Flip Flop Hikers

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Sprout Day 67 (Thursday, June 2, 2016)

We got up and on the trail earlier today, we're trying to get going earlier everyday. We were hiking by 8:00 and went 12 miles today! We made it to Connecticut towards the end of the hike. It feels great to be in a new state! On the way to the shelter we stopped for a break around 11, I walked down to Tony’s Deli with Mountain Man. When I got to the deli I drank an iced coffee, a Sunkist, and a bottle of water. Then, I took a turkey sub back to split with Bubbles and a couple more cold drinks. We got back on the trail and stopped at the next shelter for a quick break.

A couple miles into our hike we got to see the oldest oak tree on the trail. It's huge about 6 ft diameter and estimated to be over 300 years old! It was crazy how big this tree is. By far the biggest tree I've ever seen. We walked through a bunch of pastures today too. It was nice walking through the fields but it was a huge temperature change. We were out in the open and it was just too hot.

Oldest Tree

Bubbles by the massive tree!!

Boardwalk trail today

It's much cooler to walk through the shade provided by trees in the forest than to walk through fields

Beaver?

Bubbles in a field

Farm Structure

Bubbles going over an electric fence

Whiteblaze in a field

Back to the forest!

Bubbles and I hugging the huge oak!

When we made it to Ten Mile River Shelter I was relieved. It was a long hike and I was ready to sit down for the day. A local was sitting at the shelter with some cold brews, which was a nice surprise! I sat and had a couple of drinks. I didn't stay long because I had to get camp set up. I was thinking on the way to the shelter how nice it would be to cool off in the river. I got down to the camping area which is right next to the river and noticed Mountain Man was just getting out of the water. I set up the tent, hung the bear bag, made a clothes line, and jumped in. It was such a great feeling to get into the river cool off. Bubbles and Whiskers jumped in too. We rinsed all of our clothes off and cooled off for a few minutes. We couldn't stay in too long because we still had to eat, make dinner, and get ready for bed.

Camping at Ten Mile River Shelter

Bubbles cooling off in the river

Whiskers and Bubbles cooling off

Bubbles, Karma, and Mountain Man

Tomorrow is going to be a long day. We're planning on doing 15 miles tomorrow! I'm going to try to get up at 5:00 and get moving. It would be nice to be on the trail by 6. I think we are passing Kent tomorrow. We might go into town depending on what time we get in the area.

This is such a beautiful spot to camp because we are right by the river. There's a bunch of flat spots for camping, and the sound of the river is so relaxing. I don't see how I couldn't get some great sleep tonight! Life is good on the trail!

Day: 67

Miles hiked: 12.8

Total Miles hiked on the trail: 596.7

Bears: 0

Bluegill: 2

Butterflies: 8

Chipmunks: 3

Cows: 24

Crawfish: 1

Deer: 20

Donkeys: 2

Horses: 12

Hummingbird: 1

Inchworm: 1

Really Big Dog: 1

Mice: 2

Nest of bugs: 2

Newts: 2

Owl: 1

Rabbit: 1

Skunk: 1

Snail: 1

Snake: 2

Squirrels: 11

Toads: 3

Trout: 2

Turkeys: 4

Turtles: 107

Vultures: 6

Woodpecker: 1

Bubbles Day 67 (Thursday, June 2nd, 2016)

Today was a day for the books! My hike was beyond enjoyable. We started off early, although not as early as I would have hoped (again). I wanted to be walking with the sunrise. Maybe tomorrow!

After we packed we trickled out of camp and down the beaten path. Shortly into our hike we came across the biggest oak tree on the Appalachian trail. It was magnificent, to say the least. It would take at least five hikers to hug all the way around the tree! I was so happy to be there with friends. We all took pictures together and spoke of its magic. It was a refresher for me because we have been walking through forests of American Hemlocks, which are all dying. I love evergreens so it was a sad feeling to walk through these forests of dead and dying trees. I think they are dying from Hemlock woolly adelgid.

Gigantic Tree!

The gang! Sprout, Bubbles, Mountain Man, Karma, and Whiskers

We left the Goliath of a tree and walked up stone steps into the most beautiful field. There were purple flowers everywhere and tall grass swaying in the breeze. I was captivated by its beauty and again felt beyond thankful to be here. I am right where I'm supposed to be. The fragrance of the purple flowers was so wonderful I would have laid in that field all day, but ticks are bad around here so I didn't linger. I wish you all could smell the heavenly scents of the flower fields. It's a memory and smell I won't forget.

