Date: 2005-06-10
From: Greymoor Monastery

To: Fahnestock State Park
Miles today: 11.9

What a day, where do I begin? I will start where I stopped yesterday and continue until the present moment.   We had another thru-hiker join us in the shelter last night ¢ Metric. Both Cat and Flash Gordon are mathematics graduates, but just met each other on the trail. Four Cheese is a geologist and all are pondering on what to do post graduation.   I slept on the floor and had to apply Deet to keep the bugs off ¢ I even got bitten thru my wool socks! Both Cat and Four Cheese slung up their hammocks inside the shelter ¢ plenty of room ¢ but I noticed that Cat abandoned his during the night and slept on one of the benches. I slept OK with the bag open ¢ it realy was hot and humid during the night. I will have to develop a whole new sequence for hot weather hiking.    I arose at 5AM and was back on the trail by 6.30AM on a dull, overcast and incredibly humid morning. All day long I struggled mightily with the humidity, turning all of my hiking gear into a sweat soaked miasma. I struggled up and down Little Fort Hill and repeated the process on Denny Hill. New York is tough! I know I am out of shape, have a heavy bag and that it is humid, but!! There are some tough ups and downs here, and although the trail is sometimes packed black dirt, it is also rocky, especially on the UDS [Ups and Downs} I also went off the trail twice, mostly because I have my head down and am concentrating on the thread way and so miss some of the double blaze turn indications.   I made a serious point of drinking a lot of water today. I drank a total of four liters over the course of the hike, and still constantly felt thirsty.   After crossing Canopus Hill the trail enters Fahnestock State Park ¢ more ups and downs, and a sharp eye is needed to stay on the white blazes, since this park is festooned with side trails. Gradually all of the hikers from last night began to pass me, first Four Cheese who was pushing to meet his girl friend, then Sweet Cheeks, then Cat, Metric and finally Flash Gordon passed me just before the turn off at 301 to the campsite. I was lucky that there were lots of water sources ¢ including the spigot at Dennytown road {seasonal}   All day long it looked as if it was going to thunderstorm, but I only got a few sprinkles. Despite this I was constantly soaked to the skin in sweat, and I continued to feel realy weak ¢ my legs were rubbery all the day ¢ and I had to take a lot of breaks to give myself a chance to regain some strength. Not Good!!      As I hiked along 301 to the campground I began to develop a rash and irritation on my inner thighs and perineum. Not Good either!! The campsite is free to thru-hikers and I have set up the tent and taken advantage of the hot shower. Just in time, since the threatening thunderstorm materialized just as I had a cup of coffee and finished my trail snacks. I was able to leave a message for KT at the public phone on the road and asked her to mail the #9 box to Manchester Center tomorrow.   So I am currently sitting in the tent awaiting the thunderstorm to pass. I am airing out my neither regions, so I hope that I don¢t get any company!      I am very worried about my energy level. As I was pitching the tent, I got lightheaded several times when I straightened up. I feel better now, but am very tired to the point of exhaustion.   I need to rethink this entire section. I think that I am going to go for very short sections every day until I feel better. I hope that the ¢crotch rot¢ doesn¢t become a problem ¢ all in all a lot of things to be concerned about tonight.   I will cook dinner after the storm passes and look for a shorter hike for tomorrow. Plan for a lot of rest stops, snacks and lots of water.   Will try KT on the cell later.   Worried! Thought for today-      The next step is always the hardest.