Mile 1564 -Tuesday July 15

After a long day of hot hiking Monday, July 14, Tom was looking forward to enjoying some hiking lore with the "Cookie Lady" and maybe some fresh blueberries. What he got was not  quite what he expected. This trail angel is known for sharing home baked cookies and hard boiled eggs with the hikers. Sometimes she and her husband let hikers camp out in the yard also or in a storage building/garage and often other hikers have noted they tell stories.

Cookie Lady's house

The hikers are then are asked to offer to help a bit around the yard or house in return. Simple, right? Well, Tom was quite surprised when he was asked to mow the overgrown weeds out of the rows of blueberries with a very old mower. He set his backpack down ( big mistake) near the side of their garage and started to mow. He noticed that the couple was backing out their car right over his backpack in the driveway as he was working. Yikes! They did not even notice! He says that you can see the tire tread marks on his backpack. Their car tire ended up breaking the bottle of olive oil Tom carried right on top of his food bag. Now everything is covered in olive oil-the tent-sleeping bag-you name it. Tom told me it might be funny later but it sure was not right then. Luckily nothing else appeared to be broken. He chose to sleep out in the yard instead of inside the separate shed/garage they had offered and left very early the next morning. Not sure if he thinks those cookies were worth it...



Extra shed at cookie Lady's house

Tonight Tom is settled in Dalton, MA( mile 1564) tenting in the back yard with several other hikers that he has meet along the way. This hiker angel, Thomas Levardi, has  opened his home to hikers for over 30 years.



 

The back yard at Thomas Levardi home Tuesday night

He allows them to use  bikes so that they can get into town for supplies and take care of the laundry. He had some advice on getting ready for the climb tomorrow.  An awesome guy I am told! Good thing today is looking good...yesterday was at the other end of the spectrum.

Thomas Levardi home in Dalton, MA

On Wednesday Tom and the group of hikers will try to reach the summit of Mt Greylock, the highest peak in Massachusetts at 3,491 feet. It is in the Berkshire Mountain Range.  The 18 mile trek tomorrow will be a challenge for sure with big elevation changes all day.
This mountain is so inspirational that legend has it, Mount Greylock's long, saddle-like shape inspired Herman Melville to write "Moby Dick". He was known to have great fondness for the mountain, even setting up a special observation deck at his home (near Pittsfield) so he could view Greylock whenever he desired.

Mt Greylock

Onward through Connecticut and Massachusetts

The scenery is breathtaking on this part of the trail and Tom got some great photos along the way.  The Housatonic River is the second largest river in Connecticut and flows over a 60 foot ledge. The falls are fed by wetlands which are located in Warren, and empties directly into the Housatonic River, which is across the street from the park

 

Falls over Housatonic

Connecticut lookout

Tom passed through Kent, CT to resupply and their Kent Falls State Park is often called “The Jewel of the Inland Parks” with its scenic view of 17 different waterfalls.

Kent, CT



 

Another scenic lookout and Tom at the top of Bear Mountain, Connecticut photo below.  Bear Mountain near Salisbury has the tallest peak in the state of Connecticut at 2,316 feet. He stayed with one of the local townspeople that has offered rooms for the hikers to stay.


Sages Ravine pictured below tumbles down a beautiful section of forest and rock along the extreme western tip of Connecticut and Massachusetts' borderline. When there has been a lot of rain or snow melt, the series of falls and cascades are breathtaking.   He soon crossed into Massachusetts and stopped in South Egremont for breakfast with another hiker named Hemlock and his girlfriend. This makes state number 11! He is currently about mile 1538.

Sages Ravine pictured below tumbles down a beautiful section of forest and rock along the extreme western tip of Connecticut and Massachusetts' borderline. When there has been a lot of rain or snow melt, the series of falls and cascades are breathtaking.

 

He soon crossed into Massachusetts and stopped in South Egremont for breakfast with another hiker named Hemlock and his girlfriend. This makes state number 11! He is currently about mile 1538.

 

 

 

Into Connecticut he goes!

