2019 AT Thru Hike: Week 11 - Kent CT to Dalton MA

Week 11 on the AT. We passed the 1500 mile mark and crossed from Connecticut to Massachusetts.

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Day 77
Time: Wed, 19 Jun 2019 17:53:53 -0400

Location: Kent CT Mile 1469.7 of Appalachian Trail

Stayed last night at the Wiley Shelter with Johnny Walker and Muffet, Papa John, and Lady Dundee after walking in the rain all day. Magnolia stopped by late but pushed on to the next shelter.

We were all up early and ready cross over from New York and into Connecticut.

Papa John and I went to the cute little Bulls Bridge store. They were really nice. I had a breakfast sandwich, pastry, coffee, and resupplied. 

Johnny Walker, Muffet, and Papa John are staying at hostel in Kent. Lady Dundee is staying with someone from a hiking club she's in.

The trail to Kent, Connecticut was tough with lots of ups and downs. It was also very slippery from the recent rain. It's tough when you question every step. At times I've confidently run on the trail and rocks, but right now I feel more like Ricky Bobby afraid to go fast.

The trail was tough but nice. We crossed many streams and a couple of rivers. The forest was pretty. 

It was almost a mile walk into the town of Kent Connecticut. We walked by the Kent School. A nice private school who's alumni include Kevin Bacon, Ted Danson, and Seth McFarland.

It hasn't rained yet today, but the forecast is wet for the next few days. I wore my rain jacket without a shirt yesterday to keep my shirt dry. You're going to get wet out here. There's no workaround. You just have to make sure you don't get hypothermia.

Today I took off my shirt and put on my rain jacket in anticipation of rain, but ended up going shirtless for the first time when sweat started flowing down my arms and hands. An unmanscaped graying middle aged man going shirtless isn't optimal, but you do what you have to out here.

I also wore my hat and bug net because of the gnats and noseeums. I only tried to eat and drink through  the bug net 3 or 4 times and I spit in it once.

My ankle feels better and I'm in good spirits. I'm happy that my ankle is feeling better. I was worried it might take me off the trail. I have a pretty good blister on my pinky toe because my foot was so swollen and squeezed into my sandals. The swelling seems better and I was able to finally adjust my sandals straps successfully after several tries.

I walked into Kent and walked around town before finally settling in at the Kent Pizza Garden and eating salad, pizza, and ice cream and drinking beer and coffee. I also recharged my electronics and doing a blog post.

I just missed Johnny Walker, Muffet, and Papa John at the pizza garden. They also thought the trail into Kent was tougher than they thought it would be. We did a little over 13 miles today.

Sitting here fat and tired in the pizza garden trying to decide whether to make the long walk back to the trail and the first shelter or walk across the street to the hoyty toyty Fife and Drum B&B. Hmmm....stay tuned.

Love you ❤️ Miss you 😘

Google Maps link to my location: http://maps.google.com/maps?z=14&t=m&q=41.7262%2C-73.47454

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Day 78
Time: Thu, 20 Jun 2019 21:19:59 -0400

Location: Pine Swamp Shelter Mile 1486.1 of Appalachian Trail

Stayed last night at the My Algo Shelter just outside of Kent CT. I decided to walk back to the trail and stay at the shelter rather the B&B. It wasn't too bad. The walk helped to digest all the food I ate at the Kent Pizza Garden.

Two other thru hikers were in the shelter Wildlife and Good. I had not met them before.

I shaved and cut my nails before getting on the trail. There more steep climbs and some treachorous downs on slippery rocks, but there was also a nice long level padded section where we walked along the Housatanic river.

Everything is wet. I haven't been dry in days. It didn't rain but it's foggy and there's a lot of moisture in the air. I stay drenched in sweat.

I made the mile walk into the town of Cornwall CT. The trail used to go through town but has been rerouted.

I went to the cute General Store and Deli. I had a sandwich, lobster bisque, Dr Pepper, carrot cake and coffee. I also recharged my phone and uploaded photos on their WiFi.

I walked across the street to the package store. They give you a free beer for signing their hiker book. The owner is really nice and said he's been doing it for over 40 years. There was another hiker, Ax, in the store with her mother. She graduated from GA Tech in early 2000's.

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I walked back to the trail and hiked another 6 sweat drenched miles to the shelter..

I saw Whether Or Not, the Leslie's Pool guy from Atlanta. He's at the shelter tonight with Lady Dundee and Diamond Blue, who is the 72 year old Grandpa I met my first night in the RPH shelter.

Since my clothes were already drenched in sweat, I rinsed them in the creek and then rinsed myself. I filled a big ziplock with water and added some soap and bleach and did a sponge bath and washed my clothes. They'll probably be wet tomorrow, but they were already wet with sweat. I have dry clothes on and I feel clean.

