Victorious Camping Trip

Victorious Camping Trip

On Monday, June 22, Fr. Jim Mulloy and I parked one car at the White Bar trailhead at the end of Johnsontown Rd. in Sloatsburg and another car at the Victory Trail trailhead along NY Rte 106 (Kanawauke Rd.), whence we hiked 2.75 miles to Lake Skenonto.  It was a very hot and humid day, which would be the case for our entire outing.  But the shade was pleasant.

Rhododendrons in full bloom along the Victory Trail

There were quite a few day hikers about, and we also encountered departing overniters.

Fr. Jim's bad ankle was bothering him badly by the time we reached the lake.  Fortunately, we found a good camping spot near the lake’s north end.  He pitched his hammock and was delighted to have a large rock convenient to it on which he could park his pack.  

I used the one fairly level place to pitch my tent.  Both of us relaxed after he'd fetched water.  

A couple of guys fishing on the opposite shore

The lake's shores are delightful.  We weren't the only ones enjoying them, or the water:  various day trippers were out, and one couple camped overnite opposite us, on the other shore of the lake.

I didn't have much to do to round up some firewood--enuf to grill hot dogs for supper.  He'd also brought some marshmallows, and both of us toasted a few of those for dessert.

June 22 was one day after the longest day of the year, so we had more than enuf daylight.  Staying up to read, tho, wasn't very convenient, for lack for good places to sit without getting butt-sore--and in my case, also straining my bad back.  So we did our separate retirements before full dark.

On Tuesday, after Mass, breakfast, and Liturgy of the Hours, we followed Victory Trail .4 mile to its intersection with the Triangle Trail.  I wanted to take an unmarked shortcut to the White Bar Trail, but I yielded to Fr. Jim and we continued on the Triangle, which took us up to some elevation, then down to an arm of Lake Sebago, where one gent was fishing, but not near enuf to the trail for speaking.  Both of us were happy that Fr. Jim's ankle felt a lot better.

The Triangle Trail ends at the White Bar Trail after turning west from Lake Sebago, 1.15 mile from its junction with the Victory Trail.  From its end, from it was .2 mile to the Dutch Doctor shelter, our destination for the day.  We reached it well before noon.

4 young adults were camped behind the shelter—a friendly lot from Virginia.  The shelter hadn’t seen much recent use; it was dirty and full of cobwebs.  It was also dry (we hoped) in case of passing thunderstorms.  The roof looked questionable, and I for one was quite happy there weren't any storms.  Our 4 neighbors, who had only one small tent, didn't trust the forecast and asked to leave most of their gear with us while they went on a long day hike.

Fr. Jim fetched water again, this time from a nearby brook.  It was his idea to bring his Sawyer system and take on that chore.

  

He also did some napping, of course.  We weren't going to make a fire, so I didn't have to hunt for wood (usually my chore).  Besides napping a little, I did some reading, and I explored the area a little bit.  In a mess of rocks found a cute fawn in hiding.  

After supper a larger deer, perhaps its mother, came grazing in front of the shelter for quite a while.

For supper Fr. Jim had some cold stuff he likes; I had freeze-dried pasta in marinara sauce.  Both of us hit the (figurative) around 8:30.

On Wednesday the 24th, Fr. Jim said, "Let's say Mass when we get back to the Prep."  So we were out of camp fairly early--just after 8:00.  It was a straight, slightly downhill shot on the White Bar Trail, 1.55 miles, to our car at Johnsontown Rd.  

En route between Dutch Doctor and Johnsontown Rd.

We covered only about 6 miles over 3 days, without much elevation except that one stretch mentioned, so not an especially strenuous adventure—but enuf when you don’t do it very often and are toting a full pack.

More pictures: https://link.shutterfly.com/pjwxpu7sA7