Warwick, NY (USA)

Took a day off from work so I could get back on the AT - it has been about six weeks and I absolutely needed some trail solitude... Game time decision at 0530: go north or go south? Forecast clear in NY, not so much in any part of VA - north it is! It was a good decision because it rained until I got on I-78 (front line was dramatic, with blue skies to the north).  I used I-495, I-95, I-695, I-83 (with a gas fillup at Etters, PA - 0740), I-81, I-78, I-287, NJ-23 and several back roads.  Got a work call from Arnie just before I lost signal for the day... Made great time to the NY-NJ border and, after driving almost all the way around Greenwood Lake and through the eastern edge of Warwick, I found the NY-17A trailhead on Mount Peter again (without a map). Started SOBO around 1115. I saw lots of people all day, including several NOBO hikers who must be in one of the lead bubbles. Also saw a SOBO pair. The views from every vista were tremendous! Best part of the day was that the temperature was in the low 70s all day (hold off, Summer - don't want to see you yet). Lots of boulder climbing, though - tiring... Saw a black snake hanging from a tree next to the trail (not too big) but no other wildlife. Found the elusive NY-NJ border this time (I had turned around early last time). Worn out by the end of my more than 12 mile day (1645) - feeling good, though. Got some Bellvale Bog ice cream and scouted out the trail for the next morning... :-) Went back to the Tuxedo Motel for the night.  AT Today = 5.96 miles / G.T. AT = 706.26 miles