7/24/12 – 1398 miles
New York State has been kicking my but. It’s almost like the trail planners decided that even though the mountains were nothing like they are in the South, they would route us through the most difficult and treacherous boulder fields they could find. We are doing 14 or 15 miles each day and feel exhausted with that.
It’s kind of neat that I’ve walked home, so to speak. Even though the trail is a long way from Western NY, it still seems familiar. The trees are recognizable and the landscape is like I remember. Even the humidity brings back memories of scorching days working in the woods.
I’ve been hiking off and on with Robo, Tink and Kleenex. I met Kleenex coming out of Vernon, NY and we hiked a couple of days together, crossing Harriman State Park and Bear Mountain. Tonight we are in the town of Ft. Montgomery to resupply for our push into Connecticut. Tomorrow we will stay at the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, another unique stop on the AT.
Dick – High Point state park gets it’s name because it is the highest mountain in NJ. There is a monument on top but it was rainy and foggy so we didn’t take the side trail.
Don – Nothing on the AT is as the crow flies. The whole trail is 2185 miles this year and about 1200 miles as the crow flies.
CT, MA and VT are supposed to be good, getting you ready for NH. Bryson didn’t finish the last 100 mile difficult part of Maine. II really looks as though you are going in the records! It5 is an accomplishment to be proud of, for the rest of your life.