2019 Summer Section Hike- Day 13- West Mombasha Rd to William Brien Memorial Shelter

Date: June 28
Total Miles Today: 14.6
Total Miles this Summer: 176.5
Total Trail Miles: 966.9

No more slack packing, Sage is back to carrying her pack. And she started the day limping. As we progressed down the trail, her foot seemed to get better.

We've passed lots of small ponds in New York.

Water has been a bit of a challenge in NJ/NY. There is plenty of it, but most of it is brown or green from tannins and algae. We prefer to filter water that looks clean enough to drink with no filter. We could drink from sources like this...but probably not the best taste.

It was a hot, clear day. We baked in the sun when the trail emerged from the trees.

Lots of rocks to climb up and down, but not the sharp pointy PA rocks. However, navigating rocks does slow down our hike, so the day took longer than it should.

The first part of this day was brutal. Sun, rocks and lots of up and down. Completely exhausted...no where near our planned shelter...we plodded along across the bridge over the interstate. 

Then....something wonderful happened. We came to a trashbag full of cold drinks left as trail magic. After enjoying a Sprite and a bottle of cold water, we hiked into the woods and found out the next climb was shaded and smooth. Thank you God....we needed that. Ahead..we had heard that Island Pond was a great place to swim and camp. The thought of a cool swim in a beautiful lake kept us going.

We arrived to find a pristine lake surrounded by No Camping/ No swimming signs. 

We didn't swim...it was more of a bath. Every 20 minutes a park ranger would come flying down the gravel road and jump out trying to catch hikers breaking the rules. He arrived to find about 8 hikers in soaked clothes sitting on the rocks. 

We didn't swim...but we did wash the sweat out of our hiking clothes.

The whole time we were there, there was someone swimming in the middle of the lake. The ranger ignored him and spent his time reminding the hikers not to enjoy the lake. 

It is my observation that the creation and enforcement of unnecessary rules is thriving in NJ/NY. While I appreciate the natural beauty...all the petty rules would drive me crazy if I lived here. 

Refreshed from our bathing (not swimming) at Island Pond, we hiked on and came to the famous "Lemon Squeezer." 

The trail descended to a gap in the rocks...and went through.

Humm...this is different.

Ahh...this is why it is called the Lemon Squeezer.

And right after the squeeze, you have to free climb a rock face. Doesn't look to bad in this picture, but it was actually tricky.

Sage did the climb with her backpack on. I just couldn't do it, I had to pass my pack up and climb without it. At one point, you're hanging from the rocks and have to pull yourself up and over a ledge. Not a big drop below, but falling would be bad.

Thankfully, the trail returned to fairly smooth after the Lemon Squeezer.

Definitely our hardest day yet on this section hike. And miles still to go.

Sage continued to soldier on.

Deer: "It's hot...I'm not getting up. Just move on hikers."

More rocks...more climbing

Last good water before the shelter. I filled a 2L water bag and chugged a liter. 

We made it to the shelter just before dark. A very demanding section of trail, made much harder due to the mid 80s temperature and bright sun. And Sage is still struggling with blisters and foot pain.