It is the set of the sails, not the direction of the wind, that determines which way we will go. ~Jim Rohn
April 12, 2024
AT miles: 9.8 — SOBO
Ascent: 1837’
Descent: 1683’
Weather: Rainy and cool
Sightings: one snake
High point: Hiking in the rain!
Today was my first day back on trail since last June!
My goal for the next seven days is to do the 84-mile NY section of the AT with Nancy and Cynthia. Nancy is not feeling well, so she is heading home, but Cynthia and I are persevering.
Today we slackpacked. I am glad we were only hiking with day packs — it poured rain, and we had a 4-mile detour!
The trail was wintery and brown — spring has not arrived in New York yet!
But a few wildflowers are peeping out! Here is some trailing arbutus.
After a few miles we walked along Beaver Dam Lake, which is really pretty and peaceful.
However, we had to cross the stream that flows out of the pond. Due to the copious quantities of recent rain, the stream was not fordable. We had to walk back 1.1 miles and then another two miles by road— an extra four miles of hiking to cover 0.3 miles of trail!! That was not fun.
After that 4-mile delay, we encountered a several hundred foot descent that was almost completely vertical! With a lot of focus and fancy footwork I made it down.
Then the rain started. It was fairly warm, and hiking was really fun, though I have no pictures because it really was a deluge, and I didn’t want to get my phone wet. We hiked through a burnt area that still smelled of smoke.
Between the wet spring and all the rain last night and today’s downpour, the trail turned into a river!
This waterfall is usually a trickle, but with all the water it was an impressive waterfall today!
I had hoped to hike the entire way to Rt 17A, but between the rain and the long detour I decided to get off trail with Cynthia at Lakes Road. Unfortunately, that leaves me with a random four mile section that will need doing. Hopefully I can do it next week on my drive home.
Our hostel owner met us with mugs of hot chocolate. And the warm shower when we got back to the shelter felt amazing!
It’s good to be back on the trail. And despite the rain, today was a great day for a walk in the woods!!