Date: 2015-07-20
From: road south of Vernon

To: furnace Brook, NY
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: scattered clouds

I am sitting in my tent. Mosquitos are patrolling, waiting for me to stick a limb out. We just listened to a small creature lose its life to another animal. It screamed in such shrill terror and pain, it was devastating to listen to. I am thinking about this day. It has been a day of struggles for me, but bright side- we did cross in to New York, so one more state under our belts! New Jersey literally kicked us out on our asses, with tough climbs and rocks and crappy water at the end. All In all, it was a great state to hike through. Very pretty, nice people, and you could buy a beer at a convenience store. I really don't understand all of these weird beer rules from state to state.We got a late start so C.Shell and D.No could spend as much time possible with their kiddos before they drove off to continue their own incredible adventures. On the way to the trail we stopped at a random hot dog kiosk in the middle of nowhere run by a sassy guy. He was fun though and his hot dogs were really terrific. I spoke with my 18 year old , a sophomore at FSU and told her that I didn't think it would be possible for her to visit me. Tickets- logistics- time she had available- none of it was working. I am just heartbroken- I have not seen her since March and I miss her so much. I'm going to focus though and power through so I can get home mid September.The kids dropped us at the trailhead and we said goodbye. Queen Bee, Blister Babe, and Dirt-face had jut been dropped off too. I have been leapfrogging them since Marion, VA. The trail started with a climb. Long and hot- temps in the mid 90s. Ug. We stopped a few miles in for a water refill and break. Most of the climb was in the woods, but the sun baked us through the leaves and sapped our energy. At the top of the climb, we were treated to a rock "staircase"- dozens of rocks placed as steps- that went straight up and is referred to as the Stairway to Heaven. Caution- if something on the AT has an angelic name or a devilish name or pretty much ANY name- beware. Only hard things are actually named it seems.We took another break about 5 miles in to eat lunch. Hikers passed us- low energy, sweating, and nobody seemed happy today. About halfway through the day, I seemed to develop a UTI. Awesome. That's what I need. During the long hot hike yesterday I didn't drink enough water, and I had not been drinking enough today to replace the fluids I lost hiking on this heat. C.Shell had some stuff for me to take for the pain. We stopped at a stream and filled up. I drank a full liter to combat the dehydration. The water was awful! It tasted like dirt and compost soup.. Yuck. The hikers we had seen earlier threw in the towel and pitched their tents near this water source, only 8 miles into their hikes. They were beat, hot, and worried about stealth camping in New York where apparently it was not allowed. After securing their promise to bail us out if we got busted illegally camping, we hit the trail. As we got closer to New York, the trail became incredibly rocky. We had to climb using our hands in a few spots. That is fun sometimes, but at the end of a really hot day, it is hard! We finally passed the NY/NJ sign- spray painted on a rock. Yay. We realized we would need water again to camp, for dinner and breakfast so we hiked on. The first mile in New York is nothing but rock. Big boulders, some so smooth and rounded they look like the backs of slumbering dinosaurs. We had a couple of climbs down that requires me to drop my poles and use my hands to navigate. I paused for a moment ant the highest point in the AT in New York- marked by an American flag. Our flag always looks so poignant, it always lifts my spirits. The view was a beautiful shimmering lake, cradled in the mountains.We hiked another mile or so. And found the creek, camping spots around it. We decided to camp here- ending the day at around 11 miles that felt like 20. It was a short hiking day though, since we started at noon. As we set up our tents, an army of hungry Mosquitos came for us. We put on bug spray, ate our dinners, hung out bear bags. I had taken off my shoes and socks after I sprayed the DEET, and the Mosquitos quickly realized that my ankles and feet were unprotected. Nasty little buggers.So now I sit in my tent. Inventory: new ankle sprain, right foot. Left foot still sprained and new injury affecting the bone on top of my foot. Annoying and painful UTI. Itchy feet and ankles. Broken heart. Sadness because of killed animals. Life in this trail is fluid. One day is heaven, the next day is hell. I have learned to be in my moment, whatever it is, and know that the next moment can be very different. Yep- it's another day on the AT!