Day 39-46 Bear Mountain to Ten Mile Lean-to CT.

 

Day 39 Bear Mt. to Graymoor

Today Bob heads back home, we toyed with the idea of a partial slackpack, but ended up just getting dropped off at Bear Mountain and heading over the bridge, bypassing the zoo as it was before 10am. Hessian Lake was calm and quiet.

But what kind of party went on last night! Humans sux! Do much better people!

So we bypassed the zoo, Zuko has already decided how to side quest it with her daughter.

I have to give a shoutout to the Jolly Roger trail crew, working hard to install steps and runoffs. A banana was at the top of the hill, since the sky was overcast, and views limited, we didnt head off to Anthony’s Nose.

The rain held off for sometime, but we eventually donned our coats. A stop at the 24/7 Appalachian Market got us subs for supper.

We were planning on staying at the Graymoor Life Center pavilion by the baseball diamond. Everyone there had decided to not put up a tent, and sleep in the pavilion. Sounded good to me. Wet tents are not fun.

Day 40 to Raymond Torrey Shelter

Started the day with an appearance by the largest turkey I have ever seen. The morning was drizzly, and was it the trees dripping moisture or really raining? About 1 pm it started coming down in earnest, and the question became moot. Soaked to the skin and wringing out my skirt, the trail became a full fledged stream around 3pm.

We continued on getting near Fahnestock Park, and came on a wind telephone. A wonderful idea, but Im surprised I even took my phone out for a picture.

The next mile or two while familiar, bore to resemblance to that long ago day. I no longer looked for rocks to try to stay above the babbling stream that the trail had become. It was much easier just walk through the stream and be on submerged but solid terrain, the edges had the boggy mud trap potential. Taking the blue blaze down to the lale and shelter proved treacherous almost immediately as I slid almost five feet  getting onto the blue trail. We arrived soaked at the shelter, but the inside of our packs compactor bags held our dry sleep clothes and dry sleeping bags. I forget what I made for supper.

Day 41 The extraction

Raymond Torrey’s tin roof made a constant pattering noise overnight. A type of white noise that drowned out all snoring, sleeping mattress crinkling, and all the things that might jar you awake.

Well, its was obvious that our soaked clothes were not going to even remotely dry even if we hunkered down for a day. Somehow we lucked on an Uber, and instead of finding a laundromat, drying clothes and getting wet all over,  we  went to the nearest town and just got a hotel. You guessed it, Fishkill, more north but our friends lived there.

Yes returning after three days of hiking later to the same area we just been. We split the early check-in fee of $34, and proceeded to do laundry. Zuko and I split the room with “M” , a hiker just out for the week, she certainly was getting experience in soggy.

Day 42 to Morgen Stewart

As we returned to the soggy trail, our shuttle driver Sloth took us down a familiar road. We literally went by the rental we had based out of a few days earlier. Too surprised and amused to take a picture. The trail although mucky was actually cruisy down to RPH shelter. It was a fun place to be at for lunch, and unfortunately too early in the day to stop.

The scent of honeysuckle permeated throughout the day. We grabbed pizza and gelato to keep us moving, and it ended up being a long day by the time we got to Morgan Stewart shelter.

Day 43, 44 to Telephone Pioneer shelter, and zero for “rain day”.

Intent on getting to TPS only eight miles away before 5pm. Heavy and persistent rain was in the forecast, continuing for the entire next day without letting uo. We knew we couldn’t get to the next shelter after TPS without a repeat of the soaking.  So day 44, did nothing, snoozed, stretched, got a few posts put out, but sparingly held onto power bank juice. Felt like a useless slug.

Day 45 TPS to Ten Mile Lean-to

The spur stream was running fast, but I went over the rocks and my shoes got barely wet. The day was partially sunny and a good temperature, but the trail was draining on the hills, or a literal frog pond. There was a frog swimming in a four inch pool at one place. Useless to keep feet dry or clean.

We crossed meadows and farmland, before entering Pawling Nature Preserve. And lunch/dinner had already been set up. “Breakfast”sandwich for lunch, Meatball sub wrapped to go.

With all the rain over the last week, we elected to take the high water bypass using US 55.

Heading up over Ten Mile Hill, we got there in time to get set up and watch the moon rise over the field.

Day 46

Well, I have to adult. Last night while hiking, something popped hard in my left foot. It became apparent over the last mile or so the previous evening that pressure on it was not.a.good.thing.

It is weight bearing, and Im not going to be on a ranger report, so slowly off I go for a few miles to the trailhead. Zuko insisted on coming with me to make sure I got to an urgent care.

Day 46 continued

A good news bad news day. After getting to the Sharon CT hospital, no broken bones, but a sprain that requires icing, elevation, and rest. That’s best done at home, so my grand adventure is “suspended” for two weeks, then Ill assess.

Mr. Patel of the Hitching Post Hotel was unbelievably supportive, he has a heart of gold. And a shoutout to Christine for getting me to the train station, and all the good conversation.

Chilling here

And here.