Date: 2006-06-13
From: Fingerboard Shelter

To: West Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: broken clouds

June 13, West Mt. ShelterI slept in this morning. I knew I had a very short day, maybe tough, but short none-the-less. Everyone else slept in also, including the thru-hiker, JetWash, that showed up late last night. That's a different trail name. When he finally did get up, I asked him if he was a sleep in, walk long miles over long day hiker. He said yes. He had come in from a day in NYC. One of those things some hikers like to do when on the trail. Almost everywhere around here, there is a way to get to the big city. He said no one gave him a second look; he stunk and had a backpack, like most of the homeless folks. And after awhile, I headed out and JetWash flashed by me soon enough. I knew I had the rest of the day to myself. The temperature crawling upward. Hard to believe just three days ago, I was shivering my bum off in the rain. JetWash had explained that the reason Harriman's terrain is so different is that they allow fires on the park. So, in a way, what we saw, the grassy knolls and different vegetation, is more natural than what we walk through most of the time. It is very pretty. Most of the day I walked through blueberry bushes alternating with Mountain laurels. I had a wonderful little incident in front of me when I stopped to watch a chipmunk chase a second one down the trail at me. The first one made a quick 90 degree turn but the second one wasn't watching ahead and ran into my foot before he scrambled into the berry bushes. I got to the Palisades Interstate Parkway, where there is a visitor's center 0.4 miles down the way. Some of them have food. If all else, I know they have trash cans. At the center was nothing but books and maps. But the trash cans were there and I got to dump my trash. And a short chit chat with a retired NYC police officer who gave me a lecture about trusting strangers. Whatever, I listened politely and went on my way. This shelter has no water. The source recommended is a mile down by the road. So I filled my gallon canteen and my water bladder. Soaked my gimmy hat and splashed water on my back. Put on the pack and proceeded to hike a 600ft elevation change in about half a mile. Put myself in four by four mode and first gear and made it up in an hour. I realized that my attitude is different this time. I don't have this strange deadline to be anywhere before the snow. As a six month thru-hiker, the idea of going to a shelter 0.6 miles off the trail is really considered a stupid thing to do. Not only am I willing, I wanted to. From this shelter is a view of the Manhattan skyline. At night it shines the whole sky. Or they say. And so, I am here to testify if it's true or not. When I got near here, I heard voices. I hoped they were day hikers and lucky me, they were. A gentleman and his father-in-law who is from Scotland. They came out for the day with sandwiches and fruit. I sat and had a free turkey sandwich with tomato and mustard on toast. A combination I hadn't thought of. It was good. And they gave me the grapes they had. I had a delightful time talking to them both since they were into walking. They also have walked in Scotland. Then they headed off down the hill. And I was alone on a hilltop looking down at the Hudson River and the density of people along the river. I had another motive to come here. I've been lugging a paperback. Well, several. One I was almost done and it's boring. I wanted to finish and pas it off. So I laid out on the rock that this shelter is built on and read. I had invited Rocky and SwampFox to join me to see the city lights and they showed up. We chatted. I moaned that I was going to be all alone on the trail starting tomorrow. We laughed. I will just open up to possibilities, the possibility that t I will be able to hook up with an injured fast thru-hiker or another section hiker. Night is dropping her darkness. The sunset was slashed pink and purple. Lights are starting up on the horizon. The show is starting.Namaste'