Tom is resting at Schaghticoke Campsite, mile 1460 as I update the blog. It was a short night; let me show where he slept.

If it looks like he was in the middle of a nursery, well, yes he was. The Native Landscape Garden Center near Route 22 in New York allows hikers to pitch tents on their property. As he got close around 7 pm, a storm blew up and so he just pitched the tent right here. Later that evening he learned that there was a designated hiker spot out of range of the automatic sprinklers. At 3 AM he wished he had moved the tent as he was blasted by the irrigation system, but instead he started hiking.

This is some trail magic from some local New Yorkers who have water and hiker snacks at the end of the driveway.

In New York State the trail goes right by some train stops which could take you right into Manhattan.

                  This is the designation of the state line of New York and Connecticut at Mile 1451.

                                                        Some Connecticut  countryside.

Duncannon Church Offers Food and Fellowship for Hikers. From ABC news Harrisburg, PA

Duncannon Church Offers Food and Fellowship for Hikers.


If you click on the above link you will see a local news program that was filmed as Tom was in Duncannon having dinner at a local church. He is the bearded one with the red bandana on his head! He tells me it was so hot that day and he kept getting the bandana wet to try and stay cool.
  Anne

RPH shelter and Pizza delivery!

 

The RPH Shelter in New York State is unlike anything you'll encounter up and down the trail. It is at mile 1422 and exactly where Tom is taking a break tonight, July 6, 2014..  This is truly a Hiker Hilton with takeout delivery,  lounge furniture, picnic tables, plaster walls, a clean painted floor, working windows, a nice privy, and even a small library. 

The shelter is located right off the Taconic Parkway, and looks a little suspicious on the New York/New Jersey Map of the AT due to it's proximity to a road. But it's in remarkably nice condition and obviously well looked after by local maintainers.

The RPH stands for Ralph's Peak Hikers Cabin and  a 4 walled version of the current cabin had been originally built on the site. One wall was subsequently removed, so that it would match the other shelters on the AT. There are actual bunk beds inside and a clothes line to hang wet tents and clothes.

 

It is unique in that there can be pizza delivery right here! Tom ordered a veggie pizza after a long day of hiking; 17 miles to be exact.

This is the creamery where he enjoyed a quart of butter pecan ice cream during the day yesterday.

This trip has been unique in that you really do not know what is in store the next day. Today we booked a flight from Boston home on August 1 so that Tom could be home for niece Stephanie's wedding and to welcome our new granddaughter in Oregon. It is a bit like a Tetris game to try and figure just where he will be when. Mother Nature seems to play a role in it all.

Some more trail magic, rain and rocks galore into New York!



There was a bit more trail magic as Tom left Vernon, New Jersey and then a bunch of rain! He has been tent camping for most of these last few days this stretch and going slowly.

More trail magic July 2

July 3 turned out to be like the children's book I recall, "Alexander and the no good, very bad day." The day started off with Tom sitting down to rest and setting his glasses beside him then standing right on them as he got up. You guessed it-they are now in pieces. Then the rocks did a number on the hiking pole that was still intact. After calling Black Diamond and sending in this photo a new set will be arriving soon. Thanks to the Black Diamond Company! You guys rock! The trekking poles are really necessary for the downhill stretches of the trails for stability.

Then the rain started a few days ago as it did for most of the southeast  and New England. When that happens along the trail you keep going, pitch your tent or find a shelter if it is lightening. It has been a slow few days. Tom tells me he was not expecting all the rocks to continue in New York and  it has been difficult hiking. The good news is that the rain has stopped.

William Brien Shelter-tent camped here 7/4/2014

 

Tom crossed Bear Den , NY earlier today and is hiking with Dependable Pete-this point is the lowest altitude on the entire Appalachian trail at 124 feet above sea level. There is actually a zoo right along the trail here.  Tom and Dependable Pete were crossing the Hudson River at dusk. Then spending the night on the grounds of Greymoor Spiritual Life center at mile 1405. They allow tent camping on the ball field and offer a cold water shower during the warm months.

