well, maybe from doing off hour security for them or from his moving business. He gave us his card and said if we ever get into any trouble to call him, he knows people at the FBI.
On Wednesday morning he took us back to the trail at Great Berrington, Mass and we hiked along the Housatonic River and past Shey's Rebellion Monument. We had a tough time finding good drinking water in this stretch. We did about 18 miles to to Brassie Brook Lean to. We passed over Mt Everett, Race Mtn and Bear Mtn. Bear Mtn probably had the best view, with small hemlocks and elm forests surronding us.
On Thursday we did 19 miles to Sharon Mtn campsite. The terrain is gratual climbs, flat with switchbacks. The people we met in Conneticut are friendly. I met 2 more people on the trail in Salsbury, CT... Flora and Fauna, two women from Georgia.
Friday I did 20 miles from Sharon Mtn campsite to MT Algo Lean to and hiked along the Housatonic River. We passed a hydroelectric plant at Falls Village. The day was hot. We also went up St John Ledges, about 1000 foot climb from Hoover Rd.
Saturday August 21, we hiked from Mt Algo Lean to up Schaghticoke Mt, across the NY border, past Ten Mile River to the top of Ten Mile Hill. It was a step climb of 700 feet in 1 mile to the top of Ten Mile Hill and I stayed at Wiley Shelter.
Sunday 8/22, we hiked a 5 miles to the Appalachian Trail Railroad Station which is about 2 miles from Pawling, NY. I probably do another 3 miles and stay at the Telephone Pioneers Shelter tonight. It's been 2 months today since I started and I will have covered 743 miles of the 2175 mile hike.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Into Massachusetts
It's Saturday morning August 14th and I've arrived at Dalton, Mass, about 619 miles from my start at Katahdin Mt. in Maine. My friend "Butter" who I hiked with during earlier stages of the trail has recovered from his giardia infection and has rejoined me on the trail. He will hike with me for another 9 days or so, until he has to leave to go back to school.
The last four days or so has been somewhat uneventful, my friend from high school, Austin, joined me for a few days until we reached the Massachusetts board and then he took a bus back to Manchester.
Yesterday I did about 20 miles from Wilbur Clearing Lean-to into Dalton and went over Greylock Mt. the tallest mountain in Massachusetts.
Thursday I did about 17 miles and crossed from Vermont into Massachusetts.
Wednesday we hiked 6 miles into Bennington and Austin and I just hung out.
On Tuesday, Austin and I did about 18 miles and went over Glastenbury Mountain. I took a picture of a fire tower.
On Monday we left Manchester Center and did 21 miles and crossed over Stratton Mt, one of the three highest mountain peaks in Vermont.
The last four days or so has been somewhat uneventful, my friend from high school, Austin, joined me for a few days until we reached the Massachusetts board and then he took a bus back to Manchester.
Yesterday I did about 20 miles from Wilbur Clearing Lean-to into Dalton and went over Greylock Mt. the tallest mountain in Massachusetts.
Thursday I did about 17 miles and crossed from Vermont into Massachusetts.
Wednesday we hiked 6 miles into Bennington and Austin and I just hung out.
On Tuesday, Austin and I did about 18 miles and went over Glastenbury Mountain. I took a picture of a fire tower.
On Monday we left Manchester Center and did 21 miles and crossed over Stratton Mt, one of the three highest mountain peaks in Vermont.
Rutland to Manchester Vermont - Twice
Well, you know the phrase, "It was so nice, I did it twice....", that was kind of the theme of my hike between Rutland and Manchester Vermont. I hiked from Rutland to Manchester from Tuesday to Friday, but returned to Rutland for the Rutland Long Trail Festival today (Saturday, August 7th). Tomorrow, I needed to meet my friend Austin from high school back in Manchester, so I'll catch the bus back to Manchester in the morning. Here's a link to the Long Trail Festivel http://www.longtrailfestivalvt.com/ I was able to stay at the Back Home Again Cafe commune again in Rutland Friday night and tonight. They have organic food and home school the kids, I call them "The Barbarians", but I ate well. I did about 3-4 hours of dishes to pay for my meal and lodging.
