Date: 2004-07-13
From: Wildcat Shelter

To: Arden Valley Road
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: broken clouds

Today was one of those days where there was no indication that it would end as well as it did. Of course when you wake up in a shelter hearing pouring rain, your expectations are generally bleak. But because the cool temps chased the bugs away we all slept very well. No one wanted to start their hike this morning.Surprisingly, I was the first one out. Road Runner was second and we managed to bump into each other at various times during the day. This was good since the hiking in NY is tough and we needed to vent and laugh about it.I am not alone in expressing my amazement that nobody mentions NY as a tough rollercoaster. I still hear comments about the PA rocks. Get real, these scrambles are more tedious.Another frustrating problem with NY is that it has too many trails bisecting the AT and the maintenance crew didn't paint enough white blazes to keep us on track. I can't tell you how many times I had to stop dead in my tracks and look everywhere for a white blaze. Other times, the white blazes would be painted on the most impossible inclines. I could tell by the worn down path that circumvents the trail that most hikers said, "Screw it! I'm going the safest way."I often wondered if NY is trying to break our legs so we will not finish the trail. If we descend to a road crossing or gap, the trail would go straight down a landslide with loose sand and stone.Okay, another common complaint about NY--there are no good water sources.But I have to say that I really don't hate this state. We climbed up to and over some rocky peaks that offered great views on a clear day. This is very refreshing after being cooped up in the woods of PA. The wildlife makes numerous appearances, albeit more skittish then the docile residents of the Shenandoahs.I went over Mombasha High Point without realizing that it is the highest peak on the AT in NY. You can also see NYC from it. However, with pouring rains and low clouds, that would not happen today.This section also gives us the Lemon Squeeze where the trail runs up a slanted fissure --a preview of the Mahoosuc Notch? I was reminded of the Bellyroll climb at the Gunks. Although there were no witnesses, I managed to successfully climb through it without removing my pack.Road Runner and I met up at the Fingerboard Shelter where the water source is a half mile walk downhill. We both planned to go to the next shelter where the water source is "unreliable". Road Runner suggested walking to Lake Tiorati at the next road crossing and stocking up. Good idea, I thought. He took off a few minutes before me.It took my feet in their damp socks and boots a long time to warm up once I got moving again. But I was prepared to handle the next five miles.Then a miracle happened. At Arden Valley Road, I made the necessary right turn down to the lake for my evening water supply. As I approached the parking lot, I saw two people, definitely thru-hikers, loading up a station wagon. They stopped to look at me--we were too far away from each other to discern faces.I called out, "Is that you?" thinking the guy was Quest.He replied, "Yes, it's me." Everyone is a comic. It was not Quest but Oxymoron and Mainedish. I met them in Pearisburg ages ago.Mainedish is Oxymoron's sister-in-law. They are the second couple I met that are not married or cohabitating but are essentially family. They proceeded to kidnap me for the night with promises of food, laundry, and lots of beer at Oxymoron's daughter's house.I looked around the park for a sign of Road Runner. He needs this trail magic more than me. But he was nowhere to be found.It was a splendid evening of heavy topics, grilled porkloin, corn, and Canadian beer. It is amazing how a shower and good food can boost your attitude, which wasn't really that bad anyway. But the ironic thing is that you start noticing the aches and pains much more when pampered a bit. I fell squarely on the rocks shortly after the Fitzgerald Falls today. Hurt my knee. I didn't notice the pain until I was sitting at that kitchen table in a dry house. Oy.