Date: 2018-09-06
From: Homer Mountain Road

To: South of Dennytown Road, NY
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Breezy and warm overnight. The katydids were calling loud, just beautiful. Packed up and on the trail at 5:52. Used my headlamp to get to the trail. As the day started the trail hugged the west side of the mountain so I did not get to see any sunrise. It was getting hot and humid early. This section is great. Whoever maintains from before NY 52 on to here takes their work seriously. Years ago they had pink flamingos along the trail but were removed because they violated the "wilderness experience" (forget about the roar of I-84 below the trail). The trail went under the Taconic State Parkway along a road then dropped to RPH Shelter. There the West Virginia section hiker was just leaving. I used the old handpump to get two liters of rusty water. I wasn't too pleased with what I was seeing. Shenandoah Tenting Area was 1.3 miles away so I decided to continue to there. I dumped one liter out. When I reached Shenandoah a sign said the pump doesn't work but jugs of water may be available. I went to the picnic tables but all the containers were empty. Glad I kept the one liter of rusty water. About a mile away at Long Hill Road there were gallons of water provided again by Tork (I spelled the name wrong yesterday). I drank the rest of the rusty water then got two clean liters and hiked up Shenandoah Mountain. On top it was rocky and open. An American flag was painted on the rock surface. I went a bit further and took a break in some shade. A while later after the vista overlooking Canopus Lake at Fahnestock State Park the trail was rough. Lots of steep ups and downs over rock. No access to the lake. It was hot. Lots of blow downs all day. Big oaks knocked over exposing the root systems. Must have been a potent wind storm at one time recently. Finally crossed NY 301 and followed an old narrow gauge railroad. One side was a stone wall 10-15 feet high for a long distance. Very historically interesting. At 3:15 I came to Dennytown Road. A building there has a spigot on the side for hikers. I drank a liter and filled two to go. The sun was brilliant and hot. I saw a pair of trail shoes there and briefly considered annexing them. The Shoe Goo for mine lasted two days so I must wrap the one with duct tape daily. Alas, the shoes proved too small. Continuing on the trail I wasn't sure how far I wanted to go. It was hot and the mosquitoes pretty bad. I was low on Deep Woods Off. At 3:45 I heard thunder to the west. I kept going listening and watching the sky. At 4:15 I saw a real nice campsite but went on. A short time later I decided I had enough of heat, sweat, and bugs and returned to that site I saw. Just as I was setting up the tent a strong wind blew through blowing my ground cloth and tent a few feet away. The sun disappeared as dark clouds and thunder drew closer. I got the tent up and put today's clothes on the line. I hope the rain will rinse the sweat out. At 5 p.m. it rained hard. I love the sound on the tent. I could see puddles forming around me and for a short time was a bit concerned. The rain lasted half an hour. All was quiet again. The only noise is an occasional train horn down along the Hudson River and raindrops falling off the trees. A bit cooler out too. Tomorrow a big day. A deli in the morning (New York and New Jersey sections of the trail are called the deli run), cross the Hudson River, walk through a zoo, then climb up the rock stairs to the top of Bear Mountain with views of New York City.