NY/NJ AT solo section hike, day 2

April 12, 2014

Start: Telephone Pioneer Shelter
End: RPH Shelter
Mileage: 16.8

I woke up at 6 am and was out hiking by 7am. I arrived at Morgan Stewart Shelter (7.8mi) at 10:15am and made it to RPH by 2:30pm. 

The morning started off wrapped in fog. The trees were dripping rain for the first few hours. 

Nuclear lake

The first sun sighting was at 9am. 

View from Hosner Mountain

 

I could have hiked further today but the next shelter is not within hiking distance for today. 

There were more hills than the guide had led me to believe but it wasn't really comparable to VT. Over the course of the day, I saw 5 day hikers and two NOBOs (north bounders). While here at the shelter, I met two trail workers and a few day hikers who had previously thru hiked. And it looks like I'll have some company tonight!

NY/NJ AT solo section hike, day 1

April 11, 2014

Start: CT/NY line, Hoyt Rd
End: Telephone Pioneer Shelter
Mileage: 10.0

A friend of mine was kind enough to drop me off at the CT/NY line around 3pm today. Despite the rain, I made good time and arrived at NY-22/Native Landscape/ AT train station (6.9mi) at 5:30pm. 

I ordered pizza and ate there on the covered porch of Native Landscape. 

 I then hiked another 2.1 miles to Telephone Pioneer Shelter, arriving at 7:15pm. Eating an entire pizza by yourself right before vigorously hiking is probably not recommended.

 

I'm currently dry and warm in the shelter in my sleeping bag (thanks for a great birthday present everyone).

Fun fact: I made cows stampede today. I never thought cows could be legit scary. I was wrong. Two dozen cows staring at you with exactly the same expression is creepy. And as I keep walking, they freak out and run around (not away from me but sometimes towards me). The thundering of cow hooves is loud and kinda scary, especially when they're running towards you.

Tomorrow should be nice and sunny. I'm looking forward to that!