Date: 2015-08-17
From: Pawling, NY

To: Fort Montgomery, NY
Miles today: 45.6
Weather: overcast clouds

8/15 Day 74 10.9 miles M751.4 Had a very nice breakfast at Tony's and then took my time getting away, doing a little repair work with my gear, let the dew dry from the tent, and took advantage of the running water and sink to freshen up a bit, then had lunch and ordered dinner to go. I returned to the AT Railroad station to find the trail and get my resupply package from the Garden Center (very nice people). I didn't get on the trail until 3:30 pm and managed to hike 10 miles that day. The big encounter was an amazing oak tree, the "Dover Oak", the biggest on the AT. I met a hiker there whom I asked to take my picture standing by the tree. The picture was quite good, much better than I would have done. We exchanged pleasantries and I told her my trail name, thanked her for the nice picture. She said she likes photography and art in her life. Her trail name is "Thunderf**k". I finished the day with the sandwich from Tony's as a thunderstorm brewed. Knew I would get drenched but only a few drops fell. Big lightening show as I was hanging my bear bag.8/16 Day 75 19.7 M771.1 Up bright and early this day as a fellow hiker who brought a [plastic] trumpet decided his role was to awaken everyone with 6am Reveille. NY seems such easy hiking after the NE states (so far at least). Water is more the challenge. Hence, "Deli Blazing" is the way to go (taking advantage of restaurants, stores, and deli's near where the trail crosses roads). Several of the shelters I've passed today have had hand pump wells to provide water. Taste is a bit metallic. Several nice views and nice lakes today. I stopped at one lake with a beach and took advantage of their shower and concession stand. Been hearing military helicopters today, presumably out of West Point. I met two hikers today I'd met originally in the 100-mile wilderness in ME. Good to see them still on the trail. Was nice catching up a bit. I spent the night at the Dennytown Road parking area near a pumping station that had a water spigot. Water is very metallic, almost couldn't drink it.8/17 Day 76 15.30 M786.1Very HOT today. NY is having a heat wave, at least 95 degrees here and just so happens this is the lowest elevation along the AT, making the heat and humidity more intense. I awakened to find significant dew on the grass. Dew is not a problem under the forest canopy, but on an open field is very noticeable. Got an early start nonetheless. I hiked 9.5 miles on what has suddenly become a very rocky trail to the Appalachian Deli which is right on the AT and a road crossing. Had a nice breakfast sandwich, "cameled up" with orange juice and Gatorade while my tent dried in the very hot sun. Left at 12:30 to hike another 6 miles. By 4:00pm, I'd reached the Bear Mountain Bridge, a very high suspension bridge across the Hudson River. WOW! An amazing 20-minute walk across the mile span. I hadn't remembered or realized the Hudson was so big. Train tracks on both sides of the river, mountains, sailing ships in the river, and the amazing engineering of the bridge itself made for a memorable time. After the river crossing, the trail winds through the trail side zoo, which closed at 4:30, just as I was entering the zoo. So I couldn't take much time, but did see a few interesting things: a statue of Walt Whitman, a bear habitat at 163' above sea level marking the lowest point on the AT, a few interesting birds and other animals. After hiking the rocky trail, the bridge, the zoo, and in the amazing heat, I was done for the day so called and graciously accepted an offer for a ride from the proprietor of the Bear Mountain Bridge Motel. A quick shower, wash of clothes, a nice Bar-B-Que Rib dinner and I was set for the evening.