Date: 2007-09-30
From: Mombasha High Point

To: Wawayanda Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

mi. 15.8sleep hammockdest. Wawayanda Shelter day 80 Wow, my 80th day on the trail. And today I am just leaving NY. Not the fastest thru-hike on record, more towards the other side. But I found what is working finally and I am going to go with it. It isn't looking good to finish by the end of the year or especially Christmas, but oh well. I'll deal with that when it happens. Last night was great. I spent 3 hours next to the fire journaling and reading by firelight most of the time. Something nice about reading by firelight instead of the white glow of my headlamp. I watched the stairs a little. But there was a lot of light pollution from my fire, the surronding cities, and the moon. I don't know if it was the full moon, but it had to be close. It lit up where I was. I woke up a couple times thinking the sun was coming up it was so bright. I skipped the tarp and only had the hammock sock on. 1.1 oz untreated olive drb ripstop nylon lets in a lot of light. I didn't make it up to a good spot for the sunset, I saw later the view was treed in anyways. But I made it up just after 5am. I got out of the hammock at first light. It was only 30 or so yards down to the trail to top. The sunrise was great. It took a while for the sun to clear the mountain in front. But that was all the better. The sky lit up with reds and oranges even more before it came up. I spent 20 minutes or so watching it come up. Something good about starting the day with the sunrise. Did I mention water was short. I got to Fitzgerald falls. Labeled as a good water source in the guide. Dry as could be. Just a couple of stagment puddles from the last rain. Not something I prefer to get water out of. Luckily there was a small stream flowing close to the road I got 2 liters out of. I usually try not to get water close to roads, but I am not turning down water sources in this stretch. And if I hadn't said it before I really don't like, maybe even hate is the word I'm looking for, most dog owners. I love aminals. I just can't blame the dog for the poor training or lack of on the owners part. I was getting water at the bridge over the water. When a dog came around the corner and starting barking at me. A few mintues later the dog owner came. She said the dog wouldn't go over with my pack there. No big deal, I would have moved it from the bridge for anyone passing by anyways. So I moved it. All the time the dog was barking and generally not looking nice. It finally walked across the stream. Oh I forgot to mention I listened to someone's dog barking from a far away house last night off and on. On of these days I will really have to say what I feel about people who can't control their pets or their kids. Anyways, enough ranting for one day. I stopped a the shelter a few miles i today and saw the most worthless thing I a seen o the trail. Someone left a ice scraper.                                                                           Wildlife wise I saw another red fox today. I was talking with someone else about this and I think the theory we came up with is true. Up in ME, NH, or VT there is so much land area for the different animals to live in. Down here they are forced to live in a smaller area. That means they are packed in more densely. This means you end up seeing more of them. After my shelter break my next water soure was a creamery ice cream store. That was the only source in the guide for 14 miles, 4 before it and 10 after. It was only .2 off the trail, no way i was going to miss it. But I was there before it opened. So I drank up and tryed to completly rehydrate myself ad sat down and did this morning's joural. I was sitting there typing away with this couple amd their young kid came over. I talked with them a little. They were just teling their kid about the trail and hikers. Best of all they offered and bought some great ice cream for me. I don't remember the favor, but it had tons of stuff in it, choclate ice cream, and topped with carmel. Too him it ws a little random, act of kindness. To me thought it was great and made my day. It just reinforces my opinion that people in NY are way bette than the non hikinh people I met in CT. Sorry if you are from there just my experience. On the walk back I stopped at the hotdog stand I saw. This is a great little stop. In .2 miles you get ice cream, water, and 2 mechanically seperated beef parts with the works. Food bag wise I still had a dinner since I didn't use it the other night. Along with some snacks. There is another store .1 off for me 4 miles in tomorrow, so I definitly have enough to hold me over. I feel way more relaxed and happy now that I backed my miles down. Even at 16 I feel I have way more time to relax and feel way better. The trail pasted the stop for me was cool. NY does it a little like ME. They take you the hard way aroud things. I was begininng to forget what rock scrambles are like. I think it is a good mix and fun. These were big single rocks on the ridge. I think the glacers stopped somewhere around here formng them. I took a long break on one of them. After some chilly nights it feels great to take the shirt off and soak up some sun. Then I finally crossed into NJ. I now have done ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, and NY. I only spent 7 nights in NY. I could have done it in a couple less, but who cares. I signed in on the register at the border. I think most people are only a week or 2 faster at this point. Although that does come out to a month by the end. Oh well. I did notice I am gaining on someone who had been just infront of me for awhile. She started 12 days before me, but for the last few weeks has been 2 to 4 days in front. Now she is signed in yesterday, so probibly a day and a half. I am hoping to zero Tuesday if everything works out. I read she s planning on going to the gathering, so who knows. I have a feeling I'll make some time and catch up with someone after they get off a few days for it. Anyways I sat down on the rock with the borderline and the state symbols, with one cheek in both. Took a momment to celebrate, and drank my last oz or so of 1800. I was saving it for this. I was saving it for this.