7/12/01
I was afraid to get out of the tent last night because I thought the mosquitos might launch a full attack while I was using the bathroom. I kept waiting for them to lift me and the tent off the ground and take us to their swamp home. Somehow I survived and it was a quick job packing up this morning to leave the infested area. Phantom and I hiked 8 miles between 8:30 and 11:30 a.m. I struggled with every climb along the way as my energy level continued to be low and I didn't feel well at all. Nevertheless, the terrain was not particularly difficult and the morning was cool and breezy which helped make the hiking easier. After the tough climb up and over Easter Mountain we arrived at Hang Glide view. There was an open view to the valley below with a race track and several cars racing there. From our vantage point we could see about half the track and we actually saw a car lose control on one of the turns and spin out. It was a strange phenomenon standing on top of a mountain seeing a spectacle like that far down below. We arrived at the road crossing at Falls Village, CT at 11:30 a.m. Phantom's uncle, Al Schwarz, was standing in the trail parking lot with a video camera as we emerged from the woods across a small field to the lot. Al is from Seattle, but was on a business trip to Boston and drove to meet Phantom for lunch and a short visit. Al opened his trunk and we slung our smelly gear in there, then hopped in the car for the quick half mile ride to the Falls Village Pizzeria and Restaurant. Al very kindly bought us lunch. I had a salad and baked ziti while Phantom had a large calzone. When they were gone, we helped Al with his large specialty pizza that was topped with bacon, baby clams, fresh garlic and mozzerella. The restaurant had a nice seating area on the front porch and we enjoyed the cool Connecticut day while we ate.
While Phantom and Al went to find a convenience store I started drying some clothing in the sun and called Red Pepper and Locke to catch up on things back home. A brief shower passed by so I scrambled to get my gear collected before it could get wet. Phantom and Al returned and Al left us to return to Boston. Phantom and I were extremely content hanging out on the front porch of the restaurant drying our gear and journaling. I made a quick hike to the PO to arrange for some mail to be forwarded and mailed some completed journal entries home. When I returned Phantom and I ate some ice cream at the restaurant. Then we ate some more ice cream. Then we had a beer at the restaurant. It seemed we would never leave, and had it not been for the fact that there was no place to sleep in town we would have stayed longer. Finally at 5:30p.m. we left Falls Village and returned to the trail. We faced a steep climb out of town over Prospect Mountain. I think the afternoon of perpetual dining really helped because we maintained a strong pace throughout the 2 1/2 mile climb. Soon we were over Prospect Mtn. and at the turn off to the blue blaze trail to Limestone Spring lean-to. Since the lean-to was a half mile off the AT, straight down, and has a reputation for bad mosquitos we decided that illegal stealth camping in the deep woods off the trail was a much better option. Just past Rand's View, which has a stellar vista across the Taconic Mountain range, we found a flat area about 200 yards off the AT where we couldn't be seen. The mosquitos were still pretty voracious so we quickly set up camp and made dinner. After hanging the bear bag it was time to get in the tent for the night (by 8:00 p.m.!). The trail today had some beautiful stretches and was very enjoyable despite the fact that I still wasn't feeling well. The food in town helped a lot so I'm suspicious that maybe I was too low on calories the last couple of days in addition to having a cold. Here are today's stats: low 55, high 72. Partly cloudy with a passing shower, breezy. Today's mileage: 12.4; cumulative mileage 1,476.8.
