Day 103 - 6/26

Daily mileage: 9.7
Total trail mileage: 1395.5
Starting location: Black Mountain
Ending location: Hemlock Spring Campsite
Weather: 79 degrees in the morning. 81 - 89 degrees during the day.
Clear and sunny (but hazy) in the morning. Cloudy in the afternoon.

I am at
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=41.311103,+-73.989518

We got up a little later than we were hoping to, but Patrick and I
were able to get hiking by a reasonable time. Crossing the Palisades
was the easiest crossing I have ever had there. Usually there is so
much traffic that you need to run and hope you make it. The climb up
West Mountain was fairly steep and Patrick's feet were in bad shape.
But, the climb up Bear Mountain wasn't terrible.

There were a number of motorcyclists and day hikers at the top of Bear
Mountain, but it wasn't mobbed like the last time I was there.
Unfortunately due to the haze, we were unable to see the New York City
skyline, but the rest of the view was pretty good.

The trail crews did a really nice job with the reroute. Part way down
the hill the trail became so easy. It was gravel with no obstacles
and granite steps whenever the trail descended. It was much better
than the badly eroded trail that existed the last time I was in this
area.

We found the mobs of people though as soon as we got to the base of
the mountain. There were a ton of picnicers, and the trail traveled
right in the middle of the crowds. I wasn't looking pitiful enough to
score a hamburger :( But, there was a concession stand, so Patrick
and I got root beer floats.

Then, the trail travels right through the Bear Mountain Zoo. It was
really weird that the trail was routed that way, and it threw me off
guard. I did see a bear in the zoo, but I am not going to count that
one. Shenandoah was like a zoo for bears, but this was an actual zoo.

I have an improvement idea for the park. They need a new exhibit of
thruhikers. We are just as wild as that bear is. The exhibit can
double as a hostel which would encourage thruhikers to stay in the
exhibit. And, there can be signs explaining what a thruhiker is and
to give them food if you see them in the wild.

After that Patrick's mom picked him up and also brought me with them.
We went back to Patrick's parents' house to take a shower and watch
the USA vs. Ghana World Cup game. It was a dissapointing finish, and
USA is now out. Patrick's dad brought me back to the trail, and I am
now camping a few miles up the trail.