My past Sunday solo hike on the Appalachian Trail

Ever since my planned overnight hike with Tim turned into a 4 mile day hike (at his insistence) Hike with Tim on the Appalachian Trail didn't exactly work out as planned way back in September '07, I've wanted to finish the additional 7 and a half miles.

I've planned it on several occasions, only to have it fall through. But then this past weekend the weather and family schedules at the last minute worked out. Brigid drove me to Pleasantville where I took the train up just north of Pawling, to the "Appalachian Trail" stop, which is only a stop on weekends. From there the plan was for me to walk south on the Trail, 7.4 miles to Rte 55, where Brigid would meet me at a parking area next to where the Trail crossed the road.

And it worked out beautifully. Neither of the boys wanted to go, and it was too late to recruit any of my usual hiking buddies, so I soloed. I enjoyed every minute - even the uphill bits - It is really a fine, fine stretch of the AT.

Lots of pictures posted - sorry if it's a little boring wading through them - but I enjoyed posting them.

Brigid took this at the Pleasantville train station

 

While I took these two through the train window.

 

I found this amusing -

 

And Faranda insiders will understand why I took this picture, on the way north

 

Then - off the train and directly onto the Trail, which goes through a swamp.

 

 

Check out the alligator

 

Looking back from where I'd come from

 

And a better view of the alligator

 

Then into the woods, and the ascent of Corbin Hill. I took my first break after about 30 minutes, sitting on these rocks, which were no doubt arranged for seating by some of the volunteers who maintain the Trail. I was thinking to myself "how many other people, walking the Trail north or south, have sat here?"

 

Out of the woods and across a meadow

 

And headed towward West Mountain, which the A.T. crosses. 

  

on the way downhill to West Mountain

 

Now here's a really cool part of the hike. This stretch of the A.T. contains the biggest tree on the entire Trail. Known as the Dover Oak, the NY Appalachian Trail guide book said it was just off County Rd. 20.  As I'm heading toward  a road - I can hear the cars and I know from the map it's coming up - I see this

 

and then look to my right and wow - there's what has to be the tree

 

More pictures - I love trees

This picture was taken by a young woman who was headed north on the Trail with a fellow - we took each others pictures - that some big tree trunk ...

 

 

The two in khakis were the first other people I saw on the Trail. I met another 11 as the walk went on.

Now it's up West Mountain, which was the highest of the hills for the day. I think it topped out at about 1200 feet, so total rise in altitude from the train station was about 500 feet. About 2/3's of the way up is the "Pioneer Telephone Shelter" built about 20 years ago. It's one of the several shelters on the Trail in NY, spread out about 8-10 miles apart.

 

Can you see the red finch in this picture, taken at the shelter?

 

The dude here got out of college in May and is walking the entire length (2,150 miles) of the Trail, north to south.

Check out the pink flamingo

 

Typical part of the Trail; going up West Mountain

 

Here's the view from near the top, looking back at where I've been

 

This lady identified herself as "Ollie". She was working on Trail maintenance; a volunteer with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC). I'm an ATC member, but only to the extent of paying my dues.

  

A mushroom shot, for our friend Kathy

Now over West Mountain, I arrive at Nuclear Lake. So-called because there was some sort of nuclear facility in the neighborhood. But area is now cleaned up. the Trail goes around the lake.

 

I think the lake is a little less than a mile long, and a little less than a half mile wide, at it's widest. Note phosphates, or suds in the foreground. That's called p-o-l-l-u-t-i-o-n.

 

From the lake it's an easy mile and a half to my pick-up, crossing a bunch of streams

 

 

And the chauffeur arrives - with a change of t-shirt 

 

 

Grat walk - i loved it. Will have to figure a way to repeat with Brigid and any of my regular hikin' buds who may want to go.
 

Comments

[Noreen]

looks like a great day. Nick belongs to ATC - he and Dan both hiked 60 miles on the AT as part oif the freshman program at SBP.

[Kathy (Montrose NY)]

Thanks for the beautiful mushroom photo Tom.Its been a very good 'shrooming year. I'm available from 8/25 thru 9/22 for weekday or weekend walking. Put something on your calendar!!!

[tomfaranda]

Noreen

Brigid and i chatted with the SBD priest who was the organizer for the freshman program - can't remember his name, think he taught physics - at the last St. Benedict's dinner. We talked about the freshman hikes. Funny coincidence.

Kathy

Definitely will do one or two walks during that time span - tough right now during the week because of Joe working.

TF