Days 74-75, September 4-5: The New York AT experience.

My plan is to hike 16 miles per day in this part of the New York AT. I am doing exactly that. This is not to say the trail is a piece of cake to hike. The trail here sometimes defies logic by going up and down seemingly unnecessary. Without beautiful and expansive views, such as the scenery I happily witnessed in Connecticut, I find little pleasure scaling a rocky hill only to find the top chocked with trees, then descend a similar twisty, steep descent followed by a walk through a boggy bottom of mucky mud. Such is life on the New York AT.

A stile for allowing hikers to climb over the fence.

In camp yesterday I saw three young women southbound thru-hikers I had not seen since Vermont: Tipper, Giggles and Frog. They sped ahead of me but I caught up during their mid-day stop at the RPH Shelter. They are stronger hikers compared to me. They had taken several days off the trail and stayed in New York during the last big storm. The encounter reminded me that the SOBO hikers I had been seeing are either well ahead of me or behind me. Bill and Tony are back in Massachusetts . I am beginning to believe the last 1500 miles of this journey may be a mostly solo affair. This is not a problem for me. But I do enjoy meeting fellow hikers.

I must end this post so I can drink Emergen-C, which will help with the leg cramps I have as I am writing this. In the next post I will discuss a little injury I am dealing with.

This oak tree is the largest tree on the AT.
The chair, on a long boardwalk near a highway, is engraved with “AT Georgia”. Another chair facing this one is engraved with “AT Maine.”
The train to New York City stops here, right on the AT!
The best lake view with the worst name: Nuclear Lake.
I did not camp at the RPH Shelter, but it made a nice lunch stop while a light shower fell.
There are small things to enjoy on the trail.
One of the most pleasant stretches of trail in NY.
One of the tedius parts of the trail above Canopus Lake.
Canopus Lake. I hiked about one mile past the far end of the lake as the light rain showers continued.

Summary:

Day 74, 4-Sep: Milepost 752.2 miles, Daily 16.6, Ascent 3050′, Descent 2380′, Highest 1320′. Camp: Morgan Stewart Shelter in Depot Hill area, 1300′. Walked across NYC commuter train tracks, kept hiking!  Most scenic: Nuclear Lake and several nice pastures. Never far from civilization on the AT in New York.

Day 75, 5-Sep: Milepost 768.9 miles, Daily 16.7. Ascent 2880′, Descent 3210′, Highest 1375′. Camp: South of Canopus Lake, 945′. Lot of small ups and downs, pleasant forest walk. Lunch stop at wonderful RPH shelter, complete with covered table, lawn chairs, water, landscaping. Trail near Canopus Lake was tedious, frustrating. 

7 thoughts on “Days 74-75, September 4-5: The New York AT experience.”

  1. I never knew those were called stiles. I thought they were step-thingies-over-a-fence.

  2. Good morning Roger
    You have. Such a great attitude. 16 miles a day

  3. What fun!! Thanks for taking us along through your pictures and thoughts! Keep on Keeping on!
    Cheers!

  4. Hi Roger. Welcome to New York,my original home state. Was born there in 1932. the last millennium. Thank you again for sharing your wonderful experiences. Stay safe and healthy. Bill

  5. Hi Roger,
    Great vicarious hiking with you!
    Years ago a naturopathic doctor recommended Magnesium Citrate tablets for those end-of-a-long-hiking day leg cramps. I have not suffered from those cramps since!

    Alan

  7. I love it.!!! I stopped at RPH shelter for lunch on my way north. And did the same thing in ‘91

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