Date: 2004-07-28
From: New York

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Now not all of the AT in NY was a let down. For example the delis that were near (0.3 +- miles) road crossings definitely were a perk and a sustainer. Also Island Pond Outlet was debatably the most gorgeous place I¢ve ever sat and looked over ( my life list; South Lake Tahoe, CA; Moab; Sage¢s Gorge , which I hadn¢t seen at that point as it is the border of CONN and MASS on the AT).Two stellar moments stand out from NY. First a little thrill on the AT. Shortly after the Lemon Squeezer ( a place were rocks on both sides of the trail seem for a NOBO to tighten) was little challenge. A fork in the trail, a place where I would have had my frustrations amplified, yet this time at least one was labeled ¢easy route¢.   So if there is an easy route, you guessed it, there is a challenging route. I looked ahead at the hard route.Directly before me was a two huge rocks some six feet a part. A smaller shelf rock / bouldery thing was between them. The challenge was getting up about four feet. In the middle of the path with simple steps in a rock was a tree. The tree hooked out over the opening of four feet from the roots making a tight squeeze to its right or totally putting you out over the rocks trying its left.   Just remember too, that the ground one starts on isn¢t necessarily the greatest either. A fall could put you on some ankle twisting rocks or worse case scenario set you tumbling down the ¢easy route¢ to the left. I didn¢t look for any other options. (I was possibly saying to myself, ¢ what do I care if I get injured, I want to end this hike anyway).I approached the tree up the rock¢s foot holds. Now if took my pack off I could have made it through the right on the safer route by the tree. Yet to me that would have been slackpacking and as of now I haven¢t done any (possibly about three feet of error shortly before Erwin, but this is debatable). So I tossed up my trekking poles and reached my hands around the outside of the tree. My fingers gripping bark, I went for the exposed route with my pack on my back. For an instant all my concerns stopped and only that instant seemed important. What a wonderful feeling. Time seemed slower, but my feet went down and I didn¢t fall. This little treat kept me grinning the majority of the day.Second (though now that I think of it this may have been first), was simply a little error. I had plans to camp at the final shelter before Ft. Montgomery, NY (my next resupply) but I knew the shelter had no water source. Planning ahead I thought I¢d only need a liter for night and next morning with our four miles to get into a public park. Arriving at the shelter about 7:20, the climb upto the blue-blaze had sucked up my reserves more than I expected. Do I stay or do I go? I¢ll check out the shelter some .5 + off the trail.   I was at the shelter and decided it looked less than habitable. I checked my watch. BOOM! Running?I went for it. I didn¢t care how much lodging was going to be at the Bear¢s Inn. Running water and a shower would more than compensate. Pushing myself down the trail. It became obvious that the final four plus to town were not going to be a walk in the park. As the sun set and dark shadows began to cover the trail, traveling became more of a challenge. ¢Ah, what is this another climb,¢ I thought, up and over is all I could hope for in a short time. Well this climb was a bear. Ha a pun, As it was Bear mountain that I was heading up. I didn¢t know it at the time but atop of Bear Mtn. is a lookout tower. Some four stories of coble stone towering all of the sudden appeared through the trees ahead of my sight with a nine in the evening lack of light was a bit surprising and erry. I looked at my data book. ¢Eh. I¢m not going to make it to town,¢ I said in my head as I looked at the blazes leading back into the dark woods. Accessing the area, I found it easy to find a flat spot to cowboy it for the night, as the tower was a touristy spot with a parking are and toilets. A paved walking path beneath a tree provided a great spot.Running short on water I had two snickers and a granola bar for dinner. As I dined, I watched a park ranger¢s car pull through the parking lot. Also, I noted that the clouds were changing and wind was picking up. I can¢t tell you which factor was the cause of my troubles falling asleep, but they weren¢t the only reason that I slept poorly.Two trains, one to the left and another to my right as I looked away from the tower, blew their whistles through the night. Also in the area are a few military establishments and were most like the source of several helicopters flying over filling the sound lulls the train whistles left. Also the clouds did eventually open and sprinkle down some wet on me. I first just covered with my poncho, but I couldn¢t sleep at ease. The thought came to me that such a tourist spot probable has a pavilion.After covering my stuff, I went to search the area before any serious rain. The shelter I found was locked but a nice over hang seemed to provide a plausible home. I set up in the doorway between humming and glowing pop machines and a rock.   Sleep came, but I was up early and on my way before sunrise.