Bears Den and Zoo -Mile 1395 with hiker Dependable Pete

 

We are also following the AT blog for Bud Schultz, who is the tennis coach for my sister Mary.  He has been flying along the trail and is in Maine now very close to the 100 mile wilderness. He is raising funds for TENACITY,  an organization that  works with underserved children in the Boston area. You can follow his adventure here:     http://www.tenacitybuddy.org/#

Tom has some information about the Frazee Dream Center on his main page and about the great programs they offer all year long for the children of Greenville.  There is also information on  how you can support their efforts. 



The following Facebook post was done this weekend by The Appalachian Trail Conservancy.  All of you grandparents, parents and teachers out there may want to download their activity book.

Appalachian Trail Conservancy

July 3

The Appalachian Trail Adventure Book uses word games, mazes, and more to engage and inform children about topics such as wildlife, conservation, volunteer work, and community. Dwld it for free at http://tinyurl.com/65dwh5d. How do you engage your kids with the great outdoors?

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grateful for the St. Thomas Episcopal Church Hostel

Thanks to Anne, as usual, for keeping my blog current.  I just arrived into the town of Vernon, NJ this afternoon.  My intent was to get here early enough to watch the U.S. - Belgium world cup game.  As it turned out, I arrived at the hostel at about 4:00, but knew I needed a shower before watching a game with anyone else.  It was a hot day... and I was totally wet with sweat when a nice young man named James picked me up at the trailhead and brought me to the hostel.  It took me a while to find the open door since there was no one on site.  But talk about luxurious!  Not only was I able to shower... there was a washer and dryer for my clothes too!
After a shower and getting a load of wash in the washer, I walked down to the Vernon Inn and Pub to watch the second half of the game.  That was the place that James recommended to watch the game.  I had some great grub and chatted with a local who had spent time in South Carolina as a youth.  (It is a small world.)
The day was a beautiful one, and in the morning we walked through several sun-dotted meadows with the hills and trees in the distance.

Parade of cows along the trail

  It was hot, as I mentioned, so some of the mountains - like the Pochucks - slowed me down more than I expected.  The end of the day involved walking over suspension footbridges that went through swampy meadows. It was a neat ending to the day... seeing many orioles (I think) sitting at the top of the swamp reeds.

boardwalk over swampy marshland

My body today told me that I am due for a short mileage day.  I've developed some blisters on the left foot again... and I just felt tired going over the hills today.  I am thinking that tomorrow I will sleep in and maybe just get a half day's worth of hiking in.  I might even get some Epsom salts at the local Rite-Aid and soak my feet before going out.
At any rate, I am nearly through the AT portion that runs through New Jersey.  I have enjoyed this run a lot.  New Jersey seems to have the largest concentration of bears so far.  I was excited about the GoPro shot I captured of a mama bear, as Anne said.  Her little one had just walked ahead, seen me, and run off in fear.  I was hoping that the mama would not smell "fear" from little one and then look at me.  As it turns out, she never looked at me.  I was glad about that... I was only about 30 feet away.  One of the other hikers - Heartwood - told me that she was stalked by an aggressive male bear in Pennsylvania.  I'd just as soon avoid that type of an encounter.  All of us have seen plenty of bears in NJ.
While I am at it, let me summarize my thoughts on Pennsylvania's portion of the AT.  It is known as hot, lacking water, and rocky to the point of driving one crazy.  (With rocks of course that are sharp and protrude from the ground at weird angles.)  The time I spend in the state, we had beautiful weather, and most of the "somewhat unreliable" springs were running from recent rains.  The ridges in Pennsylvania are wide enough that one can find camping spots very regularly along the trail, even if many are not listed in our guide.  I used several of those, and they were beautiful.

High Point, New Jersey

  So, rocky it is... but so are many other parts of the trail.  I felt like Pennsylvania's AT was a blessing this year.  Sure, I saw a couple of rattlesnakes (and they did have the effect of getting my adrenaline flowing as they coiled and rattled) but hey, we are out here among other things to experience nature.