A light breeze is blowing and the morning sun highlights the haze in the air from the humidity. The only sounds in the woods is an enthusiastic whipperwill and a woodpecker is rat-a-tat-tatting on a nearby dead tree.
After a couple easy miles, we pass by Coppertone and Franken Pole at a campsite. We talk for a minute as we pass by, then stop a few minutes later near a beautiful bridge over a little stream. A plaque states the bridge was recently constructed by West Point Cadets.
While we are filtering water, Steps and Fatal hike up and we chat while everyone loads up in order to hydrate for the hot day.
We have a hiker conga line of sorts as we leave the stream and cross a road. I look to the right and see Ladybug walking up the road towards us. She took a short cut to catch up. We laugh when she lifts her hiking poles and shouts "I'm walking to Maine!".
The trail weaves through a beautiful mature forest with towering oaks and blueberries in every direction blanketing the forest floor, but unfortunately none of the berries are ripe yet.
Today we are ridge hopping, walking up and over a ridge, only to descend and then climb up and over the next ridge. The ridges aren't very high; they range from 200 to 400 feet for most of the day. We are hoping we don't have any crazy rock climbs with the extreme heat.
I decide to grab water on the fly at every water source, planning on dipping in my one liter Cnoc bottle without taking off my pack so I don't have to stop. This quickly turns into a prolonged break at each stream because everyone in our makeshift group stops as well, but takes off their packs, so I end up doing the same.
The trail goes up a steep hill to Black Mountain, where we are treated to gorgeous, sweeping views to the south. The Hudson River lay below and looks so big from here.
The trail takes us down the mountain and we reach another milestone when the trail crosses the 1,400 mile mark! I take a couple pictures before following the trail down the valley for the next two miles, Steps and Ladybug close behind.
The trail enters a state park and then starts up another hill which is our last but biggest climb of the day. Steps walks with Kelly and me, and the three of us stay together because the sun is now directly overhead and we are all extremely hot.
The trail just wouldn't be the trail without rock scrambles in harsh weather, and we must stop to take a lot of rest breaks on our way up the mountain.
The mountain and the climbing for the day behind us, we descend to Kelly's car at the trailhead. Steps comes with us to get some water that we stashed in the car, then says goodbye so she can hike up and over Bear Mountain, to a hotel where she will spend the night in order to get a break from the heat.
We are also going to a hotel, needing to clean up and get some relief from the dangerous temperatures. I make a reservation once we get on the road and get cell service.
Soon we are showering and doing laundry. Our stuff is disgustingly damp from the humidity, and my hammock smells gross from me sweating in it the last two nights. Our hotel room is draped with our sleeping quilts, and Kelly's tent is drying over the wardrobe closet.
Today's Stats: 11.5 miles, 1,913 feet gain
Trail Stats: 1,404 miles, 275K feet gain
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