Date: 2006-07-22
From: Bellvalle, NY

To: Lemon Squeezer
Miles today: 16.0

July 22, Saturday¢¢ After a quick resupply, Rich returned me to the trail to hike the familiar. I have hiked this portion of the trail, Harriman State Park, many times before with my boy scouts. Of course doing this alone is different. First of all, alone time gives one an opportunity to reflect and learn. In fact I disover the Coeficient of friction formula. Take any standard New York rock and cover it with lichen, add the water from a sudden rainstorm and immerse it in weather of 85 degrees or more and you can change rock climbing into slippery rock skating. Wow, is this a treacherous event. I fell three times . I guess it is called hiking by the seat of your pants.Walked into the Lemon Squeeze which is a very narrow opening in a cliff less than 18 inches wide. To navigate through this 100 foot walk you need to remove back pack and wiggle your way through the narrow winding pathway. With a bunch of folks with you, team work makes it fun. Alone is a more difficult feat. It took me over half hour to get through the pass.Tonight I camp on top of the Lemmon Squeeze. I close my eyes and hear my scouts shouting and laughing¢shades of times ago. The memories are sweet.802 miles to go--- The thought of actually finishing this trail by the end of September seems possible.July 21 FridayI hike 15 miles to day into Belvalle, NY and bid a good riddance to NJ and its mosquito molestors. May they forever remain in Jersey now that I am out. I am barely into NY when I come upon a young, but full grown handsome bear. He was on the trail feasting on berries when I found him. Not wanting to alrm him, I call out to him¢Hey bear want to share some berries. He looks up at me and continues eating. I don¢t feature climbing over him and decide to encourage him to move out of the way. I make all kinds of noises and finally he looks up and begins to walk towards me. He did not look like he was attacking but rather looking to return to the woods. He eyes his spot and lumbers off into the woods disappointed that he could not remain and finish off the berries.I arrive at Route 17A about 3:30 where I am to be picked up by Rich Maul. While waiting I wander 1/10 of a mile to the west off the trail to an ice cream shop. While it was a bit pricey the thick vanilla shake hit the spot.I spent the evening in the home of Rich, my former boy scout., his wife Kristin, their two sons Jonathan and Richie, and their friend Pete, an AT affecionado. Pete lives the hike vicariously through trail journals. His dream is to leave the virtual hike and experience the real thing. After a great dinner of several helpings of baked ziti I spent the night. July 22, Saturday¢¢ After a quick resupply, Rich returned me to the trail to hike the familiar. I have hiked this portion of the trail, Harriman State Park, many times before with my boy scouts. Of course doing this alone is different. First of all, alone time gives one an opportunity to reflect and learn. In fact I disover the Coeficient of friction formula. Take any standard New York rock and cover it with lichen, add the water from a sudden rainstorm and immerse it in weather of 85 degrees or more and you can change rock climbing into slippery rock skating. Wow, is this a treacherous event. I fell three times . I guess it is called hiking by the seat of your pants.Walked into the Lemon Squeeze which is a very narrow opening in a cliff less than 18 inches wide. To navigate through this 100 foot walk you need to remove back pack and wiggle your way through the narrow winding pathway. With a bunch of folks with you, team work makes it fun. Alone is a more difficult feat. It took me over half hour to get through the pass.Tonight I camp on top of the Lemmon Squeeze. I close my eyes and hear my scouts shouting and laughing¢shades of times ago. The memories are sweet.802 miles to go--- The thought of actually finishing this trail by the end of September seems possible.