Connecticut tried to kill us

Day 7-5 miles today 53 AT miles completed.

You can only camp at designated campsites on the AT in CT. This restriction makes it challenging for us to meet our goal of no more than 8 miles per day for the first 2 weeks.

Yesterday was such a day where we were forced to push almost 14 miles and had to climb and descend  almost 2,500 feet each way. The hardest part was that the only campsite was limestone springs lean to which was O.5 miles off the AT. To make it even worse you had to descend 150 feet with a section that was so steep if you fell you would drop 25 feet off the face of the mountain.  We were so exhausted that we barely made it to camp last night.  We are both so wiped out and every muscle in our body is sore. 

Airhead, a 70 yo thru said CT has been hardest state so far steep climbs,-bouldering and rock gardens.

We did the 0.5 mile hike out of the canyon back up to the AT. Then we did 4.3 miles to Salisbury Connecticut where we will take our second nero (low mile hike on AT with town stay that night) today.

Tomorrow is our first zero (no AT hike). Even a zero can require lots of walking getting resuplied for the journey on. My hope is we both get recharged. We both have prior injuries that challenging us but both have high spirits still and are so happy to be on this pilgrimage.

Our teamwork has been incredible. I had trained to carry extra weight at the beginning so that Knockerz could get her trail legs. Her legs were so week she kept having to sit down but she’s soldiering through it and had gone through the 53 miles on the AT. She seems to be much stronger now and our packs are getting lighter all the time.

We have surpassed what NOBOs starting at Springer would have done to get to Neil’s gap  (31 miles in). At Neil’s gap 25% of the NOBOs  quit so far we’ve made it over that hump.

It was actually cold last night probably maybe even approaching the high 50s. this morning as we start out it’s about 65°.

Ran into a local trail runner and thanked him for all the wonderful work they’ve done looks like they had weed eated the weeds and brushes on the side and that is so nice when it’s wet plus the ticks. All of the campsites have been super clean they’re very restrictive. They only allow camping and designated spots so you don’t have campsites everywhere. The campsites are clean. Have wash pits designated wash areas. The privies are really nice and the shelters have been well-kept. They all have nearby water sources. They all have bear boxes which is super nice. Connecticut trail runners and volunteers you do an excellent job and I thank you very much for your dedication service.

Just walked out into the most beautiful scene we were deep in the woods and then it just all the sudden opened up. I’m looking at this rolling oats fields of oats of farmers down there sowing the oats. The valley below is a green beautiful valley in between tall mountains on the back side. I see a few houses it’s a beautiful blue sky day and I can even see half a moon in the sky. This is just one of those most beautiful sites the weather is unbelievably beautiful it’s probably 68°.

Just ran into this strange looking monolith in the middle of the forest had to look to see what point that was called giant’s thumb. Nestled in a forest of huge trees interspersed with all these hundred-year-old plus rock walls.

One of my readers from my second post maybe pointed out that that picture that I left in the header was actually a huge pile of oyster mushrooms. Hank is this an oyster mushroom too?

Had a bug just fly into my mouth I could see it but the last minute so it was a bigger bug immediately tried to spit it out. But it did something. Now I’m coughing almost like a little allergic reaction to whatever it was.

In town we stayed at the iconic Maria McCabes house. She died a few weeks ago and her grandson Ed is trying to carry on her legacy. I dropped the kitchen and other stuff at post office and lost 2.5 pounds off my back.

My sawyer squeeze was not working well so I used a vinegar flush to remove mineral buildups and it worked. Town days are so busy.