View Full Version : Ten Mile River Lean-to
Former Admin
10-19-2002, 11:17
Info, questions, comments, experiences (good or bad) regarding - Ten Mile River Lean-to
Past/Present hikers - what can future hikers expect here? Have any good stories or memories from here?
Future hikers - any questions?
copythat
12-11-2003, 00:53
Info, questions, comments, experiences (good or bad) regarding - Ten Mile River Lean-to
Past/Present hikers - what can future hikers expect here? Have any good stories or memories from here?
Future hikers - any questions?
Wonderful spot. Shelter faces sunrise over a broad meadow. Sounds of two rivers provide delightful backdrop. (An unwelcome noise: If it's windy, bring an extra bungie to keep the privy door from slamming open and shut all night.) My most recent overnight here was during our first snowstorm. Fabulous! (Hiked out through 10-18", impressive for Conn.) There's a well/pump to the east (at the camp area by the river), but it's been safety-tagged every time I've been there. Bring your own treatment and scoop out of either river.
BTW, for locals, this is a nice weekend base for day hikes, either toward NY (moderate climb, then gentle hills) or farther into Conn. (some climbs and rewarding views).
Sleepy the Arab
12-12-2003, 00:01
There's a well/pump to the east (at the camp area by the river), but it's been safety-tagged every time I've been there. Bring your own treatment and scoop out of either river.
In 2001 a bunch of friends of mine avoided the suspicious looking water in the pump and scooped out of one of the rivers. Ten hours later they all got sick.
There are PCBs in the Housatonic, and the Ten Mile river is equally nasty. Filters do not screen out chemicals so hoof it to Schaghitckgh... Schagacit... Shagadellic.......... Mt. Algo Lean-to for water.
copythat
12-12-2003, 04:23
In 2001 a bunch of friends of mine avoided the suspicious looking water in the pump and scooped out of one of the rivers. Ten hours later they all got sick.
There are PCBs in the Housatonic, and the Ten Mile river is equally nasty. Filters do not screen out chemicals so hoof it to Schaghitckgh... Schagacit... Shagadellic.......... Mt. Algo Lean-to for water.
I do not envy your friends' experience! You are right about the presence of PCBs in the Housatonic and about hiking filters not removing them. Thanks for the good reminder!
PCBs are recognized as carcinogenic in long-term exposure and can attack the liver and thyroid. They accumulate in muscle and other tissue. That is why you see advisories about eating fish from the river. Acute PCB ingestion is a serious health threat, but not likely at the concentrations found in the Connecticut stretch of the Housatonic. And the symptoms would be very different than the likes of giardia.
The 10-hour lag suggests a bacterial or viral attack. Both are possible even with filtering.
I don't blame anyone for not drinking or eating fish from the toxin-tainted waters of Connecticut's most beautiful waterway, and should have mentioned that in my earlier post. My apologies!
P.S. Schaghticoke is easier to climb than spell! I use a cheat sheet, or I'd never even get close!
Rain Man
12-12-2003, 11:46
The 10-hour lag suggests a bacterial or viral attack. Both are possible even with filtering.
Don't filters only get bacteria and not viruses anyway, which are much, much smaller than bacteria?
Anyway, I thought that was why filters are not considered purifyers, because they do allow some living critters through, and to "purify" you have to use chemicals.
Just wondering. NOT an expert!
Rain Man
.
I used Aqua Mira on the pump water about 3 weeks ago and I was fine. It was tagged for having bacteria.
Sleepy the Arab
12-16-2003, 00:34
P.S. Schaghticoke is easier to climb than spell! I use a cheat sheet, or I'd never even get close!
Thanks for the spelling lesson. Now if I could only learn to pronounce it.
copythat
12-16-2003, 03:52
Thanks for the spelling lesson. Now if I could only learn to pronounce it.
Hey, anyone who quotes Walt gets my vote! (Really want to know? It's ska-ti-coke)
And yeah, Rain Man's right about viruses. Anyone have experience with the ExStream bottles? They're supposed to have a viral cartridge in addition to the "tortured path" for bacteria. Look handy, but they're pricey! Yowks! (Yawp?)
hikerltwt
01-09-2004, 21:57
skip the lean to and walk a bit further to the camping area. I distinctly remember reaching that spot and thinking....damn I made new england!
copythat
01-14-2004, 02:14
And yeah, Rain Man's right about viruses. Anyone have experience with the ExStream bottles? They're supposed to have a viral cartridge in addition to the "tortured path" for bacteria. Look handy, but they're pricey! Yowks! (Yawp?)
