Fort Montgomery

• UDay:  105 - 106
• Start:  1401.0
• End:  1403.7
• Miles:  2.7
• Hours:  1
• High temp:  71
• Low temp:  65
• Thru hikers met:  0

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My company on Bear Mountain this morning 

The sound of rain greets me as I switch my alarm off. I'm not in a big hurry to get down the mountain as the post office opens at 0900 hrs.  I try fro some more sleep but really I'm just listening to the rain willing it to stop.   About 0700 hrs it does stop.  I get everything ready in my pack then break down my tent. I'm on the trail in a very light intermittent rain. The tail down is a well build path with rock stairs. 

A nice path down 

 

View of the Hudson 

When I get to the bottom the Bear Mountain Inn is right here. Very nice stone lodge. There is a hiker cafe which opens at 1000 hrs., it's just 0800 hrs too long to wait. 

Bear Mountian Inn 

Hessian Lake 

 The othe very interesting part of this section is the AT goes right through the local zoo. This small zoo hosts all the local animals found in the area.  So can view those that I haven't seen yet. 

Mr bear and his buzzard friend 

Found this little snapping turtle right on the path

The AT meandering through the zoo

The site of Fort Montgomery a revolutionary war fort. 

Zoo complete, a pleasant and informative diversion from the normal trail. I walk to town where I can get my resupply box. 

View of the Bear Mountain Bridge Suspension Bridge. The AT crosses the Hudson on this bridge

There is a quickie mart right next door to the post office. I grab a banana and some coffee as I wait for 0900 hrs to roll around.  Just down the street is the Bear Mountain Bridge Motel where I'm going to stay. First order is the have a proper breakfast at the cafe next door.  The owner of the cafe make up a nice omelette and offer to drive me to the store when he goes himself.  I take him up on his offer getting a haircut and bread trim at the same time. Back at the motel I get settled in and start in my chores.  First is to dry my gear from the rain and the intense humidity.  I've got a pack strap the needs to be resewn which I repair.  Plus the shoulder straps require cleaning as I'm experiencing a rash where they contact my shirt.  I get my laundry accomplished and sort out my resupply.  I'm unable to update my blog because of a picture limit. I've got to research and resolve this issue. 

Bear Mountain

• Day:  104
• Start:  1378.0
• End:  1401.0
• Miles:  23
• Hours:  12
• High temp:  84
• Low temp:  76
• Thru hikers met:  2

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Glimpse of Kloibers Pond, mile 1379.0

The night stayed warm with high humidity allowing the insects to stay busy all night.  In the early morning darkness I rose to answer the call.  When outside I saw a flash of a light, remarking to myself that someone is hiking very early today. Then I realize it is fireflies.  I delightedly watch as more flashed their lights and danced about. 

I put on my wet-from-perspiration clothing because in the high humidity nothing dries. I'm on the trail at 0525 hrs hoping to make Bear Mountain by the end of the day.  Then I'd have just a little over 2 miles to reach my resupply in Fort Montgomery the following day.  I take maybe 30 steps and flush out a bear.  He is maybe 2 years old and bounds away with earnest.  I suspect he was looking for my food bag and waiting to see if I left anything.  

 I am climbing then descending again and again. This climbing in the humidity is makeing the water just run out of me.  I get a breather of a flat section along Little Dam Lake. While walking this section the brush explodes to my left and an alarmed bobcat makes a for safer napping spot.  I'm able to get a good look at him, he is tan in color with spots and a short tail.  Given how shy this cats are I feel very fortunate to have seen him.  Shorty after the bobcat sighting a hatch of flies pester me ruthlessly. I finely have to hike with my headnet on.  The net makes me a little hotter but the relief from the flies is worth it. A mile later I'm away from those devils and I can remove the net. 

Lots more of the trail climbing rocks on steep grades to reach a summit.  The forest is a bit different here with much taller trees and more grasses. 

Some of the rocks are huge

Water is scarce as so far all the sources are dry. Thankfully trail angels have left water for thru hikers. I  take advantage of the water cashes 3 times keeping my bottles full. 

So there is a huge pile of rocks the trail goes through called the 'lemon squeeze'.  The squeeze is a slot that get smaller as one walks through it.   My pack would not fit through the squeeze so I improvised, just to the left of the slot is a slippery rock with a log in top. The Log had a branch in a position that allowed me to put the strap of my trekking pole over it a pull myself up ending on the top on the slot rock. 

 The entry to the squeeze 

The lemon squeeze from the top looking back to the entry.  The walls are 8' to 6 ' tall and slippery with moisture.  The log I used is just to the top right. 

Each hour is a struggle today with the high humidity. The rock climbing is slowing me down to where I only am doing about 1.5 mph.  The miles go by slowly, but I feel I can still make my goal. 

A bit of a different forest

Grasses are a nice touch

The trail uses these slabs of rock frequently. 

A pretty trail shot

As I get closer to Bear Mountain I can see the Hudson River.  Across a vallley I can see the tower on Bear Mountain, it looks so far away. 

 

The Hudson River

I finally am at the last climb for the day up Bear Mountain.  The trail is nice with improvements like rock steps that make the climb so much easier.  I reach the park and it is closed so there no one is here. But alas the tower is locked.  There are a vending machines that sell Gatorade, so I drink my fill. The rain has been threatening all day. I've had my pack cover on 3 times. Now the rain is coming and I've got to get setup to stay dry.  Just in time I'm in my tent and the rain starts.  

Bear Mountain Tower

As I write fireflies land on my tent and glow.  A pleasant ending to a challenging and eventful day.