Day 107, miles today - 24.7, total - 1,494.6

July 2, 2013

Stewart Hollow Brook Shelter to stealth campsite near US 44

I was on trail this morning at 7:00. It looked like another hot and muggy day. I put a little bug spray on. I don't really like using it, but the mosquitoes have been terrible.

I walked along side the Housatonic River at several points today. I also crossed it at least twice.

After ten miles I stopped at the Pine Swamp Brook Shelter for a lunch break and just to take a break from the heat. I stayed there for two hours. I took a nap for 15-20 minutes. Two girls stopped at the shelter that I hadn't met before. One was Aspen and the other Eleven. They started January 11. They both said they took a lot of time off. Aspen lives in Kentucky near Red River Gorge. We talked about our favorite places there.
After the long break I felt a little better. However, the miles still seem to come a lot harder than they should. I suspect that the heat and humidity are the reason.

 

I had planned to stop at a shelter that was 22.3 miles out. But, that shelter is 0.5 miles off trail and I felt really good, so I kept going. It was about 7:00 pm and was cooling down a little, so I decided to hike until 8:00 and at that point start looking for a place to setup my tent. I'm about one mile from the road crossing for Salisbury, CT. It's 0.8 miles off trail. I need to stop there to resupply. Tomorrow is July Fourth. I hope a few places will be open.

Tonight is the first time since I started my thru hike that I'm staying alone. On the bright side, I won't have to worry about anyone snoring.