Appalachian Trail Section Hike #5: NY Route 52 to CT Route 341 (Kent)
Dates: 7/6/05 – 7/8/05
Participants: Tim & Jeff
Wednesday July 6th
We decided to try something a little more challenging than our past practice of getting a motel room the night before our hike. Instead, we agreed to meet in Kent, CT on Wednesday morning around 11:00 and begin the hike sometime close to noon. Tim rolled into town first and I eventually found my way through the maze of NY & CT county roads and parked in the gas station lot right on the town square. Tim saw me and brought his vehicle over next to mine. We left Tim’s car at the CT 341 trailhead before driving southwest to the NY 52 trailhead.
We set out northbound at 12:37 with an initial goal of reaching the Morgan Stewart Memorial Shelter for our lunch break. The temperatures were only in the low 80’s but the humidity was high. I soon found myself wringing the sweat out of my synthetic bandana. We were both getting hungry and kept reviewing the terrain for landmarks that would show our progress. Sometimes, the guidebook landmarks are unmistakable. Other times, “passing through a cleft in a large rock” just doesn’t do much when there are lots of rock clefts. As I crossed over a height of land, I saw movement to my left and recognized it as a large wild turkey. Buoyed by this sight, I picked up my pace and soon found the first shelter. There were two thru-hikers sitting on the edge of the platform, both of them packing up after their own lunch break.
We exchanged a few words before they set off in the same direction as we were headed. Tim showed up a moment later and we enjoyed a break for a tasty Italian sub. I did my feet a favor and took off my boots and socks so that my feet could breathe. We treated water from the shelter’s pump and then Tim set out shortly before me towards our end-of-day goal – the Telephone Pioneer’s Shelter.
We had completed the first 3.9 miles in about 90 minutes – a good pace for a pair of out-of-shape section hikers. But we still had 7.6 miles to go through the heat of the day. The stops to wring out the bandana became more frequent. Just past the NY 55 road crossing, I began to hear children’s voices. While I stopped at the junction with the Nuclear Lake Loop Trail, a group of kids and two Moms passed me. They were out for an hour’s hike to see the lake but didn’t know if they should stay on the AT or take the loop trail. I showed them the map and they continued on the AT.
It turns out that their brief stop was fortunate for Tim. He had gone for a ‘nekkid’ swim in the lake and had just enough time to get re-dressed before the group approached the lake. I wanted to do the same to cool off and wash off some of the sweat but there was no time to waste. It was getting late and we still had three miles to go.
After one last climb and a stop at a scenic viewpoint, we descended and found the blue-blazed trail to the shelter. There were two thru-hikers still hanging around the shelter and four more tented on the hillside behind the structure. There were just enough skeeters around to make the thought of sleeping in the shelter unpalatable. Tim struck up a conversation with two of the thru’s: Dubois and Just Bob. Dubois offered a few words of wisdom before bidding us good night. Just Bob hung around while we cooked dinner and then retired for the night.
I had just enough energy to find a semi-level spot on the hillside, clear it of branches and rocks, and then set-up my tent. Also, I took a minute to take a bandana bath in the stream and rinse out my shirt. Tim and I hung out in the empty shelter eating dinner, drinking Sambuca and munching on chocolate biscotti. All in all, it was a good day’s hike for starting after noon. I hit the tent around 22:00 for a well-deserved rest.
Thursday July 7th
Sleeping on a slope on a humid night was not conducive for a good night’s rest. Still, I did sleep in close to 07:30 before beginning the pack-up and eating a few
Pop-Tarts for breakfast. Four of the thru’s were already gone when we got up and the remaining pair were still in their tents when we pulled out around 08:30. It was an easy hike down the mountain to the first road crossing. The AT handbook listed a house just east of the trail with a water tap available for hikers. We dropped out packs at the Dover Oak and set out for the gray house described in the book.
It turns out that the gray house is now the purple house and we were fortunate that the owner was out in her garden and let us know that we were in the right place. Holly Champion is a trail angel that gives without asking for anything more than polite conversation. She gave us a weather update, news of the underground bombings in London, and assurance that the next couple of miles were easy ones. It would have taken about the same amount of time to filter water from a stream but we enjoyed and appreciated her friendliness.
We took a short break at the Appalachian Trail train platform before crossing NY 22 and a few cow pastures. Just after I re-entered the woods and stopped to sign a trail register, Just Bob caught up with me. He had made a diner stop at one of the road crossings and was back on the trail. The next few miles just kind of blended together into a humid blob. The trail was heavily overgrown in many spots and I used my poles more for parting the growth than for hiking support. Our first scheduled stop was to be at the Wiley Shelter for lunch. I was starting to get discouraged at my lack of progress until the Gates of Heaven appeared. Actually, it was only the Gate of Heaven cemetery, but it was 1.2 miles before the shelter. This cemetery was used for patients from a state mental hospital but is now completely overgrown. I passed on my chance to pass through the gates and obtain redemption. Maybe on the next hike….
The Wiley Shelter was a sight for sore eyes (and feet). It was quite the hub of social activity – the most we had ever seen. Just leaving was one of the thru’s that I had met yesterday at the Stewart Shelter. Then there were two section hikers that were just out for the day to identify plants. 
Pringle, a female southbound section hiker had just stopped for lunch and Rabbit, Dubois and SteadyStep all arrived from the northbound direction. The funniest thing for me was that Tim and I were viewed as fellow thru-hikers. I guess that we have developed ‘the look’ and more importantly, ‘the smell’. Dubois was a real trip with his comments on the Gates of Heaven and the Jesus thorns. I freaked him out by showing him the secret message inside of the back pocket of his cycle jersey that he used for hiking. All told, I spent an hour airing my feet and eating lunch before heading out to catch up with Tim.
