Date: 2005-07-15
From: NY17 and Arden Valley Road

To: Bear Mountain Park
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: haze

Up and gone by 6:59 this morning. Last night when I called home my wife Brenda asked if we could go out to dinner on Saturday night. She said, "it would be wonderful". Now how could I say no to that. It definitely was something to look forward to. I was also hoping to be able to convince my father into bringing me back to the trail at the end of the weekend. This way he could be part of my experience as well.   I was trying to make it today to the Post Office at Fort Montgomery. That was where I was going to meet my wife and it was also where my new back pack was supposed to be mailed to.   After the first mile in to it I was on top of the Green Pond Mountain at 1200 feet just north of the southern border of the Harriman State Park. I was so tired from the day before, I was glad that I was heading home for the weekend. The hot weather was really taking its toll. The phone I used the night before evidently was the ending point for many hikers. The heat got to so many of us this year, many left the trail at that phone. I worked my way through the Lemon Squeezer and there I met two south bounders, Yukon Jack and Ryan. I remember hearing a lot about the Lemon Squeezer when I was younger. It was interestingly pleasing to finally be there. Later I met two north bounders named Shasta and Critter.   I passed the trail marker for the intersection of the AT and the NY Long Path. This path goes from the George Washington Bridge, follows along the Catskill Mountain Range near my home and ends up near Albany at or near the Mohawk River (I may have to look in to hiking it one day, Spring of 06?). This was also where the 801.7 miles "to go" marker was. Harriman Park was a beautiful park. I saw plenty of white tail deer along the way. There was a place I remember that had a water tank. The water tank was over full and spilling over the top. What a great place for a impromptu shower. Cool clear water on a hot day, excellent.   Entering the Bear Mountain Park, climbing the summit and visiting the Perkins Tower was a bit of a let down. The trail was not easy to follow at all. The human impact was so severe that you simply lost the trail amongst all the other trails. One thing was funny though. A small white tail fawn was eating in the blueberry bushes just off the trail and I was able to get about two feet behind it. I leaned forward and said "Boo". It turned it's head and looked at me with eyes as big as dinner plates. I let it alone and walked away.   I made it to the Pedestrian Tunnel that went under US 9W and was about to enter the Zoo when the attendant locked the gate (it was closing time). I asked him the best way to get to Fort Montgomery and he said that he was driving by there and offered me a ride. I figured why not, I could return to the tunnel when I pick up the trail after the weekend. Brenda was waiting for me there at the Post Office as planned. The Post Office was closed so I figured I will come back on Monday to get my new back pack.   It was nice to head home for the weekend. It took a lot of effort to get to this point on the trail over the past week. I knew if I was going to last I needed to take it a little easier because of the heat, so I adjusted my plan again. I decided to attempt to slow down considerably.