[at-l] Hike Report part 1

[ARTCLOUTMN@aol.com]

 I brought a group of 10 people including myself for a 6 day hike along the 
AT in CT.

April 15th.
    Departed South Windsor HS parking lot at 1 PM with students JD(senior 
entering US Army Reserves in June), Chris (leaving for Naval Academy on June 
28th), Dennis (enlisting in Army Reserves as of Aug 3rd),  Michelle (Senior 
starting college in July), Jennifer (a sophomore), Lori (Junior), and 
Rachelle (junior).  Except for Chris and Rachelle the group is all 
inexperienced backpackers.  
    Rachelle is the expert hiker in the group.  She has learned from her 
mistakes.  The first time she hiked with me she carried a TV over Kinsman 
Ridge for three days.  Next time she brought eight sets of pajamas.  When we 
hiked in Virginia last April Vacation her pack weight before food was down to 
13 pounds.  Now she hikes very fast.  Gets into camp so exhausted that she 
has to sleep.  She is the most enthusiastic kid I have worked with and has 
spent considerable time teaching other kids what she knows about backpacking. 
 So, the newbie girls came with light packs - phew. 
    There were two other adults on the trip.  John, 57, health inspector for 
the town of Manchester, who has hiked with me often including 100 MIle 
Wilderness last August.  And Eric, 26, first year mathematics teacher, first 
time backpacker.  Eric didn't trust my advice and carried extra supplies, 
food, etc.  But he is young and strong so it worked.
    We parked one car at the bottom of St John's Ledges then drove back to 
Hoyt Road to leave the other two vehicles.  We left the cars at 4 PM headed 
south without packs to the NY/CT border. Returned to the parking lot to pick 
up our packs the headed north to 10 mile River Camp Ground.  About 1 mile out 
of camp we met a family of four carrying huge packs with the hope of a BP to 
New Hampshire border.  In 3 hours they had made only 2 miles.  The mother was 
so overloaded that she fell on her face and could not get out from under her 
pack without help.  We talked with them in camp.  They were hoping to do 8 
miles per day.  Hope they made it but we never saw them again.   After making 
camp and having dinner it began to rain lightly.  We retired to our tents for 
the evening hoping for an early start on Sunday.

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