T+37 A glorious day, but not the day I had planned

​T+37 (July 5, 2020)

Navigation Report:
Start Point: Brassie Brook Shelter (mile 1507.0)
Target Destination: Glen Brook Shelter (mile 1515.9)

Travel Log:
11:00 Break Camp (mile 1507.0)
11:50 Riga Junction (mile 1507.6)
12:00-12:20 Bear Mountain [CT's high point] (mile 1508.4)
12:55 CT / MA border (mile 1508.9)
1:10 Sage's Ravine Camp (mile 1509.3)

Daily Mileage = 2.3
Total Mileage = 355

Commander’s Report:
Welp, I had big plans for today. HAD.

Instead, I turned the day into a hero (near zero) by doing only 2.3 miles before calling it a day at Sage's Ravine. I had hoped to get here yesterday, but a combination of fatigue and fear of the piece being packed kept me from making it.

I started the day by getting on the trail late (what's new?), but the first mile or so was nice and flat to help get the old legs going. Around a half mile in is the Riga Junction, a major intersection of trails - signed as such.

After that, it's up and over Bear Mountain. That'd be 600' up and 900' back down. Doesn't sound so bad until you're on the mountain. Then you see situations like this:

​Yes, that's the trail going straight down to the left and straight up off to the right, NBD.

This is from the bottom of the stretch of trail above.

​But, I made it and the reward are some pretty nice views. There's several viewing spots up on top, plus a huge stone viewing ramp (which I avoided for social distancing reasons).

​After coming down off Bear Mountain, the trail crosses the CT / MA border, but it's not signed at that location. Rather, the sign is a bit less than a mile north of that location. (I forgot to get a picture of that.)

CT / MA border

CT / MA border (unsigned on the ground)

​Just under half a mile into MA and viola, there's Sage's Ravine. After seeing the opportunities here, I just had to stay for a while.

​Due to the recent rains, my gear is in dire need of airing out and I need a bath. Considering that the attraction of Sage's Ravine is that it's a substantial river with many swimming holes, that second need should be easily met. It's a beautiful, clear, low humidity day - ideal conditions for airing out gear. Plus, the weather and funky smell of EVERYTHING has me contemplating washing most of my laundry in the river. In the end I compromised, only wash the clothes that have been on my body. The rest of 'em will smell funny, but I don't have enough clothes line to dry everything.

​Here's evidence that my gear got some good airing out. Everything stayed out in the sun all afternoon and by the time it was all packed back up things smelled far less of mildew and High School gym locker room. Mission accomplished!

​Here's a picture of my bath for the day. Yes, I got my ass naked and washed in that. What you can't tell from the pic is that the trail is 20 feet away and the swimming hole is in plain sight from the trail. Oh well, no guts, no glory! (The bath felt fantastic, BTW!)

​At night, just before dinner & bed I made a trip down to the river to fill up my water bottles & found that I had a supervisor for these duties.