This week was kind of interesting......
On Tuesday I did about 16 miles from Rutland to Clarendon Shelter, 6 miles of that was in the dark, unplanned of course. I hiked up Mt Killington and then took a gondola down, but to make sure I've hiked the entire trail, I took the gondola back to the top of the mountain and hiked down. I had planned to stay at the Governor Clement Shelter for the night, but I met a guy there, who was a little strange. He was 54 and it had taken him about 20 days to do 100 miles and he talked non-stop.... I was trying to eat my dinner as he was explaining how he had 14 feet of his intestines removed. Just to confirm it wasn't me that felt this way, at the shelter was a group of girls from about age 10-15 with two 18 year old women leaders. They were so creeped out by him, they moved out of the shelter into tents to get away from him. I did my own version, by hiking another 6 miles in the dark to Clarendon Shelter. The guidebook says to avoid this shelter as there is a lot of harassing incidents, probably because it's near a main highway. Hiking in the dark is kind of scary because of the shadows that my headlight makes and there's a lot of strange noises at night, not fun ! I'm not sure what was scarier, the guy at the shelter or the night hiking.
On Wednesday, the day was broken up by rain as I did about 4 miles to Minerva Hinchey Shelter as it started to rain. I crossed the Mill River Suspension Bridge, which was cool. I spent about 3-4 hours at the shelter waiting for the rain to stop and talking with a guy whose trail name was "Charlie Day" a character from the sitcom "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia". He's the first person I've met that started after me and has caught up to me. He's already done the Pacific Coastal Trail. I finished the day by hiking to Greenwall Shelter, about 5 more miles up the trail.
On Thursday I did 15 miles from Greenwall to Peru Peak. I was able to watch the sunset from Baker Peak, an amazing view. It was a pretty uneventful day in general, some nice waterfalls and some swimming holes.
On Friday I did about 10 miles from Peru Peak to Manchester. I covered Peru Peak, Styles Peak and Bromley Mt. Only Bromley Mt offered a nice view. While I was on Peru Peak, I met Andy or "Wolverine"(from X-Men) as I called him because of his sideburns. He was from Australia and had served 22 years in the army and was retired, living off his pension. I gave him some of my Starburst candy to which he replied "Cheers !", it made me laugh. We attempted to hitch a ride from the trail into Manchester (about 5 miles), but watched BMW after BMW drive by, so finally we were able to catch a taxi and split the fair. We got into Manchester about 4PM and I caught the bus back to Rutland for the festival on Saturday.
Today I resupplied at the Walmart in Rutland and caught a ride out to the fairgrounds to the festival. Tomorrow I'll catch the 7:30 AM bus back to Manchester to met up with Austin.
I should be in Bennington, VT in about 3-4 days.
Cheers !
This week was kind of interesting......
On Tuesday I did about 16 miles from Rutland to Clarendon Shelter, 6 miles of that was in the dark, unplanned of course. I hiked up Mt Killington and then took a gondola down, but to make sure I've hiked the entire trail, I took the gondola back to the top of the mountain and hiked down. I had planned to stay at the Governor Clement Shelter for the night, but I met a guy there, who was a little strange. He was 54 and it had taken him about 20 days to do 100 miles and he talked non-stop.... I was trying to eat my dinner as he was explaining how he had 14 feet of his intestines removed. Just to confirm it wasn't me that felt this way, at the shelter was a group of girls from about age 10-15 with two 18 year old women leaders. They were so creeped out by him, they moved out of the shelter into tents to get away from him. I did my own version, by hiking another 6 miles in the dark to Clarendon Shelter. The guidebook says to avoid this shelter as there is a lot of harassing incidents, probably because it's near a main highway. Hiking in the dark is kind of scary because of the shadows that my headlight makes and there's a lot of strange noises at night, not fun ! I'm not sure what was scarier, the guy at the shelter or the night hiking.
