Treated by the Dutch Doctor

Treated by the Dutch Doctor

On June 22-24 I went out camping with Fr. Jim Mulloy in Harriman State Park:  https://link.shutterfly.com/Tms03ANl9qb.

Our original intent was to tent camp at Island Pond, but the weather forecast of rain caused us to switch to Dutch Doctor shelter, a short hike on the White Bar Trail (45 minutes) from the parking lot at the end of Johnsontown Road, and with water nearby. The shelter takes its name from John Frederick Helms, the "Old Dutch Doctor," who lived near the site from 1874 to about 1892, according to Harriman Trails, p. 146.

Other than a small group of Korean day hikers we saw at the parking lot, we encountered only 4 other hikers on Wednesday, not a soul on Thursday, and 2 day hikers at 7:00 a.m. on Friday--but heard a few voices in the woods, apparently coming from the Tuxedo-Mt. Ivy Trail, which crosses the White Bar a short distance away from the shelter.

The shelter has at least half a dozen good campsites around it--several of which still had rope for bear bags hanging high from tree limbs (a different style of bear-bagging than I use).

Following advice about bears, I hung our bag

about 50 yards away from the shelter.

As usual, Fr. Jim fetched water (choosing to hike to Lake Sebago to do that, and to explore the ADK camp there), while I cut firewood.  He also set up his hammock and took a nap, but he didn't dare try to use it overnite.

It did indeed rain--lightly for 45 minutes in the afternoon and heavily in the middle of Wednesday nite. In the morning we found out that the roof leaked a little, just missing me but leaving little puddles on the tarp next to me and dampening the foot of my sleeping bag and pad (not enuf to notice till morning). It took all day in Thursday's dampness to dry out the tarp, pad, and bag--helped mightily when the sun finally came out late, toasty warm, in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, there was a heavy rain from 1:00 to 1:45 p.m., during which I hiked on an unmarked trail to and from Lake Skenonto, just to verify the trail (a shorter, flatter trip to the lake than staying on 2 marked trails that also have a lot of elevation).

From opposite sides of the fire, 

both Fr. Jim and I took photos of burritos on the grill.

We grilled burritos for Wednesday supper, supplemented by cheese, crackers, nuts, trail mix, apricots. My Thursday supper was freeze dried chicken with risotto plus nuts and apricots. Had cheese and crackers for one lunch and PB&J sandwich for another. Fr. Jim basically skips lunch.

After Fr. Jim left for home on Thursday morning (he had duties there), it was like a day of recollection for me--a quiet day of reading and prayer besides that short hike and campsite chores. I hadn't brought enuf reading with me--finished off 2 magazines and plus 2 Magnificat readings.

Set up for Mass on Thursday morning

So that was our adventure with the "Old Dutch Doctor."