I've officially crossed 1000 miles since I'm at mile 1486 and Damascus, where I started April 3rd, is mile 472.

Love you ❤️ Miss you 😘

Google Maps link to my location: http://maps.google.com/maps?z=14&t=m&q=41.88169%2C-73.39161

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Day 79
Time: Fri 21 Jun 2019 21:58:53 -0400

Location: Falls Village CT Mile 1494.1 of Appalachian Trail

Happy Solstice! Spent last night at the Pine Swamp Shelter with Lady Dundee, Diamond Blue, and Whether Or Not.

We woke up to a steady rain. It's hard to want to get up and hike when that happens.

Lady Dundee is the man. She was on the trail by 6am. She lives in the area and is going home for the weekend. She's a former biology professor and knows a lot of stuff.

The rest of us men piddled around waiting for the rain to let up. I finally packed up, put on my wet clothes, and headed north.

Water was falling from the trees, but the rain finally ended. The trail was nice through hemlock forests and flat along the Housatanic river. 

I said something to Whether Or Not about wanting the AT to be easier like the flat trail along the Housatanic and he said that would make the trail too crowded because everyone would want to do it.

My right ankle feels better, but yesterday I walked all day with a strain on the top of my left foot. Like most injuries out here, I don't know of any particular incident that caused it. Derek had a similar injury during his hike in the Smokies.

I went 8 miles to the town of Falls Village CT and ate at the really cute Toymaker's Cafe. I had a waffle bacon and egg sandwich, raspberry rhubarb crumble with cream, and about 10 cups of coffee from their nice coffee bar. They were so nice and gave me ice for my foot. I hung out until they closed at 3.

I wasn't sure what to do about my foot. I called a hostel in the next town of Salsbury to see if they could pick me up, but they didn't answer. I started walking out of town when I saw Papa John sitting in front of the little town hall and post office. He was using the free WiFi to upload some videos.

He asked me about Toymaker's and said he wished he made it before they closed. We talked about my foot and hatched a plan to stay in town and camp at Toymaker's overnight, which they let you do for free.

We got some beer and ice for my foot from the nice lady at the package store and sat and talked while we uploaded stuff.

We saw the Toymaker's owners pulling into their driveway and they showed us where to set up. The license plate on their older model Crown Victoria is YB Normal. Neat place. Neat People.

We walked over to the pretty Falls Village Inn and had a nice dinner in the bar. I got a burger and fries, iceburg wedge with blue cheese crumbles, carrot cake and coffee. The food tour/hike continues.

Love you ❤️ Miss you 😘

Google Maps link to my location: http://maps.google.com/maps?z=14&t=m&q=41.95594%2C-73.36288

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Day 80
Time: Sat, 22 Jun 2019 20:36:12 -0400

Location: Laurel Ridge Campsite Mile 1510.0 of Appalachian Trail

Camped last night in Falls Village CT at the Toymaker's Cafe with Papa John. We had a late dinner at the Falls Village Inn and a lot of beer. After the short walk back to Toymaker's, we both went straight to sleep.

The birds started singing about 4 am and it seemed really light by 5 am. Daylight seems like it comes later in the woods beneath the leaf canopy.

Toymaker's opens at 7 am and we were ready. I got the waffle sandwich again and a lot of coffee. Papa John really enjoyed it also. Rabbit showed up and we talked with her.

We didn't leave town until almost 9 am. My left foot was still bothering me. I started walking more on my heel to minimize the impact on my mid and forefoot.

I hiked 8 miles to Salisbury CT. We passed the 1500 mile mark. Less than 700 to go.

I like going into the towns and having coffee and beer and real food. I went to the boutique food market and got some resupplied and had lunch. I saw Ax in the market and Whether Or Not outside where I was eating lunch.

A nice older couple sat near me and we talked about my hike and their bike touring. They recommended a book series about a game warden in Maine. The first book is The Poachers Wife.

I hiked about 16 miles today to the Laurel Ridge Campsite. It was a beautiful day. We were all so happy to be hiky in nice weather finally.

I ret enjoyed the trail today. There was a waterfall, soft padded forest trail, pretty views from Bear Mountain, Mountain Laurel, and Sages Ravine, which is one of my favorite places yet. There was a steep drop down rocks Into the ravine. The ravine was like a hidden land. It was thick with hemlock and ferns and there was a nice rushing creek with beautiful cascades.

Because of my town stops I hiked later Into the evening. It was really peaceful. We crossed from Connecticut into Massachusetts when we exited Sages Ravine.