Field

Sprout and the gang ahead of me on the trail

After the field it was back to forest. It was nice to be in the shade of the trees. I walked behind Sprout for a while and then he went ahead at his own pace. I met him again at the beaver pond where our trail family was soaking in the sun. The boys left and headed to Tony's Deli to get sandwiches. Yayyy. I am so thankful that Karma and I have such great hiking partners.

Karma on the trail

Blazes on a tree

I massaged my feet and put fresh socks on. Karma and I went to the garden center to wait for the boys. It was a nice break and the garden center was very hiker friendly. I am thankful for businesses and hiker friendly towns that help us hikers. It's amazing.

Appalachian Trail train stop!

This is LOUD. You might want to turn your speakers down!

After eating half a sub we hopped back on the AT. Today's hike was pretty much next to perfect. We walked through more fields and cow pastures. Up and over electrical fences. Again, the fields were littered with flowers but this time there were birds fluttering around. It was a sight to see.

Trail today

We got to the next shelter (Stewart Hollow Brook Shelter) and stopped to take a break before trekking to our destination. I laid with my butt against the wall and elevated my feet 90 degrees against shelter wall. Hopefully that helps with my achy feet and ankles. Whiskers came into camp and he developed two new blisters from his shoes. I hope he doesn't have too much pain or problems with those suckers. He is a really nice guy and we enjoy seeing him in camp. He takes great photos of the trail. I thought he might be a professional photographer but it's just a hobby.

AT Wiley Shelter

Nice selection of cooking pots for over a fire

Free Library on the trail!

Made it to Connecticut

I finally made it to camp and we set up at a beautiful campsite close to the Ten Mile River. We took a dip in the river and rinsed our clothes out. The sound of the river is peaceful and I am again caught thinking to myself "I am living in a dream world, how lucky am I?"

Ten Mile River camp (Karma and Mountain Man)

Love the AT!

Smudgy Cheeks Day 67 (Thursday, June 2nd, 2016)

I hiked 17.3 miles today and it was my longest day yet. It was physically demanding because it was mostly up! The hills are getting longer and steeper. Connecticut is very challenging for how long the mountain climbs are. I drank, by far, the most water as I was sweating all day because the summer temps have arrived! I'm happy to be at Pine Swamp Brook Lean to where I'll be spending the night.

View from on top a mountain

Look at how steep this is!

Day: 67

Miles hiked: 17.3

Total Miles hiked on the trail: 549.5

Bear: 1

Chipmunk: 1
Deer: 1
Lizard: 1

Snakes: 3
Toads: 2

Vulture: 1

Zoo Animals: 2 foxes, 1 porcupine, 1 bobcat, 1 turtle, 2 bears

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Sprout Day 66 (Wednesday, June 1, 2016)

We got up early today knowing we had 12 miles to complete. We wanted to get an early start and try to beat the heat. We went down to the Mountaintop Deli for breakfast. Maggie and I got a sausage, egg, and cheese roll with iced coffee and a Mountain Dew, a breakfast of champions!

We got on the trail and a few miles in we passed a really big tree. At first we thought it was the biggest oak tree on the trail but I think we're passing that early in the day tomorrow. The tree was massive and it was a great sight to see.

Whiskers, Mountain Man, Bubbles, and Karma at the big tree

Bubbles and I on the trail

Bubbles

Split boulder

The AT goes right through that boulder!! Bubbles on the trail.

We passed Nuclear Lake today and decide to stop and cool off. Mountain Man, Karma, Whiskers and a local with his dog were there too. The dog looked like a golden retriever and he was in the water waiting for someone to throw a tennis ball. I tossed the ball a few times and no matter how far I threw it he would get it every time.

I noticed a bunch of fish swimming around so I got my line and fly out and we used Bubbles’s trekking pole for the rod. I caught a small and a big bluegill. It was great. I've been wanting to catch a fish this whole trip and today was the day! The big one was out off a rock. It took a few tries but the fish went after the bait!

Whiskers and I at Nuclear Lake

My catch!

Later in the day Bubbles and Whiskers jumped into the lake off of the same rock. It was a great swimming area. If we wouldn't have been tired and wanting to get to camp I would've liked to stay there and swim for awhile.

