Date: 2016-05-19
From: Bear Mountain 

To: William Brien Shelter
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: moderate rain

So back to the top of Bear Mountain for today's start. ...and then down the other side. What great views - you can actually see the NYC skyline 34 miles away. Then on West Mountain you can see the skyline one minute from the east side of the ridge and then you're on the west side where there is only green cover visible but the unmistakable sound of small arms fire. I am in the land of military (academy and nearby fort) and I appreciate the sounds as nothing less than comforting; there are those who are ready, willing, and able to defend this country (regardless of what the general public may think, or believe, about military or police).I continue, safe in those sounds, almost until I arrive at the shelter area. I had planned lunch at West Mountain Shelter, with its views of the city skyline, but somehow missed the blue blazed side trail. When I realized I missed it I was almost half way down the mountain. Therefore lunch was in the open woods next to a clear cool spring. On a note related to missing a side trail... Not a day goes by that I don't lose the trail for at least a minute or two. Usually it's simply stopping and finding the next blaze. A compass is mostly useless; trail south could be any of the 4 compass points, or anywhere in between. Sometimes it's looking back over a shoulder for that NOBO blaze and its confirmation. Today I managed to put myself on a completely different trail. Sometimes different trails do overlap. I was going strong, picking my way through the rocks, heads up on those blazes; the trail veers right, then right again. And I'm on an overlap trail, maybe. I go about 75 meters, the trail is fairly smooth. I don't have to chop steps; there are few rocks. Is this the trail? I look over my left shoulder and can see the NOBO blaze. On I go, 100, 200, 300 meters further. My normal pace on level ground is just about a meter. I'm not having difficulty with this stride. Now I'm sure, I am not on the AT. I don't exactly know where I am, but I'm sure where I am not. It is not rocky enough, not undulating enough, does not have enough roots. There are no more white blazes, only small white squares with a red letter "F." I reverse direction and in another 15 minutes I find that last white blaze. The tree actually had 3 painted blazes. The other 2 line up to indicate a veer to the left and I'm back on the AT.I still manage to arrive at Wm. Brien shelter about 1700 and decide to stop for the day. Dinner is much easier with the Pocket Rocket; I do have to take care not to burn it. The replaced sleeping gear assembles quickly; it just feels delightful. But I don't fall asleep fast enough and the arriving NOBO thru's in camp now keep me awake. I go out for a meet and greet and to check the full moon. It is like daylight. The female of the group has a distinctive accent, like "Heidi." I confirm she needs a passport for identification. She hesitates, but agrees. I tell her that her trail name is "Swiss Miss." She wants to know where we've met and I tell her we haven't; the trail name was just too obvious. And now, enough for tonight - sleep.