Date: 2004-08-07
From: Woods in Fahnestock State Park, NY

To: Cracking Branches
Miles today: 14.4

I was cold last night in the hammock. My summer sleeping bag¢a thin layer of fleece with a nylon shell¢and the child's throw were no match for the unseasonably cool temperatures. Late in the night, I deliberately shivered to generate warmth. In spite of the cold, I did manage to get some sleep.I decided that until I go back to using my down sleeping in a few weeks, I will bring a snack, maybe a oatmeal square, into the hammock on cold nights. Some food digesting in my stomach might generate some warmth in my body. It might be risky to have food in the hammock while camping in bear country, but the risk is worthwhile if it enables me to keep warm and obtain a better sleep.Early in the morning after the sunrise, while I lay in the hammock, I heard branches cracking and bushes being pushed aside. A large animal was moving about the periphery of my camp site. The tarp blocked my view of the surroundings, so I quietly sat up and prepared to get out of the hammock and see what kind of animal it was. To remain inside the hammock would leave me feeling vulnerable.I opened the velcro slit entrance of the hammock, making that ripping noise that happens when velcro is separated. If the animal heard the noise, it did not seem to care and kept on moving through the brush.I emerged from the hammock and made a cursory look at the surroundings. The dense brush concealed the animal as it moved. I sat on a log and placed the child's fleece throw over my shoulder to stave off the chill in the air. For several minutes the animal moved about and then it went away. I figured that it was either a bear or a deer.Speaking of deer, I saw many of them while hiking today. These animals were also a common sight while hiking on the western side of the Hudson River. Over there, the deer were unafraid of hikers. In one instance, Nils and I had noticed a deer sitting fifteen yards away from us. When we stopped to look at it, the deer eyed us with a relaxed expression; it never got up. By contrast, over here on the east side of the river, the deer are skittish and run away as soon as they see a human being. I wondered if the deer behave differently on opposite sides of the Hudson River due to variations in hunting regulations.I crossed the Taconic Parkway and ascended upland. An overlook afforded me with a view of the distant Catskill Mountains that rose above a flat region of roads, farms, residences, and a huge industrial site.The trail did not meander as much as in recent days and the hiking was easier. The trend of cool temperatures and low humidity continued. As an added bonus, the insects were not a problem. I wondered why the bugs are a nuisance on hot and humid days but not during cooler temperatures. In spite of the nice weather, I felt tired again while hiking during the morning. Maybe the poor sleep was to blame. Maybe my inadequate diet is sapping my energy. Maybe I am dragging because I have used up my supply of sports drink powder.For lunch, I left the trail at a road crossing and walked 1/2 mile to a deli. There, I ordered a meal loaded with calories and chugged down a bottle of sports drink. After digesting that meal, I felt more energized on the trail.I am hammocking near a shelter tonight. There are two parties of weekend campers here, all of them friendly.The only other thru hiker at this site is Gather, who showed up late in the evening. I was surprised to see him having assumed that he was hiking one day ahead. He told me that a trip into a town for resupplying had taken up much time.I am facing another cold night without my down sleeping bag. This time, I have a oatmeal square with me inside the hammock. Maybe a late night snack will keep me warm during the wee hours of the night when the temperature is at its lowest.