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Day 106 Clarence Fahnestock SP to NY 52, Storyville, NY (10.1 miles) 1434.1 miles

Good, good day! Didn’t get hiking until rain stopped about 11AM so pretty good mileage for short day.

Thanks so much for all of the support after my recent pity party! Received a large number of encouraging comments, messages, and gestures.

Lisa and Tom (Lake Hopatcong friends) drove up to the State Park today. They got there about time I left and my cell is on airplane mode so I missed their message. Bummer. Would have been great trail magic just seeing them! Thanks guys!

Glen (friend and former co-worker) sent me a link to Jimmy V’s “Don’t Ever Give Up” ESPY speech. One of greatest motivational speeches ever. If you’ve never seen it, watch it. If you’ve seen it but it’s been a while, watch it. If you just saw it, watch it again! Thanks, Glen.

Jimmy V speech
Then, just as I’m.packing up this AM, I get a text from our friend, Andrew. Mae is the daughter of Andrew and his wife, Susie. She is the reason the Down Syndrome Program at Boston Children’s Hospital is one of the charities I’m hiking for.

I became a brand new hiker today after this video (her brother, Drew) and the picture of Mae and Drew below. How can you not fly up and down mountains after that. Thanks so much!

Last night my tent was on a bed of leaves. You can see how dry it stays under tent when leaves are soaking up rain. You can also see where my pack was laying wrapped in poncho.

Today was mid-60’s with a few sprinkles of rain while I hiked. Nice change of pace.

Horse farm below ridge I just came down.

15 miles to Wingdale, NY. Hoping to stay there tomorrow night and get some laundry done. I need it…badly!

Happy trails!

Day 105 Catfish Tentsite to Clarence Fahnestock State Park (5.5 miles). 1424.0 miles total

Heat and humidity for 3 days is more than I can take. I couldn’t mentally get myself to go another mile.
I have doubts about my sanity regularly out here but today was one of the few times I’ve questioned whether I can physically make it. Kerri told me to “keep my chin up” and Brooke said to “embrace the suck!” Ready for a bounce back day tomorrow!!
One of the lures for staying at the State Park is that there is a concession stand (burgers, etc.). The other is that I saw a sign inviting thru-hikers to stop by campsite #12.
Joe was there with sandwiches, cold drinks, and chairs…with backs.

Joe, 72, has never hiked the trail but has camped here regularly for last 15 years. Started meeting hikers and began providing trail magic 8 years ago. Thinks hikers are crazy but keep him young.

If you’ve got any extra mojo, please send it my way!

Happy trails!

Day 104 Hudson River to Catfish Tentsite (14.7 miles) 1418.5 miles total

Really hot and humid today. About 85 and 70% humidity. My clothes were drenched in sweat early in the AM and stayed that way all day.

This picture was taken crossing the Hudson. You can get a feel for how steamy it was.

Expecting scattered thunderstorms tomorrow and Friday.  

No laundry at or near last night’s motel. Need to wash clothes soon! Lots of perspiration last couple days. Doesn’t smell too woodsy fresh in my tent right now.

Happy trails!

Day 103 William Brien Mem Shelter to Hudson River, Fort Montgomery, NY (10.2 miles) 1403.8 miles total

It poured rain last night. Quit about 6AM. Tent still amazes me in ability to keep rain out. Thanks Big Agnes! Just a bit of dampness from floor. Tenting on bare dirt is not good in rain. Bed of leaves or pine needles soak up water.

Tented a couple of miles from lake below.

Can’t be more than 30 miles from NYC. I’d guess closer to 20. This pic is looking toward NYC. Anyone else surprised at this amount of wilderness so close to the city?

Just crossed West Mtn (elev 1137). From here we go down to Seven Lakes Dr (down 500 ft in 1.1 mile) and then 2.4 miles up to Bear Mtn (elev 1305). It’s the peak on left. If you zoom in you can see Perkins Memorial Tower.

This morning was a tough climb. Took me 3 hrs to do what normally takes 2. Probably combination of difficulty, wet rocks, and I sucked. Needless to say I’m not look forward to this.

Hudson River flowing to NYC.

Bear Mtn climb turned out to be like a superhighway! Apparently a big tourist thing so most of hike up was wide and groomed trail. If the entire AT was like this I’d have been finished a month ago.

Fort Montgomery is the town below on Hudson.

This bear has taken over a shelter along trail!

The trail goes right through a small zoo. That shelter belongs to the bear. Looks pretty comfy! The bear enclosure is the lowest point on the AT at 177 ft.

Rained a bit after I got to motel. Thundershowers expected next 2 days. We’ll see.

Happy trails!

Day 102 Orange Tpke to William Brien Memorial Shelter (11.5 miles) 1393.6 miles total

Less than 800 miles to go. At about 100 miles/week, it’s only 8 weeks until I can revert from Just Pete to “Normal” Pete. I suspected, and have proven to myself, that I am much more suited to playing golf, drinking Bud, and hanging out with Kris at Beach House!

NY has proven to be no easy hike. Lots of ups/downs and water sources are scarce and sketchy.

Below is the entrance to the “Lemon Squeezer”.

You had to walk/squeeze through that crevice in middle of pic below. Tight fit. Thought I was going to get stuck at one point.

When you get out there was an “Easy Way” blue blaze option. Haven’t done that yet and not starting now. Had to scramble up and over boulder to the right. Trust me, harder than it looks in pic.

