Appalachian Trail Days 30-35: NYC Skyline and Rock Climbing

Day 30 – Lost and Found Hostel to Fingerboard Shelter 1392.6 (16.6 miles)

84.1 miles for the 6-day week

Note: (This post was written with some help from Marty’s son, Colin – trail name “Smiles”. A little behind schedule with this week’s post, but will catch up with more updates in the next few days!)

 

Day 30

Left the Lost and Found Hostel this morning and headed out!

Today was quite challenging. Trail is very rough.

A slow day, but finished 16.6 miles and 3,750 elevation gain in 11 hours! I’m dead. (Okay, just feeling dead.)

Walked 1/4 mile down to the water source. Brought it back to the shelter and it started raining just after starting to heat the water. Woo! Barely made it without being rained on.

Day 31

Late start this morning after a huge day yesterday. Aiming for West Mountain Shelter. It’s been getting chilly at times. Low of 50F is forecast for this evening–not too cold, but a little chilly.

Made it to the West Mountain Shelter, from which you can see the New York City Skyline. 

I considered hiking farther past the shelter and setting up my tent, but decided not to.

There are supposed to be some really good delis at a point where the trail crosses the road tomorrow. Meanwhile, tonight’s dinner is Knorr rice sides and salmon, with a nice view.

Day 32

Woke up to the most incredible 5:30am view of the blazing sun reflecting against the New York City skyscrapers. The city is many dozens of miles away (30-40?), with many small mountains and hills in between.

 

I went through Bear Mountain park, then crossed the Hudson River.

Tonight I shall camp at Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, where the nice people let you stay on the ball field. They have all the amenities: power, water, a flat place for the tent, and a cold shower.

Day 33

Hiked today from Graymoor Spiritual Life Center to Canopus Lake Shelter. Hot day today. Started at 6:30am and finished around 3:30pm. 2,000ft up and 2,000ft down in elevation, with not a single view. Yuck.

No photos today, since I was in a rush to get to Canopus Lake before they closed. They have a place to swim and rinse clothes, and concessions to get some food because it’s Saturday!

A hot dog cost seven bucks! I sat in the sun at a picnic table and ate one while waiting for my clothes to dry.

I’m getting hungrier and hungrier, so everything tastes good lately.

The deep philosophical question for today: Is a hot dog a sandwich? Is it a taco? 

Answer: It is neither, because it is long gone and in my belly. And it was delicious.

Day 34

It was a hot day today, but the trail was pretty good in general. Better than yesterday’s trail. Not too many rocks, so things went faster.

The trail is good today, and I suspect it will be getting even better soon.

I’ve been hiking with 2-Mile for about a week. He’s going into town tomorrow, while I continue on. He’s been wonderful to hike with. We’ve both been hiking about 15 miles per day. (Unless needing to cut it short due to shelter spacing or resupply.)

Day 35

Some nice pastures and meadows today. Very pretty.

The day was hot today, in the 80s. (With the high humidity here, 80 is hot!) Regardless, I still hiked a great and beautiful 16.6 miles.

I happened upon Roseann’s Kitchen–an oasis on a hot day! 

2x 16oz Raspberry Lemonades and a Gyro at a very reasonable price. The gyro was lunch and dinner.

 

Tomorrow: Hiking into Connecticut early morning!!!