Date: 2014-06-20
From: wildcat shelter

To: palisades pkwy visitor cntr
Miles today: 21.7
Weather: broken clouds

I woke up early and felt good even after a long yesterday. I did however lay around for about half hour till about six when i got the day going. I got some breakfast and added a protein bar cuz i was hungry like a bear. It seemed to take forever to pack as i had stuff scattered everywhere to dry. I finally got moving at 7 but was not worried a bit that i would make the meeting point by 6. As i walked up the shelter trail to the AT i noticed my legs were a little heavy and stiff, no worries i thought, theyll loosen up. The first bit was nice walking down to fitzgerald falls so i just waddled along waiting for my legs to wake up. From the falls it was a decent little climb up steep rock steps. Seeing that my legs werent up and going yet it was a slow climb, but it would get better right? The trail at this point was beautiful, not what i had expected. I really feel like ot is the nicest part so far but you earn the miles, its not easy. I clumb over mombasha high point with a nice view and down to the road where a trail saint had left jugs of water for passing hikers. Yup, people still care. The next two miles to the next road were again a challenge. Climby going up, big steep steps going down. This is really rough territory, good thing i had plenty of time to get where i was going. My guide shows the elevation of the trail but not the condition of the trail, the condition makes all the difference. Up and over arden mt it was all shorty ups and downs but shteep, wicked shteep! The down bits are just as slow as the up. I was actually glad to get to the road walk part over rt 87 thruway, to give the knees a rest. Then it was up to 'The lemon squeezer'. First you squoze between two huge, HUGE boulders, then clumb up over a boulder then did your best spiderman impression. It was straight up about ten feet. There was an 'easy way' trail around but i couldnt bring myself to do that. If i wanted easy i wouldnt be here. Climbing with a pack on is not easy nope not easy one bit. At least i threw my poles up on top so i didnt have to deal with them. I made it but not unscathed. I jammed my shin against a rock that made my shin wonder why there is no padding there. No blood so i must have been ok. Oh i was so tired. It was unanimous, my legs were tired and were not going to wake up today. They would get me thru today but not in quick fashion. I was content to poke along at a blazing two miles per hour. I passed the fingerboard shelter, cool little stone shelter up on a mtn. From that point it was pretty good for a couple miles but i still had no get up and go. All i had today was a plod. I stopped by a lazy stream with four miles to go to filter water with my busted platypus bag. I didnt really need the water but any excuse to stop would do today. Two miles later i took a sit down at the william brien shelter. Seabiscuit, hikermonkey, and brian showed up. We chatted about how cool the trail has become. They all said ny was the best yet, but not easy. I had definitely bit off more than i should have this time. Two slow miles left i strapped on my pack, said so-long to the others and pushed on. Over the black mtn i could see either the freedom tower or the empire st building, couldnt tell which but it was big over on the horizon. I was getting close, i could hear the cars on the palisade pkwy. Glad to get to the road i had done what i had to do. Honestly i wish i had done shorter miles the last three days but i had an agenda to meet my ciusins. An easy 0.4 to the visitor center and i would have a cold soda from the vending machine my guide says is there. I got to the center, tossed off my pack, dug out my wallet, and went searching for the goods. Huh? Hello? Vending machine on the inside and the visitor center is closed? This for real is a joke. I stuck out my bottom lip, made a sad face and sat down by my pack. Not ten minutes later Tim showed up to get me. It seems so good when youre that tired and dirty with no means to get anywhere to have someone show up that will take you to a happy place with all the amenities. The seat in the car was heavenly. I rode back to Tim and Brendas glad to be off my feet, gladder than most days. That night we had bbq chicken and steak, rice, asparagus, bread, and soda. Soda is like a drug on the trail, everyone i have talked to craves the stuff. We talked and hung out till we were all tired then went to bed. I got the whole basement to myself! A huge blow up mattress and my own tee-vee! I put in some laundry before i fell on the bed and sailed away to sleep. This was a good a good place to be. Full belly, clean me, clothes getting clean, my own tee vee. Tough days are just oart of the journey and the reward is well worth the work. Yup, well worth it.