Obstacles do not block the path. They are the path.
April 18, 2024
AT miles: 14.5
Ascent: 2079’
Descent: 2403’
Weather: cold (mid-40’s), gray, and drizzly
Sightings: one eft (the best part of rainy days on the AT)
High points: Successfully hiking back to my car.
This morning was COLD! I have these super lightweight down mittens and waterproof mitten covers that I have never used before, and they were perfect for dealing with the cold wet weather this morning.
We set off in the rain. The granite bedrock was covered with fungus and matched the day.
After hiking along Nuclear Lake (used for experimenting with uranium and plutonium in the 50’s), we walked along some lovely uplands. The trail was wet and we were cold. After 5 miles we arrived at the Telephone Pioneers Shelter, where we stopped to regroup out of the rain.
The trail climbed and climbed up some luscious green and MUDDY fields.
We crossed a lovely small stream aptly named “Swamp River” that was part of a huge wetland area.
The AT only has direct rail access at two points — Harpers Ferry and this lonely train station named “Appalachian Trail “ in the middle of a field near Pawling, NY!
The trail climbed up through extremely muddy and wonderfully green fields. I gave up trying to keep my hiking boots dry!
Signs of spring are all around — trillium, violets, rue anemone, pussytoes, Dutchman’s breeches are all blooming, and even the fiddleheads are unfurling.
Once we reached the top of Hammersby Ridge, the trail became even muddier. Sometimes there were bog boards, but mostly we squished and slipped and squelched through the mud. My feet were so cold!
In the afternoon we were walking through a nature preserve that supposedly has nearly 80 different kinds of birds. Usually the AT is fairly quiet, but here the birds were chirping up a storm.
One of the few advantages of there being lots and lots and lots of water on the trail is that we found a red eft!
We arrived at the Wiley Shelter, which, like most of the shelters in NY, has a lending library!
After another 1.5-mile road detour because of a broken bridge, we reached my car. Tomorrow I will hike the 3.7-mile section left over from the first day and I will be done with the Appalachian Trail in New York!
Cynthia, Nancy, and I celebrated by doing the Persian Victory Yell, said our goodbyes, and headed off.
Today was a great day for a long walk in the woods!