I flip-flopped with SteadyStep as we left the shelter and hiked the last mile of New York. As we crossed Hoyt Rd., I paused at the AT Information Board and realized that the Connecticut Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club now maintained the trail. Shortly thereafter, I passed a sign welcoming me to Connecticut.
Two states down, 12 to go!!! Tim and I had set a modest goal of 13 miles for the day with a finish at the Ten Mile River Lean-To. My feet were beginning to ache as my blisters from last week’s hike in Hawaii were starting to get new blisters and my right heel was getting its trademark double-blister. The climb over Ten-Mile Hill was only to an elevation of 1000’, but it seemed like twice that much. After that, I only had a 0.8-mile descent to the shelter where I could relax for the rest of the afternoon and evening.
When I pulled into the shelter, Tim, SteadyStep, Just Bob and a couple named the Trail Snails were all sitting around in the stillness of the afternoon. SteadyStep and Just Bob took off for the Schaghticoke Mountain campsite and the Trail Snails seemed to be waiting for us to make our move before deciding what they were going to do. Tim was itching to move on as well. I took off my boots and took my maps and toilet paper to the privy for some quiet contemplation. It was after 17:00, the next campsite was 5.5 miles further up the trail, and there was a significant climb between here and there. I returned to the shelter where Tim and I reviewed the myriad of options – everything from hiking straight through to his car to hitching from Bull’s Bridge back to Kent. In the end, we agreed to reassess the situation once we arrived at Bull’s Bridge.
Six P.M. found us at Bull’s Bridge Road. Tim reminded me that God hates a coward so I lowered my head and agreed to push for the campsite. The first few tenths were along the flat road paralleling the Housatonic River. Then the trail began its ascent of Schaghticoke Mountain. It wasn’t straight up, but it was a major challenge for me since I had mentally packed it in at the last shelter. A Pop-Tart break provided me with some extra strength and I emerged onto the summit just as dusk began to settle over the land. I took advantage of the clearing by calling home for the day’s update. It was here on this beautiful vista that I received the news that my Grandmother ‘Boodie’ had passed on. Thoughts of her occupied my mind as we pressed on in the gathering dusk. At 20:30 I finally resorted to using my headlamp to identify the rocks and roots on the path. It was only another ten minutes until I heard a stream and saw three tents pitched in the ravine. We had arrived at the Schaghticoke Mountain campsite. SteadyStep and Dubois were already in their tents for the night and Just Bob was in the final stages of completing his tasks.
As tired as I was, I found the energy to set-up camp rather quickly and then take another bandana bath in the stream. During my call to home, I had also received word that rains from the remnants of Hurricane Cindy would be reaching New England by midnight. I rigged my tent for rain and packed as much as possible into my pack in preparation for a soggy departure in the morning. Despite the physical exertion of the day, I had no appetite for dinner and opted to listen to some music in my tent instead of eating any of my remaining food. I fought the downward incline of my tent site all night but managed to get a few hours of good sleep.
Friday July 8th
I woke up around 05:30 to a surprising sound – it wasn’t raining. I considered rolling over for some more sleep but decided that a dry tent would pack better than a wet one. I ate another pack of Pop-Tarts, got dressed, rolled up my tent, and got everything stuffed into my pack before 06:00. Tim had heard my preparations and we both set out for the last 3.2 miles of the hike by 06:05.
I opted to wear my raingear, knowing that I would get drenched from the inside if I hiked too fast. The rains did begin to fall shortly into the hike but I chose to remove my jacket to cool off a bit on the last climb of the day. The rain increased in intensity as I started down the far side of the mountain so I had to stop once more to put my jacket back on. I passed a mother-son pair that assured me that it wasn’t too much further to the Mt. Algo Lean-To and then a mere 0.3 miles to CT 341 where Tim’s car was waiting. The rocks became slick from the rain and I did my best to keep from crashing on the descent. I did take one last spill just as I could see the road and Tim’s waiting car. Just Bob was waiting at the road crossing for SteadyStep and Dubois. Tim offered him a ride into town but he wasn’t concerned with the 0.8-mile walk. At 08:32, Tim and I celebrated the completion of New York with a cold Coke from a cooler in his trunk. I stripped off my raingear, boots and shirt and put on my almost clean t-shirt for the drive back to my truck.
We stopped at Adam’s Diner just across the NY / CT border and had a huge breakfast. The rain picked up intensity just as we reached my truck so I had to scramble to transfer all of my gear into the cab and get changed into my clean shorts. We parted company at 09:30 and I made good time heading home, arriving at 14:15.
Mileage Summary – 11.5 miles on Wednesday, 18.5 miles on Thursday, and 3.2 miles on Friday. Total AT miles: 33.2. Cumulative AT miles: 172.5.
Trail Summary – Overgrown in spots but very pleasant in other spots. Not a bad section.
Hiker Count – Two on the trail Wednesday, Six at Nuclear Lake, and four at the shelter. On Thursday, there were nine including the four from the shelter. Just Bob and the mother / son duo were the only other hikers on Friday morning.
Wildlife Count – Turkey and deer.
Blister Count – The infamous barbell blister on my right heel and blisters on the inside of my right big toe. I need new boots!
Lessons learned – We knew that we would have lots of daylight and we used every minute of it. The humidity really sapped the strength from me but frequent hydration helped to keep me going. We’re getting pretty good at this project!