Date: 2019-08-10
From: Elk Penn Gap

To: West Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: clear sky

I left the house at 5:00 am to meet Chuck and Todd and we caravanned to our started with a 2 1/2 hour drive to New York where we left our car at S. Mountain Pass Rd. I had arranged a shuttle from a great friend name Donna who lives in that area and shuttled us to our starting point at Elk Pen gap. Our plan was to hike 12.7 miles. and try and catch up to our friends silver fox and her son who had started the day before but we¢re doing lower miles, and we would end at the same location this evening. Our Day quickly started with a nice climb out of the gap along with some rock sections. Eventually we came to a mountaintop that was pretty flat and enjoyable and before we knew it Bam we were at the lemon squeezer. I wasn¢t quite sure what to expect but it was much more narrow than I anticipated. I watch my friend Todd try to get through with this pack on and there was no way he was getting through. My pack was a bit smaller so I decided to give it a shot and had no problem although it was interesting trying to finagle through. Chuck managed to get through and then Todd handed his pack up to us and would led his way through as well.  I¢ve never heard that there¢s a rock climb right after the lemon squeezer but there it was. We were trying to decide if we should take the easy trail around or go up over the scramble. My thought was we had to at least try it. So off I went up over the rock scramble carefully placing my feet and hands and had no problem. The guys with their heavier packs handed their packs up and then made their way up through.  I sure am glad we tried it. We continued on to the fingerboard Shelter. Where we took a little break. Unfortunately there was no water at the shelter. But as we carried on we soon came to the water towers where there was a nice stash of water.   We continued hiking and trying to catch up with our friend. Later we realized we totally missed Tiorati circle where we could¢ve got snacks and drinks. We then found a nice flat rock and sat and had her lunch. Chuck and I both packed tortillas with tuna and some snacks. Todd only had one of the goo electrolyte packets. When I asked him he said he wasn¢t hungry. We hiked on and eventually got to the William Brien shelter where we found silver fox and her son getting ready to head out to hike.  Again no water at the shelter. Water has been very scarce on this section most of the creeks being dry. From there we hiked together. Eventually we passed over Palisades Parkway which we have always heard horror stories of the high traffic. Luckily it was a Saturday for us and although the traffic was heavy it was no problem to cross. We eventually carried on and got to a creek which was flowing well and all took on extra water because the next shelter also had no water.  We had one more big climb which was tough. Part way through Todd was having difficulty and I realized that he was not drinking or eating enough to fuel his body. We got a power bar and some electrolytes in him and continues. Later he told what a difference they made.  People don¢t realize ho many calorie they are burning on a hike like this.  We took the half mile side trail to West Mountain Shelter which overlooked the Hudson River and New York  City.   I set up my hammock and sat on the rock overlooking the River. Th shelter was quite full today. We enjoyed the sunset and city skyline.