!!Yawp!! back atcha. Yeah, yeah, yeah, ExStreams are VERY pricey (and the replacemement filters aren't much cheaper) and I've heard about problems like flow falling off sharply and filters not lasting very long (like 80 l. instead of 200) and with contamination from the top of the container. i'm thinking about Bota, 'cause they're cheaper, the flow lasts longer, and then using some chlorine or so to polish off the viruses, but then I think why not just use the additive? who knows.
I hiked in from Bull's Bridge with my brother, first time he's stepped foot on the AT. He was impressed with the whole hiking thing I love so much. The beautiful trail alongside the rapids, the Ned Andersen footbridge in the middle of the woods and the the fine lean-to overlooking a large meadow. He said he may want to go back sometime this week for his first overnighter!
I told him that he could follow those white blazes all the way to Georgia or Maine and he said maybe someday he would.
The Pump is still tagged as last being tested in Nov. 03. Colliform warning
I'm sure someone will be out testing soon.
The new privy built in Oct/Nov. is a very nice elevated number.
I would rate this shelter :banana :banana :banana out of four dancing bananas. If the water source was good I would give it all 4.
Happy Hiking
2XL
copythat
08-12-2004, 23:43
Took my three girls (7, 11, 14) on a quick hike (Bulls Bridge to 10-Mile River and back) and we had some fun meeting some thru-hikers (including one with a pack-carrying dog) and a section-hiker in and around the shelter. My kids were fascinated by the whole experience, and especially the trail names. (Only one I can recall right now is CrazyLegs.) They even had fun checking out the privy! Then we went and played in the river and each and every one of us slipped off of something and fell in! (Better the river than the privy!) Fun like this you cannot buy. (And yes, we had extra clothes.)
Hope all is well out there.
gsingjane
06-10-2005, 05:51
This lean=to and site are still in good shape (6/8/05) ... my kids and I tented there and a thru-hiker (Roamin' Gnome) spent the night in the shelter. He said it was good but very buggy (he had to put up his tent inside the shelter!) and we found it a bit buggy as well. I thought the group campsite (down by the river, under the pines) looked nicer but my kids wanted to stay by the shelter, so we did. But there are lovely sounds of the rivers rushing by, and a beautiful meadow to look at (we even saw a rainbow after a brief summer squall!).
Under the pines is a nice place to tent, but the group campsites are on the other side of the bridge and up the trail to the left.
I stopped at this shelter last summer. Some sadist had left a half dozen mouse traps there, I disarmed them all.
copythat
06-16-2005, 20:14
I stopped at this shelter last summer. Some sadist had left a half dozen mouse traps there, I disarmed them all.
right on! mousies are part of backpacking, right? i mean, you might aw well clearcut along the trail!
and yes, the group sites are across the river from the shelter. north over the bridge, left, trail eventually bears right and the sites are up the hill and on the left. and there's an outdoor privy there (no walls or roof, just a hole and a seat.) i much prefer the area by the river. but scouts are often there. and the harley noise is louder. there's a (fairly) busy road east across the housy.
lemme see ... harleys, or rushing water ... um ... water rushes all night, harleys go by now and then. see you by the river, mousies!
Undershaft
08-27-2007, 13:23
FYI: This shelter is NOT where the map indicates. According to the map it's located near the top of the hill. It is actually all the way down at the bottom of the hill by the river. I did not appreciate this discrepency during the severe thunderstorm w/ 60mph winds that was taking down trees all around me, including the large birch that fell on me while I was looking for the shelter. Near death had me pretty pissed off at the cartographers that day.
copythat
12-13-2007, 12:56
the water pump has been moved uphill to near the shelter.
spittinpigeon
12-13-2007, 13:17
Is there still a rope swing down there on the housatonic? If you're coming south over the footbridge, and go all the way to the end of THAT field, there was a path that let to a ropeswing. Wait, that was 97. Didn't check it when I was there in 97 and 06. Prolly gone, nevermind.
