This hurts! – The walk

When we finished New Jersey, the heat intensified. My shoes were worn from Rocksylvania, so my feet, ankles, knees and hips were killing me. I arrived at the camp feeling horrible. Everything hurts. He had nausea and had a headache. I was so tired that I went to bed on the floor of the store and went to sleep.

I woke up incredibly thirsty. I hadn’t been drinking enough water and realized that I hadn’t urinated all day. I was dehydrated. I put a liter of water, and Bill went to the water source, filled my dirty, filtered and filled my dirty. So I had two liters to replace during the night.

I woke up feeling a little better, but we decided that it was time for another to get new shoes. Every hiking mile we stopped to drink water. My body recovered a little more to normal that morning.

New Jersey meets New York

At the end of the day we arrive at the border of NJ/NY. He was not mentally prepared for the transition to New York. I had heard that NJ, NY and CT were a much easier land than Pa. The beginning of New York had several climbs that required me to take away my package to reach the top.

Bill, as always, encouraged me and helped me. But he was also dealing with worn shoes. So it ended up being the most difficult day on the way to me.

Giant bear on the road

After finishing the rock climbs, we arrive at a soft but steep hill. And I started doing a while again. He had a low head and totally missed the huge bear in front of me on the road. Bill let me get there.

I was prepared. I started backing. The bear had 75 feet ahead and continued towards us. Bill and I started screaming: «Go, bear!» The bear was 65 feet away. We made ourselves look bigger, raising our trekking posts on our heads while we continue screaming. The bear was 55 feet away. We add hitting our posts together. 50 feet away, the bear turned slowly and wandered from the path. Bill obtained some good video images, and obtained the adrenaline shake he needed to reach the end of the day. We talked about how shocking it was to be so close to a bear during the last two miles of the walk to Bellevale Creamery.

Bellevale Creamery and new shoes

When we finally end our day and take off our shoes, we found that Bill’s feet were bruised throughout the arch. We went directly to the hotel and fell them. We both rose and stayed away from our feet for the next day. It worked!

The next day, we both have new shoes. The shoe store did not have any of the shoes we wear for 1300 miles. But all we could do was try a new shoe. It was time to return to the road. We arrived at Bellvale Creamery and we had the best ice cream at the AT!

Rocky New York

The next day, it was more rock climbing that required me to take away my backpack. New shoes were not helping. Later, I discovered that the seller sold me running shoes that do not walk with shoes.

The walk was a challenge, but it was excited to reach the 1400 mile brand. I knew I could get to the end now. But the shoe problem was going to have to solve at some point soon.

Better refuge in the AT

We walk .6 in a blue fire, to be able to reach a shelter overlooking the Hudson River and the New York horizon. The Blaze Blue was a walk as difficult as the last three days, but when we arrived at the West Mountain shelter, it was worth it.

I strongly recommend a walk to this shelter. Meeting other hikers is always fun, but this shelter brought us a new experience. We met a wonderful international family on a guided walk, joining them to dinner and exchanging many ideas. It was an exceptional night.

Sparkling dawn

Before bed, Bill established the alarm for dawn and told me that we could get something impressive in the morning. That night, I had seen sailboats on the Hudson River, the New York lights in the distance and another fireworks exhibition. I couldn’t imagine anything better.

Bill was right. That dawn illuminated the New York horizon at dawn. The image is beautiful, but you need to see it in person if you can.

Between our encounter with bear and the view of the New York horizon, it was worth all my pain during the last 100 miles.

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