Date: 2012-07-18
From: Monastery

To: Clarence Fahnestock State Park
Miles today: 11.8

I got up early this morning and checked my voicemail. I had a message from 3D.  He's been reading my journal and called to offer help. It's a blessing to have a supportive friend nearby. My plan is to walk southbound until I find the spot I made a wrong turn, then call 3D.I didn't want to bother the monks this morning in order to slack pack. So I pulled out a barely used trash bag from one of the garbage cans near the pavilion and put all my extra stuff in it. I stashed my gear in some bushes and hung my extra food in a tree.I saw some people I knew and a few I didn't while walking southbound. A couple of them asked why I was heading south and I had to tell them about getting lost and making up for missed miles. The "In-Laws" didn't have to ask, they had read my post. I was told about another hiker who had gotten turned around on the Red Dot Trail in the heat yesterday. By the time he got back to the A.T. he was so dehydrated another hiker had to carry his pack down the mountain.I made it back across the Hudson and went through the back gate into the zoo. I followed the the white blazes all the way down to the bear cage. I didn't see any bears, only a zoo keepers inside cleaning it out. When she saw me standing there she said "hiker! The park is closed, you need to go back out and follow the blue blaze trail around the zoo." I said "but the back gate is open." She said "yes, but the front gate is not!" Oh well, at least I stood at the bear cage, now I can say that I have been to the highest and lowest points on the A.T.I went out the back gate and took the blue blaze trail around the zoo for the 3rd time : P Then I went through a tunnel, across the park, and up Bear Mountain. The trail up Bear Mountain from the Hudson side is very nice, nothing like the A.T. They must have spent a lot of money putting in these cut stone steps and fancy bridges. It would be a nice walk if you are out for the day, of course you can drive up Bear Mountain too (if you're into that sorta thing). The view from the top is beautiful, although a little bit hazy. The lookout tower was closed, but I don't think I would have been able to see New York City this morning anyway.I kept walking down the opposite side of Bear Mountain. It's another hot day. It's supposed to get into the upper 90's. I decided to call 3D, I'm glad I did. He was able to figure out where I went wrong by looking at a topo map and asking me a few questions. We agreed to meet at the Palisades Parkway Visitor Center, I got off trail just north of there. When I found the spot I felt kind of silly. If I had been paying more attention I would have noticed the A.T. had taken a sharp turn to the left. The trail I took was the one that went straight ahead. Since the A.T. and the Red Dot Trail ran together for awhile I had gotten used to seeing the Red Dot blaze. The red dot blaze is a white square with a red dot in the middle. Seeing old worn out blazes mixed in with the red dots further down made me think I was still on the A.T. I built a miniature version of the Great Wall  of China in front of the Red Dot Trail as well as the word "NO" in sticks. Hopefully that will keep other blissfully unaware hikers on the right path. When I met 3D at the visitor center he showed me the topo map. There are hundreds of trails zig zagging through this area. The Sterling Forest, Palisades Interstate Park, Harriman State Park, and Bear Mountain State Park all connect to each other. This wilderness area is huge. In addition to the marked trails there are many unmarked trails. It's important for a hiker to pay attention through here. I'm glad I turned around and walked through that area. It would have drove me nuts if I hadn't. 3D took me back to the monastery and I grabbed my stuff. It was still early, so I decided to get back on the trail. I can't thank you enough 3D. I meant it when I said I will commit to walking at least 200 miles with you when it's your turn to thru-hike. Now you have it in writing : )With the remainder of the day I walked to the Clarence Fahnestock State Park. I may have only made 11.8 forward miles today, but I made 14.4 backward! (insert joke about government here) Hahaha!