We got to the shelter and I found a good spot to set up camp, water was close by and it was cold. We plan on waking up around 5 tomorrow and getting an early start. Hopefully it's not as hot because we could use a break from the heat.

Shelter today

Day: 66

Miles hiked: 11.7

Total Miles hiked on the trail: 583.9

Bears: 0
Bluegill: 2

Butterflies: 8

Chipmunks: 3

Cows: 24

Crawfish: 1

Deer: 20

Donkeys: 2

Horses: 12

Inchworm: 1

Really Big Dog: 1

Mice: 2

Nest of bugs: 2

Newts: 2

Owl: 1

Rabbit: 1

Skunk: 1

Snail: 1

Snake: 2

Squirrels: 11

Toads: 3

Trout: 2

Turkeys: 4

Turtles: 107

Vultures: 6
Woodpecker: 1

Bubbles Day 66 (Wednesday, June 1st, 2016)

Today we woke up around 7 and packed our gear. We went back to the deli to get a breakfast sandwich. The deli's in New York have been wonderful. I wish we had some back home in Ohio. We hiked the short distance back to the AT and began our hike. Whiskers was ahead of me and I watched him vanish into the woods. It made me happy. We are back where we belong. As I walked into the woods I had a sense of calmness come over me. We are really back where we belong. The woods were shaded by the heavy canopy of leaves. I like this green tunnel they talk about. Maybe in another 1000 miles it will get old, but now I am happy. I feel like I am home out here. I miss my family and friends but I am right where I am supposed to be. Out here with Sprout.

The hike was easy and wonderful. Before we arrived at the first shelter I heard a woman yelling for help. Robby was ahead of me and probably already at the shelter. She said she wasn't sure where the trail went but she seemed to have missed it. She was still on the trail however and I think I eased her mind. We walked the short distance to the shelter together. Her name is Erin but she thinks her trail name might be snail because of her slow pace. When we got there I was surprised to see all my friends, Karma, Mountain Man and Whiskers were still there. Yayy! Also, Erin's hiking partner was there, Wind I believe is her name. They both just started today. Wind got off trail last year with a leg injury and is coming back to finish the trail to Katahdin.

A really cool thing happened today. A hummingbird fluttered in front of my for three seconds. I thought it was a big giant bird at first because you can hear it's wings flapping. I went to swat it away but stopped when I realized it was a bird. It was so cool to see how fast they fly!

The next stop for the day was at Nuclear Lake, interesting name. In 1958, an experimental nuclear fuel research lab was set up for secret experiments. It was closed after an electrical explosion in 1971. There was a 3 million dollar clean up and it was cleared as safe in the 90s. Perfect place to take a dip, right? Whiskers jumped in so I said screw it and jump off a rock too. Yay! It felt so refreshing. Robby caught two bluegill fish too! I wanted to filet and eat them but Robby said no because they live in nuclear lake. Bummer. I was gonna make me a fire and toast them up with some garlic powder.

It was only another three miles to camp and it was so nice and easy for me. I really enjoyed my hike. I saw Erin again and really realized how much she was struggling when she asked me to stay with her. I told her I would and tried to give her words of encouragement. It was only another mile to the shelter but she was whipped. She was talking about quitting and I told her to try for another week. Hopefully she makes it!

Camp was a joyous occasion as always. Happy to be with Mountain Man and Karma. We always smile and I feel closer to them every day. Karmas' feet didn't bother her too much today and I was elated to hear that. I have been so worried for my friend. I want to hike with them for as long as possible. They are my trail family. We belong together. Plus breaking up Fernando and Mellie would be devastating.

Taconic State Park

Trail through the woods today

Cairn on the trail today

Karma, my bestie

Besties on our chips

Flowers on the trial

Huge tree on the trail

Gigantic!!!

Smudgy Cheeks Day 66 (Wednesday, June 1st, 2016)

I hiked 12.3 miles today. I got up the earliest I have on the trail so far, at 4:15 a.m.! I was out of camp by 5:00 and going on only four hours of sleep. It's too hot to hike during mid-day so I would rather get up early and miss that. It was a difficult hiking day because I put in a lot of miles.

Now I'm at the campsite. I'm relaxing because I had a huge lunch and I'm very tired now. Connecticut scenery is very beautiful but the trail is physical!