Date: 2007-07-24
From: Graymoor Monastery

To: RPH Shelter
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: few clouds

When I awoke the rain had ended and the skies were mostly clear. It looked to be a fine day for hiking. There was a very nice view feom the hotel looking up the Hudson River and the sailboats on the river were shining in the early morning sun. I had to take a cab back to the trail at the friary but it was a relatively short way and fairly cheap fare so it was worth the cost to get back out on the trail at a decent hour.The days hike was mostly on broad ridges with only occasional peaks thru the trees. It was a lot of up and down and a lot of rocky glaciated slabs to creep over because most were still wet from yesterdays rain. The news said this area got nearly 2" of rain yesterday and I believe much of it came when I was on the trail. At one point I got several quick glimpses of a recently fledged goshawk that was flying about wailing loudly for food. I never saw an adult.I caught up with and passed Lunar in mid-morning. I met hi. Originally just outside Damascus, VA but hadn't seen much of him since Duncannon, PA. I had heard he had gotten quite sick and had to see a doctor. His symptoms sounded much like Lyme's disease and he had been tested for it but the results came back negative. He said after about a week of rehab and prescription drugs he was back on the trail and feeling nearly back to normal. It was good to see him back out on the trail because 2 other hikers I knew had left the trail after extended severe illnesses.I was nearly out of water when I arrived at NY 301 and Canopus Lake in late afternoon. I still had about 7 miles to go to the next shelter so I walked the 1.5 miles on the road up to the concession stand at the nearby Fahnestock State Park. After filling my water containers I couldn't resist and also got a hot dog, ice cream, gatoraid and chips to tide me over until dinner.The last half mile of trail before reaching the lake was very interesting. It was along the grade of an iron mine ore cart track from the Revolutionary War era. Apparently iron ore was loaded from the mine into carts then hauled by mule down the grade to a furnace that was located under the waters of the current lake (reservoir). It was pretty neat walking along the grade and seeing the stone craftsmenship under your feet, still providing a useful transportation route after more than 300 years.I was already at the north end of the lake and didn't want to walk the 1.5 miles back on the road to the AT then the nearly 2 trail miles back up the west side of the lake to wind up less than a quarter mile from where I currently stood. So I green blazed it. From the park concession stand I bushwacked up a short hill climb then along a ridge and came out on the AT right where I expected to find it. From there it was only another 5 miles on to the RPH Shelter and I arrived by about 5.30 PM. This was an early evening for me but I decided to quit for the day anyway. I want to get a few supplies at a small market near the trail in Stormvillle about 5 miles up the trail and don't want to arrive in the evening after it has closed. So i'll stop by tomorrow AM on my way up the trail.