Summer, Highland Falls – The Walk

Week 6: 65 miles covered, 397 miles total.

I’m impressed with my miles this week as I got 2 zeros. I’m visiting Highland Falls, where Billy Joel returned this summer after his short stay in Los Angeles. I was lucky enough to have a friend’s relative stay there with an extra room. Patricia’s hospitality (along with my friend Ann’s transportation) has allowed me to cover a few miles through the New York Tectonic Mountains without carrying my entire backpack. Which is a good thing, since Black and Bear Mountains, along with Anthony’s Nose, totaled about 10,000 feet of climbing.

Although I was alone for most of the week, I spent most days hiking or sheltering with Mosey, Murder Leg, and Fire Ant.

To pass the time alone, I rediscovered my music, which I proudly sang as an antidote to surprising encounters with bears. It seems to have worked: my only run-in was with a black snake while climbing towards Anthony’s Nose.

I went through the lemon squeezer, but not with my backpack. Unfortunately, I’m still not thin enough for that to work.

I’m starting to notice that my zero days have been just as fun as the days I spent on the trail. Not surprising given the toll the trail takes on the body. But I’ve also come to enjoy the zeros because of the time I spend making new friends and visiting new communities. And a bed doesn’t hurt either 😉

I’m considering turning my hike into a LASH (long section hike). It’s a young man’s game… this path, if you try to walk it at a certain pace. And the happiest people on the road seem to be those who have a clear idea of ​​when they will see their loved ones again. I’ll reflect on this some more as I close out New York and travel to Connecticut next week. Stay tuned – thanks for reading!

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