If you don't want water from the pump or the river, I didn't see anyone mention the store over Bull's Bridge.
spittinpigeon
12-13-2007, 13:18
Is there still a rope swing down there on the housatonic? If you're coming south over the footbridge, and go all the way to the end of THAT field, there was a path that let to a ropeswing. Wait, that was 97. Didn't check it when I was there in 97 and 06. Prolly gone, nevermind.
If you don't want water from the pump or the river, I didn't see anyone mention the store over Bull's Bridge.
99 or 06, it was supposed to read. :o
take-a-knee
12-13-2007, 13:41
Don't filters only get bacteria and not viruses anyway, which are much, much smaller than bacteria?
Anyway, I thought that was why filters are not considered purifyers, because they do allow some living critters through, and to "purify" you have to use chemicals.
Just wondering. NOT an expert!
Rain Man
.
Hand-held filters don't trap viruses, some have a prefilter that kills them chemically with iodines usually.
sasquatch2014
12-13-2007, 21:49
I love the field in the front.
2806
Want to get the kids there next summer when the fire flys are in full force.
I love the field in the front. ... Want to get the kids there next summer when the fire flys are in full force.
Funny you should mention the fireflies. I remember them vividly from my stay at that shelter.
wystiria
02-18-2008, 13:50
Stayed here the night of 2/15/08 the sh was in great condition - its a gorgeous spot. no problems with the water from the pump in its new location above the shelter.
Stayed here the night of 2/15/08 the sh was in great condition - its a gorgeous spot. no problems with the water from the pump in its new location above the shelter.
As shelters go, this one is fairly clean. Most of the filth is in the magazines some kids leave behind and the trail runner is constantly packing out.
wystiria
02-18-2008, 18:29
No mags that I saw but i completely forgot to sign the register! sooooo there could have been some in there. Otherwise it was clean, and in good repair. and you can't beat the sunrise!
No mags that I saw but i completely forgot to sign the register! sooooo there could have been some in there. Otherwise it was clean, and in good repair. and you can't beat the sunrise!
Porn rags is probably more of an issue in the warmer months.
It is a pretty spot, but the sunrise is much nicer at Riga shelter up on the ridge just north of Salisbury.
I signed in at 10 river, didnt see anything else in the box, but at mt algo there was a Scientology book and The Great Adventures of SomeoneIHaveNeverHeardOf.
Blissful
02-18-2008, 20:25
Glad they redid the pump. We got cider out of the pump last year pretty bad.
wystiria
02-19-2008, 11:22
:) I agree about Riga!
Yeha the pump had no ill effects for us. and hte water was clear - though it did have a metalic taste- this dissapated if you pumped a bit
Dingus Khan
06-11-2008, 18:12
stopped in today, pump in good condition, nice clean shelter. buggy!!!
stopped in today, pump in good condition, nice clean shelter. buggy!!!
The ridgerunner does a good job here for sure.
It was a guy named Lump or Lumpy, I think he's a member here also.
sasquatch2014
06-12-2008, 02:47
Great spot in the next few weeks as the lightning bugs love that field in front of the shelter.
modiyooch
06-12-2008, 08:30
FYI: This shelter is NOT where the map indicates. According to the map it's located near the top of the hill. It is actually all the way down at the bottom of the hill by the river. I did not appreciate this discrepency during the severe thunderstorm w/ 60mph winds that was taking down trees all around me, including the large birch that fell on me while I was looking for the shelter. Near death had me pretty pissed off at the cartographers that day. But if you paid attention to the elevation of the shelter, 200-400 feet you would realize that the shelter was not at the top of that mountain. They do need to remove the shelter sign that is at elevation 1000+ feet. I stayed at the shelter last month. Nice area. Popular area.
Mention the Ten Mile River Shelter and my memories are of the noise of the slamming privy door.:sun
modiyooch
06-12-2008, 08:33
Is there still a rope swing down there on the housatonic? If you're coming south over the footbridge, and go all the way to the end of THAT field, there was a path that let to a ropeswing. Wait, that was 97. Didn't check it when I was there in 97 and 06. Prolly gone, nevermind.
