Friday (6/12) my shuttle driver retuned me to the exact location from where I was picked up on Wednesday. The day started with a hike through the Trailside Zoo.
The AT enters the Trailside Zoo and Museum, one of the more peculiar sights along the entire trail. The trail walks through the zoo for about a quarter mile, showcasing a variety of local wildlife (those in the zoo are mostly injured or rehabilitating). There is also a natural history museum that hikers can enter. The zoo is open from 10 AM to 4 PM daily, so if you happen to cross while it is closed, you’ll need to take a blue-blazed side trail around the zoo.
To be honest, it was a big disappointment. There was a porcupine exhibit with one porcupine. The was a turtle in a water type exhibit and five fish in a pond. All the other exhibits were empty.
The Trailside Zoo also holds the distinction of being the lowest elevation on the entire Appalachian Trail, at 160 feet above sea level.l
After passing through the zoo I crossed Bear Mountain Bridge which spans over the Hudson River. The bridge opened in 1924. It was the first vehicular bridge to span the Hudson River south of Albany and briefly held the title of the world’s longest suspension bridge. After crossing the bridge, it was back into the woods and a very grueling climb, thank goodness I finally got to the top. Not long after that I came along the Jolly Rovers Trail Crew, they were taking a lunch break. They are volunteers that maintain a section of the trail. I also took my lunch break there. They shared their ice cold water with me. It was so good.
The day was very hot with heat advisory warnings in the area. After about 6.5 miles I came out of the woods on to a highway where a deli was located, I had a turkey sandwich and a cold drink and then continued on to my destination for the day, which was the Graymoor Center. My day’s hike was just under 8 miles.
Graymoor Spiritual Life Center is a 450-acre mountaintop sanctuary in Garrison, New York, overlooking the Hudson River Valley. Founded in 1898, it serves as the motherhouse for the Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Atonement and is a prominent center for spiritual healing, recovery, and interfaith dialogue. Hikers are welcome to camp on the ballfield. There is also a pavilion, porta-potty, shower and drinking water that’s available to hikers. There were about six others hikers taking advantage of the hospitality offered by the Center. I was so tired that rather than setting up my tent I chose to sleep under the pavilion. The mosquitos were pretty bad at first but they calm down after dark. I was able to get a decent night sleep.
Saturday morning (6/13) I was slow getting out of camp and the last of about six hikers to leave. It was another hot day. There was more climbs today then yesterday and more exposure to the sunshine. I was rewarded with a beautiful view to the east on one of those climbs. The natural water resources were scarce today. As I crossed a dusty small parking lot there were two jugs of water, thank you so much to whoever left it. I filled my bottles and was on my way. As I was hiking, a snake quickly crossed the trail, startling me. I don’t know what kind it was but I included a picture. If anyone knows the name of the snake please write in the comment section.
I came across a sign designating where part of the Continental Army camped. That was pretty cool. The quarters that they built into the hillside were called the Hempstead Huts. The huts were named after the Continental Army soldiers from Hempstead, Long Island, who built and occupied them during the winters of 1779 and 1780. General George Washington established these winter encampments and outposts to guard the Hudson River Highlands from British forces. I found it awesome to be where the Continental Army were camped almost 250 years ago. I took a picture of the foundation of one of the Inoculation Stations used during smallpox epidemics. You can see where the stone was set for the foundation. The wood from the trees were used to build the crude huts and alot of the trees were cut for fire wood leaving the area bare of trees, but the forrest had reclaimed it’s beauty in the last 250 years. After 8.5 miles I reached my campsite for the night. The campsite was just an open field next to a road, there was a building by the parking lot with a water spigot. Had a pretty good night sleep.
Sunday’s (6/14) hike was only 6 miles to Canopus Lake in Fahnestock State Park. I wanted to stop at the cafe and have a burger and just hang out at State Park for the day. The park offers bathrooms, showers and water to hikers and a nice campsite with a new shelter. In the morning after 2.5 miles on the trail I hit the 400 mile mark of my journey. I arrived at the park around 1:30 and had a cheese burger and fries, delicious. The park had a nice seating area outside and I hung out with a couple other hikers for about 2 hours. They were moving on for another 4 miles, I was finished for the day. I went over to the campsite area and set up my tent opting not to sleep in the open shelter due to the mosquitos. I met an interesting guy by the name of Jonathan. We hung out together and discuss our personal beliefs with each other. Went over to the bath house for a shower, there was no hot water, you can’t have everything. I got settled in my tent and it started to rain. I fell asleep to the sound of the rain hitting the tent. . I had a very good night’s sleep.
Monday’s (6/15) plan was to hike 10.5 miles. This would be the most milage I have done since my ankle started bothering me. The high temperature was only 72 today, which was very nice compared to the past two weeks. Had a nice view of the lake as I left the area. For about the first 3 miles I had a great trail to hike, meaning very little rocks. I climbed up to an area that had a beautiful view and there I met four guys that help maintain a section of the trail. Today they were repainting an American Flag that is on one of the big rocks at the top. Someone decided to build a fire on the flag painting, ruining it. The four patriots were cleaning away the soot and reapplying a new coat of paint. As we were talking I mention that my destination for the day was at a place a little ways off the trail that sold pizza and offer camping in a grassy area behind the building. One of the guys, Jason, said there was a deli next door that sold breakfast and he would be there at 8:30 the next morning and would buy me breakfast if I was still there. I told him I was not sure of the next day’s plan but I would keep it in mind. I stopped and ate my lunch at a unique looking shelter. It had a front door but was open in the back. Right after leaving the shelter I came by a nice flowing stream and topped off my water bottles. Things got tough after that, lots of elevation and literally rocks after rocks. Finally the trail started heading down to the road where I found pizza. I walked into the pizza place to make sure camping was allowed out back, and it was. I thanked them and went to set up camp before I ordered food. It was just a small pizza place and there was a couple of locals hanging out with the owners and employees. I ordered a medium pizza and while I was waiting everyone was talking to me and treating me like family. Another local came in and hung out for a little while and joined the lively conversation. I sat with these guys for about two hours as customers came and went and they were all like family. I took my full belly to my tent and had a good night’s rest.,
I woke Tuesday morning (6/16) and decided I would go to town and resupply and spend a zero day resting my foot. The guys told me that Fishkill NY would be the place to go, since they had a Walmart. I hung around out back until 8:30 then went to the cafe to see if Jason was there and he was. He was glad to see me and insisted on buying my breakfast. Several locals came while we were there and Jason introduced me to must of them, he told them I was hiking and they were very interested in my journey. Jason was driving his motorcycle so he could not give me ride to town. I asked one of the owners if they had a number for a shuttle driver. He said he could take me there around 10 o clock. He dropped me off at the hotel. Thanks Big Mike. My plan was to rest today and tomorrow and back to the trail Thursday morning. Until next time, Happy trails!
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