Below is an example of tree roots that will really beat up your feet if you step in the wrong place.

Had hoped to make next shelter which has NYC view but heard it gets crowded plus I was tired. Should pass by a couple of city views tomorrow.

Supposed to rain early AM and again in afternoon. Hoping to make about 10 miles between rain to Fort Montgomery, NY.

Happy trails!

 

Day 101 NY 17A to Orange Turnpike (10.1 miles) 1382.1 miles total

Had a good sleep and a nice breakfast with Brent, Laure, Sophie, and Alix. Thanks much, guys!

Laure hiked with me for the first 4 miles of the day to Fitzgerald Falls. It was great to have a guide!

Water is getting tighter up here as very few springs. Contacted Nina, a friend who lives in area, as I was hoping to catch a ride to town for water. She just happened to be at a friend’s who lives about 3 miles from Orange Turnpike.

I setup my tent about a quarter mile from road and met Nina about 2PM. Got to a McDonalds, sat on a chair on Mike’s patio, and got water.

Nina saw some trail magic when she dropped me off. Guessing she’ll be out here some day!

Happy trails!

 

Day 100 County Rd 517 to NY 17A, Bellvale, NY (17.4 miles) 1372.0 miles total

Been out here wandering through the woods for 100 days now. Have told many people that “I’m not a hiker and I hate camping”. May have to drop the first part as I’m thinking 100 days and 1372 miles probably counts as being a hiker!

Dave took me back out to trail this AM. Took a while to get used to carrying pack again. Fortunately first couple of miles where a boardwalk.

Got a little more difficult after that. Had to climb Stairway to Heaven. Pretty good climb.

Finished NJ (state #8) early afternoon.

My friend, Brent, and his family live in Warwick, NY. I am planning to meet his wife, Laure, on trail today. She will hike last 5-6 miles with me and then they’ve invited me to stay at their house.

Laure can hike!! I had to work to keep up. She knew what she was doing and where she was going so all I had to do was follow. Haven’t been able to do that yet on hike so it was kind of relaxing.

We finished the day close to the Bellvale Creamery. Quite a few hikers will stop here for ice cream as only 1/4 mile from trail.

Brent, Sophie, and Alix met us at the Creamery. Sophie is 10 and Alix, 7. Super nice and polite young ladies.

Will be getting close to NYC in next couple of days. There is a shelter I hope to stay near that has views of Manhattan.

Happy trails!

Day 99 Glenwood, NJ Zero Day 1354.6 miles total

Felt very fortunate that I wasn’t hiking today. Lots of rain in morning and afternoon.

Stopped by Ferring (former employer) office today. Saw lots of familiar faces.

Leaving Lake Hopatcong in AM. Thanks to everyone who gave me a ride, came out to see me, and especially to John and Jen for your hospitality. I’ve had a great time passing through!

This stop has really made me aware of the large number of people who are into this adventure. Mind boggling. Thanks so much to all of you for your amazing support. I know that I don’t walk alone.

Happy trails!

Day 98 High Point State Park HQ to Glenwood, NJ (18.3 miles) 1354.6 miles total

Really good day today. Hiked what I was planning on doing over 2 days because sounds like rain tomorrow.

My ride to the trail this AM was with the Lake Hopatcong News staff and Mary Lynn. They are going to do an article on my hike and connection to Lake Hopatcong.

Hiked by the High Point Monument. A Navy buddy (Ozzy) grew up near there and his grandfather worked on the construction of monument. Before I began hiking Ozzy asked me to say a prayer there for all active duty military and veterans. Got it done Ozzy!

Long walk on wooden path over marshy area. There will be several more areas like this up the road.

After I got past High Point there were few rocks and fairly flat terrain. Took me 2 hrs and 40 minutes to finish first 9 miles of day. That’s booking!

If I could have figured out how to carry this masterpiece for 850 miles, I would have made an offer.

Dave was there to pick me up in PM. He got there an hour before me to do trail magic. He’s really enjoyed that and I’m sure he’ll do it again after I’m gone from the area.

Two of my favorite “young” hikers have been Goddess and Ontario. I had seen them regularly from the end of Shenandoahs to Duncannon, PA. You’re never really sure if/when you will run into people again. Especially after you crash and take 3 zero days!

As Dave and I were getting ready to leave trail Goddess showed up with her friend, Mariah. Mariah is not hiking but came to see Goddess who was taking a zero today and out to show Mariah a bit of the trail. Had a fun time hanging out with them for a while.

That’s Goddess on the left. I’m the one in center!

Zero day tomorrow and then Saturday I’ll be leaving this area and back to reality.

Happy trails!

Day 97 Culvers Gap to High Point State Park HQ (14.3 miles) 1336.3 miles total

Ed gave me a ride out to the trail this AM. He also picked me up in PM.

I’m getting pretty spoiled. Walk 14-15 miles, back for a shower, happy hour, dinner, and a bed to sleep in.

Photo below is from Sunrise Mtn. There is a really nice pavilion at top. Should have taken a picture.

Below is Mashipacong Shelter.

Weather was nice again today. Low 80’s and not too humid.

Enjoying NJ hike. Rocks lessening, terrain relatively flat, and I’m slack packing. Feel guilty for about half a second when I pass other thru-hikers.

Been planning for 10 mile days tomorrow and Friday. Possible rain on Friday. If that is still forecast in AM, I hope to do close to 20 tomorrow.

Happy trails!