If you don't want water from the pump or the river, I didn't see anyone mention the store over Bull's Bridge. great store!! wonderful lady!! side trip to bridge and store is well worth it.
Blissful
06-12-2008, 15:24
The poster in the privy was funny last year.
XCskiNYC
09-30-2009, 17:08
I stopped at this shelter last summer. Some sadist had left a half dozen mouse traps there, I disarmed them all.
You go! (10 characters)
Old Grouse
09-30-2009, 17:33
'Round here we've always pronounced it "scat -a-coke."
XCskiNYC
11-02-2009, 00:57
The mousetraps are still gone. And so are the mice.
Id like to stay at this shelter. Does it have an access trail? And where can I park. Im trying to figure it out and it seems like bulls bridge is the nearest road. Can anyone help?
copythat
03-26-2010, 14:22
Id like to stay at this shelter. Does it have an access trail? And where can I park. Im trying to figure it out and it seems like bulls bridge is the nearest road. Can anyone help?
Yes, you park at Bulls Bridge, either in the little parking area there just west of the covered bridge, or along the road west of the gorge. The shelter is a little over a mile south of that area, along the white-blazed trail. Turn west after you cross the foot bridge (across 10 Mile River), then turn south after maybe 50 yards, when you see the shelter sign. There's a little general store just south of Bulls Bridge (on Route 7) and a whole retail area (pizza, coffee, antiques, etc.) north of there in Kent. Enjoy.
Yes, you park at Bulls Bridge, either in the little parking area there just west of the covered bridge, or along the road west of the gorge. The shelter is a little over a mile south of that area, along the white-blazed trail. Turn west after you cross the foot bridge (across 10 Mile River), then turn south after maybe 50 yards, when you see the shelter sign. There's a little general store just south of Bulls Bridge (on Route 7) and a whole retail area (pizza, coffee, antiques, etc.) north of there in Kent. Enjoy.
Beware the mechanic at that Gulf Station. Stole my GPS (handheld, not car-navigational) right out of my glove box.
sasquatch2014
03-26-2010, 17:17
Was just there this past Tuesday. Everything looked in good shape and the river was really running fast. If you want more of a hike you can always part at the NY/CT line and head over to the shelter that way up and over 10 mile hill. As others have said the shortest and flattest route is along the trail next to the river you can either pick up the AT where it meets the road or closer to the concrete bridge the trail that heads out from there eventually meets the AT and then down to to where the shelter is located.
The Snowman
03-27-2010, 17:36
to be clear the shelter is on the blue blazed trail in the meadow above the river watch for the sign you can't see the shealter from the AT
wystiria
05-10-2010, 14:34
Was there Friday night 5/7 - Got in before the Thunderstorms showed up. There were already fire flies! Pump is working great, no trach in the area and the shelter was in good condition.
The privy on the other hand needs some work - no roof and lots of rot in the wooden structure.
Kneegrinder
08-20-2010, 14:03
Was just there. One of the best!. Its near the river and also has a great pump. The privy has been fixed. Lots of credit goes to the Connecticutt ridgerunners who do a great job there.
just over the bull bridge not far north from the shelter there's a blue blaze trail heading south about a quarter mile to a spectacular swimming hole on the river, with a locally favored cliff jump. this has become my favorite way to end a day hike from kent south the bull bridge. i'd recommend this swim highly. for day hikers, you can park at the bull bridge, hitch north to kent, walk back to your car, get into a bathing suit and cool off. pretty easy hitch. heavenly today!!!
neonmeat
07-02-2013, 11:15
I spent a wonderful evening here recently. The river was a welcome cool off for my feet and the water pump worked well for me. The shelter smelled a bit like urine when I stayed there, but the spot is really great. Fireflies lit up the meadow all night long and I awoke to a beautiful sunrise and a lingering mist above the tall grass. A lot of day hikers pass through because of its proximity to roads. Someone had made an (illegal) fire pit and left a bunch of half-burned garbage around. DON'T TAKE WATER FROM THE RIVER! It is still very polluted. I hitched into Kent the next day and the driver told me locals are even still skeptical of swimming in it...
neonmeat
07-02-2013, 11:17
Oh, forgot to mention. This is also a very accessible destination for New Yorkers looking to hike for a day or two from the nearby MetroNorth station. The NY Times magazine explains: The Campster | Ten Mile River (http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/21/the-campster-ten-mile-river/?_r=0)
Teacher & Snacktime
07-02-2013, 12:52
skip the lean to and walk a bit further to the camping area. I distinctly remember reaching that spot and thinking....damn I made new england!
