AT from Kent, CT to Mohican Outdoor Center, NJ
Part 1: Kent, CT to FT Montgomery, NY
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This 162.2 mile 18 day backpacking trip along the Appalachian Trail took
place between May 1 and May 19, 2003.
Day 0, 05/01/2003- The trip from Bristow, VA to Kent, CT was alot of fun as well as an adventure within itself. Nancy got me to the Broad Run Virginia Railway Express station nice and early. I took a VRE train to Union Station in Washington, DC. The views were great and the train was only about three quarters full. I got to Union Station with 2.5 hours to kill before the Acela train that I was taking to New York City would depart. So I had a leisurely breakfast there and then walked around Union Station. It is a neat place and probably is worth half a day to explore. At 12 noon I caught my Acela train and took it to NYC. The train was great. I got to NYC around 2:45PM and walked 8 blocks to the Port Authority Bus Station. Here I caught a Bonanza Bus, which would take me to Kent, CT. It was strange and sad seeing only the Empire State Building as the tallest building in NYC. The bus dropped me off in Kent, CT around 6:45PM. My backpack was waiting for me at the Fife N Drum Inn where I had Fedex'd it. I ate dinner and spent the night at the Fife N Drum. It was a good 'Day 0'. Day 1, 05/02/2003- The day started out OK. I got up at 6AM, got ready, had 2 breakfasts, checked out of the inn, went to the local outfitters to pick up a mail drop and purchase some additional gear, then started out around 10:30AM that Friday morning. The weather was a little humid, sunny and in the 60's. It was about a mile from Kent to the trail. No problem. Then the majority of the rest of the day would be a wicked 'up'. The combination of me being out of shape, the rocky 'up' and the impending thunderstorm resulted in my only doing 4 miles today instead of my intended goal of 8. I stopped at around 3:30PM at the Schaghticoke Camp Site, made a meal and set up my tent. The sky looked like it was going to dump. There is intense rain and lightening outside as I am writing this. I hope this stops before tomorrow morning. Day 2, 05/03/2003- This morning I had the same concerns as yesterday: Will it rain and will I make my miles? It turned out to be a beautiful day, sunny and in the 50's. And I didn't do too bad mileage wise: 9.5. I am now half a day behind due to the rain yesterday. I'll have to either cut the hike short by a day or make up some miles each day. We'll see. I am tenting at the Wiley Shelter right now. I opted to tent instead of sleep in this shelter because the shelter itself didn't look too hot. Tomorrow, the goal is 10 miles and the Telephone Pioneer's shelter. Day 3, 05/04/2003- Today was a better day. Did the 10 miles and got to the Telephone Pioneer's shelter, where I am sleeping tonight. Nice views today. Unfortionately, I ran out of film so you won't get to see any of it. I'm in New York now so 2 states to go. Tomorrow, only 8 miles and the Morgan Stewart shelter is the goal. Day 4, 05/05/2003- Did the 8 miles. A couple of big 'ups' but no problem. I passed 3 section hikers: 'Del Doc', who is mapping the trail with a GPS for the ATC, 'Texas Pan Handler' and 'Hippie Longstockings'. Hippie is a very interesting lady, to put it mildly. She hikes the AT for many miles, talks rapidly and smokes strange smelling cigarettes. Oh, well. So far, I have hiked 28 miles, have 143 to go and am about a day behind schedule. I may end up getting off the trail at Mohican Outdoor Center, about 10 miles short of my goal. Day 5, 05/06/2003- Cold and misty start. Made good time to I84, then NY52, then the Mountain Top Deli. Had a great sub and spent the rest of the afternoon tackling Hosner Mountain, NY. Tough 'up'. Spent the night at the RPH Shelter with section hiker 'Reindeer' and thru-hiker 'Wild Turkey'. Wild Turkey is the first thru-hiker that I have passed and we believe that he is number 2 or 3 as far as the furthest north thru-hiker. Also, this is the first night that I have not spent alone in the wilderness. Day 6, 05/07/2003- Terrible day! Did 10.5 miles but it was all 'ups' and rocky, crappy trail. Climbed 1,282 Shenandoah Mountain, NY, then spent most of the day going around Canopus Lake, NY. Did not get to the campsite at Dennytown RD, NY until after 6PM. Had to fight nats and mosquitos then. I am very tired. I hope tomorrow is better than today. Day 7, 05/08/2003- Again a very rough day. It rained all last night, then let up so that I was able to pack up and stay somewhat dry. Then it started up and rained most of the day. I was determined to do my allotted 11 miles today. I did, finishing at 6:30PM. Camping at Hemlock Springs Camp Site now. Tomorrow, a hotel, a shower, new underwear and a day off! Day 8, 05/09/2003- Hiked 2.3 miles, picked up my maildrop at Bear Mountain Post Office and took the day off. Staying at the Holiday Inn Express in FT Montgomery, NY. Part 2: FT Montgomery, NY to Vernon, NJ>>
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Fife N Drum Inn, Kent, CT. By Mike Calabrese.
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