Date: 2010-08-01
From: Wawayanda shelter

To: Greenwood lake
Miles today: 10.0

8/1Wawayanda shelter to greenwood lake, ny10 miles plus 3 into townMotelI realized last night that I was short a day of food. And my headlamp quit working. So rain or no rain I needed to get into town. Decision made. By the end of the day I wished I hadn't. I packed up in the morning and walked to the nearby ranger station for water. I interrupted two bears waddling down the trail. One crashed into the bushes (are bears so loud on purpose?) but the other moved a few feet off the trail and then began paralleling me through the woods. Not creepy or suspicious behavior at all. At the ranger station, somebody in a park uniform struck up a conversation with me. I told her about the bears and how nervous the one had made me. Donna, bless her heart, volunteered to drive me a short distance to the next road crossing so I wouldn't have to pass the bears again. Thanks Donna!Shortly after that I passed another bear, bringing my total for New Jersey to twelve. The hike started pretty easy but soon started going over much more difficult terrain. IMHO it was climbing, not hiking. I spent a lot of time trying to choose the safest route up and down clifflike rocks. I was grateful the rain held off until I got back into woods.  My arms and legs ache from hauling myself up the rocks. The phrase "Are you kidding me?" came out of my mouth multiple times. It would have been so easy to misstep and get seriously hurt. I just don't get the point of routing the trail like that. Somewhere during that time I crossed over into NY. At NY17a I walked west to the Bellvale Creamery and purchased pineapple sorbet and their excellent rootbeer. Then I started calling around to try to find a room for the night. My first choice has apparently closed, but the Breezy Point Inn had an opening. Then I walked. And walked. I hate roadwalking. You're always on a shoulder so every step torques feet and knees. My arthritic foot was already feeling abused from the rock climbing. It deals okay with walking, but putting all my weight on my toes as you do when climbing rocks leads to horrendous joint pain. Following that up with three miles of road meant horrendous times ten. On the edge of town I came across a Chinese buffet so I stopped for an early dinner. It's no Chanan, but it hit the spot. Next up were a gas station and CVS for supplemental food and headlamp batteries. And directions to the inn from a local. Finally I arrived at the inn and got checked in. My room opens directly into a dining area. It's weird. I can only hope people don't stay up late on Sundays here. I do not intend to retrace my steps tomorrow. That walk sucked. Either I will get a cab back to the trail, or I'll take the "Village Vista" trail steeply up to the ridge and rehike a couple miles of AT.  It might not be easier than the road, but it will be a lot more pleasant. The pain of getting into town was what made me wish I could have just gone on to the shelter. I'm poorly situated for the next section. I'll have to camp illegally because I won't be able to get to a designated site tomorrow. But I really wanted those batteries and that extra food. If today was representative of trail difficulty in New England, I may have to throw in the towel. I love to hike but I don't love to rockclimb. I'll wait and see how things go. Anything more difficult than today is beyond my abilities and desire. I don't mind going up, but coming down is hazardous.