On Wednesday, the day was broken up by rain as I did about 4 miles to Minerva Hinchey Shelter as it started to rain. I crossed the Mill River Suspension Bridge, which was cool. I spent about 3-4 hours at the shelter waiting for the rain to stop and talking with a guy whose trail name was "Charlie Day" a character from the sitcom "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia". He's the first person I've met that started after me and has caught up to me. He's already done the Pacific Coastal Trail. I finished the day by hiking to Greenwall Shelter, about 5 more miles up the trail.
On Thursday I did 15 miles from Greenwall to Peru Peak. I was able to watch the sunset from Baker Peak, an amazing view. It was a pretty uneventful day in general, some nice waterfalls and some swimming holes.
On Friday I did about 10 miles from Peru Peak to Manchester. I covered Peru Peak, Styles Peak and Bromley Mt. Only Bromley Mt offered a nice view. While I was on Peru Peak, I met Andy or "Wolverine"(from X-Men) as I called him because of his sideburns. He was from Australia and had served 22 years in the army and was retired, living off his pension. I gave him some of my Starburst candy to which he replied "Cheers !", it made me laugh. We attempted to hitch a ride from the trail into Manchester (about 5 miles), but watched BMW after BMW drive by, so finally we were able to catch a taxi and split the fair. We got into Manchester about 4PM and I caught the bus back to Rutland for the festival on Saturday.
Today I resupplied at the Walmart in Rutland and caught a ride out to the fairgrounds to the festival. Tomorrow I'll catch the 7:30 AM bus back to Manchester to met up with Austin.
I should be in Bennington, VT in about 3-4 days.
Cheers !
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Into Vermont !
I made it into Rutland, Vermont today, three days out of Hanover, NH and did a resupply at the local Walmart. I did a mail drop of supplies to Manchester Center which is about 4 days out and bought a lighter sleeping bag and mailed my heavy one home. I'm going to be staying at the Back Home Again Cafe tonight, it kind of has a religious tone to it..... let's hope there's some good discussions with our meal, as I have my own opinions & beliefs.
I've experienced some trail magic over the last couple of days. On the first day out of Hanover, I went thru a small town called West Hartford, very small just a general store and a few homes and I was talking to old guy on his front porch. We were talking and he said to go to the general store, they make awesome sandwiches at the deli. I explained I was on a budget and had some supplies, to which he opened his wallet and gave me $20 for a sandwich ! He was right, it was awesome ! I got his name and address so I can send him a thank you. I also experienced trail magic when I found cans of pop (or soda as they say here) spread out about a mile or so apart.
Vermont is nice, there's been some blackberry fields where I've picked a few to snack on. The trails are a little easier because they are switchbacks and not straight up like they are in Maine and New Hampshire. I'd describe them kind of like Carrollton, rolling hills.
I met someone that Austin and I ran into when we were hiking in Pennsylvania, his name was Bloodhound ! I walked into a shelter the other night and there he was, small world, even in these parts.
That's all for now....oh, I finally was able to upload about 50 pictures from my phone to my email in Hanover, had something to do with being in a 3G network area. So look for them here soon, Dad is going to transfer them over. If you can see my Facebook, I have them up there.
I've experienced some trail magic over the last couple of days. On the first day out of Hanover, I went thru a small town called West Hartford, very small just a general store and a few homes and I was talking to old guy on his front porch. We were talking and he said to go to the general store, they make awesome sandwiches at the deli. I explained I was on a budget and had some supplies, to which he opened his wallet and gave me $20 for a sandwich ! He was right, it was awesome ! I got his name and address so I can send him a thank you. I also experienced trail magic when I found cans of pop (or soda as they say here) spread out about a mile or so apart.
Vermont is nice, there's been some blackberry fields where I've picked a few to snack on. The trails are a little easier because they are switchbacks and not straight up like they are in Maine and New Hampshire. I'd describe them kind of like Carrollton, rolling hills.
I met someone that Austin and I ran into when we were hiking in Pennsylvania, his name was Bloodhound ! I walked into a shelter the other night and there he was, small world, even in these parts.
That's all for now....oh, I finally was able to upload about 50 pictures from my phone to my email in Hanover, had something to do with being in a 3G network area. So look for them here soon, Dad is going to transfer them over. If you can see my Facebook, I have them up there.
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