Date: 2009-07-09
From: William Brien Shelter

To: Bear Mountain Inn
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: scattered clouds

As soon as I stepped out of my hammock, I felt a strong needle-like pain in the bottom of my foot. What was that? I didn¢t see anything, but it definitely hurt! I put away my hammock, trying not to bear weight on that foot, sat down on a rock to eat my breakfast and put on my socks. It felt like there was something in my sock, but the pain was actually in my heel. I didn¢t know what to do about it. I set off very slowly, each step producing a sharp pain. My shoulder blade was also hurting me a great deal. I realized that I still had 800 miles of the AT to hike, and didn¢t know how I was going to manage it with this pain. A group of thru-hikers passed me. Mississippi, who was leading the group at the moment, asked how I was doing. ¢I¢m hurting.¢ He mumbled something, as he kept moving. I was a bit hurt and confused, as he obviously didn¢t care (being someone that knew me a little). I tried not to let it bother me and continued at my own, slow pace. I reached the top of Black Mountain and saw my first glimpse of a couple of NYC buildings. Then, I crossed the busiest highway on the AT- the Palisades Interstate Parkway, where we had to dodge speeding cars that clearly were not accustomed to slowing for hikers.    I encountered a large group of Asian hikers headed south. Ahead of me, I could see a fortress- like structure on a mountain in the distance. I could hear gunfire coming from the area as well. Down the hill I went, along rocks, around a bend, and up another hill. I could hear a group of people ahead and wondered who they were. When I finally made my way toward them, I saw to my disbelief that it was the same group I had just left! Somehow, I had just made a complete circle! No! At least this mistake was a 15 minute one and not a 2 hour one. On I went, and soon I saw another Asian couple coming toward me. They stopped and chatted. They were very surprised and impressed when I told them what I was doing, although I¢m not sure they really comprehended how long I had been out here (I don¢t even think they knew where Georgia was). The woman asked the man to ask me if I was scared. I told them I was not. ¢But you are woman. I am man. And I¢m sacred to sleep in the woods!¢ he replied. I told them it didn¢t take long to get used to.   I soon found out that I was headed right for the fortress! The AT took us along a road that wound up Bear Mountain, and I found it pleasant to walk on. I was surprised at how pretty this area was. My left shoulder blade really hurt and my right arm kept going numb, but I enjoyed my hike for the most part. I climbed the tower to learn about the history of the area, and how it attracts the citizens of NYC who wish to escape to the countryside. Several of the hikers were interested in going to the Bear Mountain Inn for a meal, but no one knew if it was actually open or not. Once the idea was put into my head, I really wanted to go, too!   We made our way down the mountain, past many hikers who were climbing up the other side. I kept a lookout for the inn- thinking any building I saw might be it. Nothing looked open, however. As I wandered around the lake area, checking out the buildings, a man asked me if I was a thru-hiker. Yes, I said. ¢Do you need to go into town for any reason?¢ I told him, no, that I was all set. I just wanted some food from that inn! He talked up a restaurant in town, as I did not need to resupply. However, I was intent on getting to the zoo before it closed. I did need new shoes however. My trail runners were falling apart after only 500 miles, and acting like a sponge for mud and water. He said that he could take me to Campmor in New Jersey. I thought about it, but declined. I just wanted to go to the zoo. I would figure out how to get shoes later. I asked him if they sold food in the building ahead. He said they only had fast food that was really expensive. I could get better food for a better price in town. I finally agreed to let him take me there. He had been turned down by every other hiker that day because they were in a rush to get to the trail magic at the monastery.   This place had breakfast all day, which made me really happy. I had a Florentine omelet, a bagel with lox, an orange juice, and a coffee. While I was eating, I decided I might as well go to New Jersey to get some shoes... I could always go to the zoo tomorrow. So off we went to get me some new footwear. ¢What¢s up?¢ the shoe sales girl asked me when I approached her for help. I didn¢t receive much help. I ended up getting a pair of Gortex Solomon trail shoes, which did not tie tightly enough around my ankles. Still, they seemed like the best option.    Gene asked me where I would like to be dropped off. He suggested that I could stay at the ballpark field at the monastery and he could bring me back to the park where I left off the next morning. I thought that was a great plan. ¢Do we have time to go back to that restaurant?¢ I asked him.¢Are you joking?¢¢No.¢ I wanted to get an order of blueberry pancakes as well, and now thought I had room for them. Gene happily obliged.   As we pulled up to the ballfield shelter, I told Gene that they were all going to think I was cheating. Sure enough, I was greeted with, ¢Wendy- Yellow blazin¢!¢ I told them I was not cheating and would be going back where I left off in the morning. I left my poles in Gene¢s car and hung out in the shelter, labeling my recent photos, which took a great deal of time. I then strung up my hammock. One person came over to help me get rid of some extra weight from this set-up. He advised me to cut some length off my climbing straps (I had way too much excess) and I got rid of 2 carabiners by tying one of the hammock ends to a strap, which I then tied directly to the tree. While the set-up I was using makes adjusting the hammock easier, I also think it is too much weight to carry for a thru-hike. I was very excited to get rid of at least a little of this extra weight.   Because there were lights strung up in the shelter, it was a very late night. But that was okay, as the zoo did not open until 10am. I arranged for Gene to pick me up at 8:30.