Love you ❤️ Miss you 😘

Google Maps link to my location: http://maps.google.com/maps?z=14&t=m&q=42.06118%2C-73.43828

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Day 81
Time: Sun, 23 Jun 2019 22:21:20 -0400

Location: Great Barrington MA Mile 1522.9 of Appalachian Trail

Spent last night at the Laurel Ridge Campsite. I've been sheltering usually but it was too far to the next shelter. It was a pretty remote area and it definitely felt more solitary, but nice.

Since it was so remote and not many people around, I used the bear box so I had to go get my food bag in the morning. Usually I just stay in my sleeping bag and reach over and get my food.

My left foot was painful again in the morning. It felt much better yesterday afternoon. It must be tendinitis since it feels less painful once it gets warmed up. At least it's not a stress fracture...yet.

I need my boo boo's to work with me. I'm willing to baby them some, but I need them to get better while I hike.

I've slowed down with my recent injuries. It's been kind of nice. I don't sweat as much and don't need as much water. I just walk.

We climbed Mt Race, Mt Everett, and Mt Bushnell. It was a nice cool morning and there were fun ridge walks with beautiful views. There were big climbs and a steep descent into Sheffield/Great Barrington.

It got pretty warm in the afternoon as we exited the trees and walked through pastures.

I was on fumes coming into town. A group of young thru hikers passed excitedly and talked about all the things they were going to eat in town.

A lot of hikers are spending the night in town and resupplying. I just wanted to get some town food and rest.

I walked .6 to Fiddleheads Grill and looked like it would have been nice but they're closed on Sunday. I collapsed in their shaded outdoor area and gathered myself.

I decided to walk another .5 to The Bistro Box, a cute roadside stand. It was hopping. They had a nice outside area and I got permission to tent overnight. When the Bistro closed, I walked to Bogey's Restaurant next door and had some beer and dessert while I recharged my phone.

There had been a classic car show there that had just ended. I saw a parade of cool cars pass as I was walking towards town.

I iced my foot several times so I need it to be better now and hopefully I'll feel more energized.

Love you ❤️Miss you 😘

Google Maps link to my location: http://maps.google.com/maps?z=14&t=m&q=42.17157%2C-73.36253

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Day 82
Time: Mon, 24 Jun 2019 18:34:53 -0400

Location: North Mt Wilcox Shelter Mile 1536.4 of Appalachian Trail

Spent last night behind The Bistro Box in Great Barrington. I was on the road about 6:30 am. My foot was very painful. I'm thinking the road walks are the problem because my foot feels better when I'm hiking on the trail.

The two young girls on the lumberjack team are here tonight. Heather said the top of her foot just started hurting. It could be all the steep downs.

I took a break at the Tom Leonard shelter and met a cute young thru hiker from Montreal named Rose/Mervel.

I saw the two guys I ran into going down the rocks into Cornwall. They didn't say much then but we talked a little more and they were excited about going into town for lunch.

Papa John was enjoying the view from The Ledges. I stopped and talked and took in the view.

The trail was nice today with some steep climbs. It's a little warm and there are lots of gnats and mosquitos.

Johnny Walker, Muffet, Papa John, Ginger Goat, Rabbit, Chocoholic, and the two girls are here tonight. We're staging for the Upper Goose Pond Cabin tomorrow night. The caretaker makes breakfast and you can use their canoes.

Love you ❤️ Miss you 😘

Google Maps link to my location: http://maps.google.com/maps?z=14&t=m&q=42.2211%2C-73.25011

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Day 83
Time: Tue, 25 Jun 2019 20:28:56 -0400

Location: Upper Goose Pond Cabin Mile 1548.5 of Appalachian Trail

Stayed last night at the North Wilcox Shelter with Johnny Walker, Muffet, Papa John, Ginger Goat, Rabbit, Chocoholic, the two lumberjack girls, and Wether or not. It was a good group. We caught up with Ginger Goat. We haven't seen him in awhile.

I set my tent up in the shelter to hide from the mosquitos. Most of us were up and on the trail by 6 am. It started to rain lightly not long after we started.

There was a little outhouse building at one of the road crossings that has drinks, snacks, and fresh eggs for sale on the honor system.

We hiked 14 miles to the Upper Goose Pond Cabin. It's a neat rustic cabin. There are about 15 bunks upstairs and there's a caretaker who cooks pancakes in the morning and makes coffee.

We were there by the early afternoon. The rain stopped and it turned really nice. We sat outside on the porch and hung out. There's a full house tonight with hikers coming in all day and into the evening.

Two sweet older ladies who know Rabbit drove 3 hours and hiked in a bunch of food that they shared with us.

There was no cell service yesterday and Helen was worried about my foot and general energy level. I was able to call her today and let her know that I'm ok.

Love you ❤️ Miss you 😘

Google Maps link to my location: http://maps.google.com/maps?z=14&t=m&q=42.28817%2C-73.18114

Sent from the Guthook's AT Guide app