#173 Wawayanda Shelter to Fitzgerald Falls - Day 98: MM1364.6 - MM1378.5
Crossing the NJ/NY border. Another State forever behind me.
4-24-2023
The sun peaks over the next summit casting tree shadows on our tents. I was still wound up from yesterday’s hike, so falling asleep last night was difficult. I woke a few times throughout the night even after falling asleep. Despite all that I still feel rested and ready for another big day.
Since I don't eat warm suppers on the trail, I give the Mountain House Meal Joey gave me last night to one of the guys in the shelter. It’ll just take up space in my pack otherwise.
One of the guys in the shelter and I hit it off pretty good. Of all the hikers who stayed around the shelter last night he’s the only one who is heading North. You’ll get to know him over the next few days.
The early April heat waves seem to be behind me. Recent days have been in the 50–70-degree range. Much better.
One final series of difficult and dangerous hand over hand boulder climbs stand between me and the New Jersey/New York Border.
On the other side I meet two guys who are sitting on a large boulder listening to a self-help program in Spanish on a cell phone. I can’t understand the words, but the tone and cadence of the repetitive phrases tell me what’s happening. Sometimes we need more than nature to balance us out and motivate us, music is my self-help and motivational tool some days.
Keeping my eyes open for the NJ/NY border markers I miss it, accidently finding it on the ground behind a boulder in the shade behind me. I meet hikers later up trail who completely missed it.
Another State forever behind me.
For the first mile or so of New York the hiking consists of rolling over one whale-sized, whale-shaped boulder after another.
As if the comfortable day, the beautiful scenery, and hiking freely across the country isn’t motivation enough, there, on Prospect Rock, the highest point of the Appalachian Trial in New York State, fastened to a large stick held up by a pile of rocks at its base, flies Old Glory.
I stop for a moment, watching it waving in the wind, listening to its sharp snapping, standing firmly against the elements.
I wonder who put it there. I wonder how long it will remain.
All is silent, other than the wind whipping through the newly blooming trees, and the flag’s response to it as it hangs on tightly to the end of a dead branch.
There’s no need at this moment to reach for my music to find motivation. The experience of hiking across Prospect Rock is motivation enough.
Back on “regular” trail once again until another rock wall crops up. Part of the fun, I guess.
With no safe way up or around the boulder, the maintenance crew responsible for this section placed a rebar ladder into the side of the rock to assist hikers.
Up, up, and over I go, living to hike another day.