+1 Snacktime, Strife and I stayed at the camping area in May.....WONDERFUL! Strike hoofed it to the pump at the lean-to for water and we used a steri-pen to purify. It wasn't rusty or metallic and we were all fine. However, the next day we camped at the foot of the Schaghticoke blue-blaze at a great spring and the water was great. Also, the larger brook between Schaghticoke and Mt. Algo was a great water source. (check our pics)
rangetravelblog
11-05-2014, 00:34
I've stayed at Ten Mile in September and October this year. The shelter was in good condition, but the well wasn't working either time. You're right next to a river though, so you should be okay :). I started a new blog recently, and threw a bunch of pictures of the shelter up on it; you can check it out at http://rangetravelblog.com/nyc-at-nov-14/.
Late on this thread but what's Bull Mountain? Was that the name of Ten Mile Hill in 2013, or did this writer never actually DO the hike?
sorry referring to the campster article listed above at http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/21/the-campster-ten-mile-river/?_r=1
i mean 2011, when the article was posted.... hey at least im not getting paid for incorrect information :):)
rangetravelblog, enjoyed your post. Ten Mile is a nice spot and the updates on Wiley continue thanks to an Eagle scout project and some thru hiker help from what I've read recently.
Just Tom
11-12-2014, 17:17
I've stayed at Ten Mile in September and October this year. The shelter was in good condition, but the well wasn't working either time. You're right next to a river though, so you should be okay :). I started a new blog recently, and threw a bunch of pictures of the shelter up on it; you can check it out at http://rangetravelblog.com/nyc-at-nov-14/.
The river is contaminated with PCBs, I would avoid drinking it if at all possible.
Old Grouse
11-12-2014, 17:50
The river is contaminated with PCBs, I would avoid drinking it if at all possible.
The shelter is at the confluence of two rivers. The Housatonic has the PCBs but the Ten Mile is probably PCB-free.
coach lou
11-12-2014, 18:34
The ten mile river should not be drank from!!!! Prime the pump more.
Just Tom
11-12-2014, 18:36
The shelter is at the confluence of two rivers. The Housatonic has the PCBs but the Ten Mile is probably PCB-free.
Hmm, that is true. The campsite sign though warns not to drink the river water, so I avoided it when I was there.
Traveler
11-13-2014, 16:51
The shelter is at the confluence of two rivers. The Housatonic has the PCBs but the Ten Mile is probably PCB-free.
The Ten Mile river at the confluence of the Housatonic river in CT is not considered safe. PCBs from the Housatonic have migrated upstream into Ten Mile, however there is lead and other contamination that keeps this section of the Ten Mile river posted with non-potable water warnings. There are periodic fecal counts from upstream storm run off and water foul as well. It's not something you want to tangle with if you can avoid it.
Just Tom
11-13-2014, 17:13
Thanks for that extra information. So the question of the day is, is the pump currently functional? Has anyone successfully gotten water from it recently?
What I wonder is how much PCBs/Lead/Mercury/whatever are you exposed to if you're drinking 1L of water. Most of that stuff is in the sediment from pollution which mostly stopped in the 70s (though some leaching may be occurring upstream on the Ten Mile at former construction waste dumps). Assume you don't stir up sediment I would think the exposure would be stupendously low. I'll still look for alternative sources but I'm not going to go thirsty if those are the only sources.
coach lou
11-13-2014, 18:37
Folks, 500 yards from the shelter is small grocery store, if you really can't get that pump to work..................next door is a Restuarant/ bar!
