| August 12, 2005 |
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Leaving at 7:25am From the shelter.
Gene the trail Angel is taking my pack again today and I'll see him
at Rt. 55 to pick up my pack and go on. A couple of young boys
are slack packing with me today. Shelter was really nice last
night. It used to be a cabin and then converted to a shelter.
It had a deck on the back of it, picnic table, glass windows and
bunk style beds. Luxurious for the trail. |
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Now I'm seeing water in the streams. we went
across the bridge and the water is running well underneath.
That is a good sign for today. The sun hasn't popped out yet,
but it looks like it's going to be a beautiful day. Going
under the Taconic Parkway over pass. Turning On Rocks Ledge
Road. Back in the woods and it's getting hot out here. |
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That was a steep incline. I'm on top
of what I think is Top Mountain. The trail wasn't bad to hike
on at all. So far it's pretty flat, with no rocks or anything
in it. Leaf covered, a lot of hardwood trees in this area and
a lot of saplings coming on. This going to be a little along
the roller coaster side. The trail in wonderful because I can
hike and not have to worry about falling over rocks. Whish is
the first since I left PA. To my left there's a big huge
mountain of rocks. I'm glad they didn't sent us over the top
of that one, which surprises me because the sent over the top of
everything else. |
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Coming up on Hazner Mountain Road and going
up a steep incline up Hazner Mt. I found 4 good luck pennies
on a rock along side the trail. By 10:30am I had done 5 miles
out to St. Rt. 52 and decided to hike four tenths of a mile to the
little deli and get a sandwich and something cold to drink and
re-supply my water. |
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I have 7 miles to go to Rt. 55 where I'll
pick up my full pack. It's 11:00am and I am back on the trail
in the woods. Boy this trail is unbelievable today after we've
all those awful rocks to hike through, this is like heaven hiking on
this trail today. There is some steep up with boulder steps,
but at least when you get up there you can walk and look around and
not worry about falling. |
Wow! This certainly one mammoth oak.
I bet it's over 6 foot around. Even the branched make logs
they're so big. This tree has been here for years. I'm
hiking on Old Stormville Mountain Rd. I think in the next ten
years, I'll join a rock repelling class. I've climbed so many
rocks since PA and NJ in through NY that I should be a pro at it.
NOTE:
This tree is called Dover Oak. This reportedly the largest
tree on the AT. It's girth four feet from the ground is 20
feet, 4 inches, and it is estimated to be more than 300 years old. |
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Coming into Morgan Stewart Shelter for a
rest break and to get some water. Nice place. An old
home site. There was a well that we could pump to get water.
Had to bid goodbye to Atrain this morning, he was going to go into
Pawling for a mail drop. I won be seeing him again since I'll
be going into Kent Mass. |
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Nice bridge crossing with plenty of lowing
water. I have seen many stone wall fences in this area today.
A lot evidence of 1800's people. Hiking on through County
Road 20 and Gene is going to let us slack pack and he's going to
pick us up at County Road 20 and take us into Pawling so that we can
stay in the Shelter. There is no water at Telephone Shelter.
On the north side of 55 there has been water in the streams, Simon's
enjoyed getting a drink out of every one. |
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This is almost a lemon squeeze going through these
boulders. I made it through! A beautiful pond to my
right. What a nice swimming hole since it's so hot. I
think this is more of a lake than a pond. It sure is a big
one. Beautiful1 |
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Hiking right along the lake. There's
still some large boulders that we're hiking over, but the trail is
pretty smooth through here. Lot of laurel at the edge of the
lake and on the left side of too. One of the most scenic I've
be in today. With the sun casting the shadows on the lake and
as still as it is, it looks like sheet of glass. Yellow lily
pads starting to bloom. It's Nuclear Lake I've been going by.
I believe this is the lake that there's some dispute about the water
quality. |
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Going through some more stone fence and
this is probably the best one I've seen seen in tack. At the
entrance to the Telephone Pioneer Shelter. I have one mile to
go before county road 20. Been a good day for hiking.
The ups, the downs, the boulders, but the terrain has been a lot
more forgiving on your feet. A lot has been level. A
good day!. |
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Swing'n Jane and
Simon |
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