It was another chilly start to the day, but the cool didn’t last too long. As soon as we started walking we warmed up. After so many “flat” states, small climbs of 600 feet or so now feel like big ones – especially when they are as steep as they’ve been.
To leave the shelter area, we had to climb up stone steps. I’m just glad there were steps. A couple of miles into the day we reached a clearing on the mountain top and I figured we’d be able to see the New York City skyline from where we were (I knew we were on the mountain famous for the view). I looked and we could! It was small and hazy, but the buildings were unmistakably NYC. We sat for a few minutes taking photos and looking down at the Hudson River. As we started to leave I asked Warthog to double check that he had everything. He realized he left a lens. My heart dropped. Uh… a lens?! Luckily we hadn’t hiked more than twenty feet. It was twenty feet too far in my opinion. Sure enough, our 21mm was waiting on a rock when we got back. Disaster averted.
Photo Above: Waiting to cross a busy street.
About eight miles ahead of us was the Bear Mountain where we would hit the 1,400 mile mark. Then just down the mountain is the “Trailside Zoo and Museum”. The AT runs right through it. The exhibits consist of local vegetation and animals. Any of the animals housed there were because of rehabilitation reasons or because they were raised in captivity. Some were orphaned, others were injured. It was difficult to see the birds with broken wings. A bird was made to fly. You want to sympathize with the poor thing. At the same time, you want to recognize and celebrate the beauty of the animal regardless of the injury. It made me think about how we are so much more than what happens to us. Our lives and who we are should not be defined by a single moment.
After leaving the zoo we ate lunch up against a building looking out over the Hudson River bridge. Cars flew passed. When it was time to continue, we followed the bridge to the mountain just on the other side. Finally, we climbed up and out of the madness, back into serenity. The afternoon had been fun. However, the miles over Bear Mountain leading up to the zoo had been extremely busy. Buses run from here to the city and it seemed like they were well used. To be honest, it was a bit overwhelming. Far more overwhelming than any of the Walmart stores we had been in. I was glad to be back in the woods.
Six more miles and we hit a store/gas station right on the trail. We needed an extra dinner and they serve hot food. I got a “hero” (a large sub) and Warthog ordered the biggest quesadilla I have ever seen. We were more than full and happy. Felix (a previous thru-hiker we’ve seen over the last few days), Sunny Hedgehog, Sky Walker, Pippen, Mechanic, and other hikers were there as well. We sat at picnic tables devouring food and avoiding the last mile of the day. It was almost 7p, time to hit the trail.
We only had another mile total until camp. Only .6 of that was trail miles, then another .4 off of that to where we would be camping on a ball field at a Franciscan monastery. Oh yeah, you read the right… a Franciscan monastery. You never know where the AT will take you. Earlier today we saw the Big Apple skyline, ran across people filming a commercial, hit the 1,400 mile mark, walked through a zoo, and landed in the left field of a baseball field at a monastery. It’s almost comical really and it is most certainly addictive. It’s as if the Appalachian Trail shatters any sort of limitations or expectations that you would normally put on a day. Anything can happen. Isn’t that the ultimate adventure?
Tonight we sleep with a cross overlooking the field and where we sleep. It has Matthew 18:20 inscribed on it, “Where two or more are gathered in my name, there I am with you.” It brings a peace. There’s no doubt in my mind that God is here with us. He’s directed this entire adventure in a way I could never imagine. His timing, His plans, are perfect. Not only that, but they are exciting too. I can’t wait to see where else we go from here. 1,410 plus miles down. 780 more to go!
-ansel