Just Tom
02-13-2015, 11:03
right on! mousies are part of backpacking, right? i mean, you might aw well clearcut along the trail!
and yes, the group sites are across the river from the shelter. north over the bridge, left, trail eventually bears right and the sites are up the hill and on the left. and there's an outdoor privy there (no walls or roof, just a hole and a seat.) i much prefer the area by the river. but scouts are often there. and the harley noise is louder. there's a (fairly) busy road east across the housy.
lemme see ... harleys, or rushing water ... um ... water rushes all night, harleys go by now and then. see you by the river, mousies!
To this day, I see mention of a group site in the guide books (it's in the 2015 version I just picked up even). But I've talked to two different people that use the field for groups. When I visited this section, I assumed (incorrectly I guess) that the area immediately to the left of the North side of the bridge was the group area. It is an area about 30' deep but that goes back along the river maybe as much as 40 yards? Easily enough for a group and it is all under some pines and on soft duff. If I took a group here (which is a distinct possibility), I would prefer this area over the field just to keep separation and avoid any possibility of disturbing folks at the lovely tent site next to the field. I now get the impression that the "official" group site is defunct? Anyone thoughts?
coach, are you referring to the bulls bridge place on rt 7 across from the bridge? the shelter and campsite are at least a mile south from the road where the bridge is so you're looking at 1.3-ish miles to that shop/restaurant. in the other direction you have to go over ten mile hill to rt 55 which is a few miles and i dont recall seeing anything on rt 55 that's that close to the trail. of course i could be wrong but i just hiked it last year.
Just Tom
02-16-2015, 14:23
coach, are you referring to the bulls bridge place on rt 7 across from the bridge? the shelter and campsite are at least a mile south from the road where the bridge is so you're looking at 1.3-ish miles to that shop/restaurant. in the other direction you have to go over ten mile hill to rt 55 which is a few miles and i dont recall seeing anything on rt 55 that's that close to the trail. of course i could be wrong but i just hiked it last year.
I think I saw a side trail / forest road to the right a little ways North of the bridge. I never followed it, but i assumed from Coach's comment that it must be a shortcut to the road and a market? I don't really know though, like I said I never followed it to see where it went.
That forest road basically leads to the same road you cross further up the AT. If you take a right at the road you cross the covered bridge and there's a market/gas station and restaurant at the light. The short cut isn't much of a short cut. The only benefit of the short cut is you avoid the elevation climbs. It's a fairly level walk. And as linus says, it's a lot more than 500 yards.
liptackj
02-16-2015, 16:09
Tom, You are correct. There was a group site on the north side of the bridge but was removed from service several years ago by the CT-AMC AT Committee. Groups were generally using the field on the south side of the bridge and the one on the north side was not being used at all, hence the decision to shut it down. If true, I am very disappointed to hear that the site is still listed in the new guide. There seems to be a growing number of errors that were identified by the AT Committee but failed to make it to the book.
Jim Liptack
CT-AMC Overseer of Trails
Just Tom
02-16-2015, 16:32
Tom, You are correct. There was a group site on the north side of the bridge but was removed from service several years ago by the CT-AMC AT Committee. Groups were generally using the field on the south side of the bridge and the one on the north side was not being used at all, hence the decision to shut it down. If true, I am very disappointed to hear that the site is still listed in the new guide. There seems to be a growing number of errors that were identified by the AT Committee but failed to make it to the book.
Jim Liptack
CT-AMC Overseer of Trails
I have both recent guide books (the official one and awols). I'll double-check when I get home, but I saw it in at least one of them. I'll post back if no one does before me.
I'm not a huge fan of that field personally because I'm a bit of of a tick-a-phobe and the grass gets really high there. It is too bad that the area across the bridge to the north and the immediate left cannot be used.
Just Tom
02-17-2015, 10:35
It was the AT Guide that listed a group area north of the bridge. The Thru Hikers Companion doesn't seem to track that information either way for any of the sites. The CT trail brochure just lists the area as having a Group Area but without a specific location or reference to the old area. So I guess it is just one of those things that will have to slowly fade out of everyone's memory eventually.
Stopped in to the shelter on May 4. Found everything in good order, including the pump. A very pleasant area.
There's still a sign for camping at the south end of the Ned Anderson Bridge, and there's a privy there. If there's a pump there, I didn't see it.
I shot a short video of the shelter area:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsQwUJFDghI
--Peter