Date: 2007-06-27
From: Buchanan Mtn - campsite

To: Lake Tiorati - ETA Camp
Miles today: 9.5

I woke up at 5:00 this morning. It was about 80 degrees already and humid. I was in no hurry to start moving. I ate my pop tarts and oatmeal bars in my tent. The mosquitoes were outside trying to get in again this morning. I finally packed everything up and headed out around 7:00. The humidity was already at 90 percent with a forecast of 95 degrees. The trail today was the same as yesterday up and over every rock formation in site. Several places where I needed to use my hands and feet to climb up the rocky terrain. The Tuxedo trail angels had left about 6 gallons of water at East Mombasha Rd. I took about a liter to add to the two liters I was already carrying. It was a good thing because there were no more water sources until Lake Tiorati about 9 miles north. I was sweating heavily again today, although I felt a little more energetic at the start of the day. The lack of water, heat, and terrain changed that. I crossed hwy NY17 and entered Harriman State Park. I met Hydrohorse and his wife out hiking for a few days. I proceeded up the first of many steep hills. I stopped to check my mileage and possible water sources and realized I had lost my guide book sheet for this section. I tried to minimize my water consumption as I climbed the steep rocky hills in the hot sun. I was nearing Fingerboard shelter and met Slow and Easy. She was slack packing south. I asked the distance to the shelter and told her I had lost my data sheet. She had also lost her data sheet today, but she had the map. I had about a mile and a half to the shelter and another mile after that to Lake Tiorati. I drank my last cup of water at the shelter. On the way to the lake I past a huge water tank on top of a hill. There was a 6 ft chain length fence with barbed wire at the top. About a foot inside the fence was a pipe with a water spigot. I tried to get my hand through the fence but it wouldn't fit. I continued down the trail and then 0.3 miles down a paved road to Lake Tiorati.There was a swimming area, but no one was swimming. I asked and they said it was closed because of the thunder. I got a couple things out of the vending machines and debated my next action. I called the Education Through Adventure Leadership Camp (ETA). They picked me up and took me a few miles to their camp. It was 4:00 and I decided to go swimming in Upper Twin Lake. As I walked down the dock I saw a small head sticking out of the water. I thought it was a turtle, but when I got closer saw it was a snake. It watched me for about 2 minutes then swam off. I debated my desire to go swimming. I really wanted to swim, so I did. I never saw the snake again.I went and took a hot shower. Slow and Easy showed up and she had found the data book page I had lost earlier today. Georgia Boy and Teddy Bear also showed up. I met them at Wawayanda Shelter a couple days ago.It is raining now. I stopped four miles short of my plan for today. This may cause me problems getting to the Ft Montgomery post office tomorrow, which could delay me a couple more miles. I will still get to Pawling, NY by Saturday or Sunday.Dad, Bring me some Crystal Light On The Go drink mixes. 2 boxes of the Wild Strawberry Energy and 2 boxes of the Berry Splash Hydration.