Flip Flop Hikers: Sprout Day 57 (Monday, May 23rd, 2016)

Monday, May 23, 2016

Sprout Day 57 (Monday, May 23rd, 2016)

Today was easier than yesterday, not only because we hiked less distance but it was not as physical. We still had a lot of big rocks and a bunch of incline changes but it wasn't straight up rock climbing like yesterday. We got some more views of NYC, I'm actually writing this blog outside the shelter right now and looking at the lights from NYC off in the distance. It's a crazy feeling. It feels great being where I'm at right now. It's hard hiking the Appalachian Trail but it's such a rewarding feeling. I keep wanting to look up at the skyline lights and when I do it makes me think of how different things are in the city right now compared to where I am right now. I'm happy to be hiking and feel lucky for all the time I have to just think about life and to focus on one goal. I feel lucky to be on the trail with Bubbles and we're thankful for everyone we've met so far. You meet the best people when hiking the AT.

Rabbit came back on the trail today, we met him a couple weeks ago at Mechanical Mans garage. he had to get off for a few days to be with his family. His son graduated college and his daughter is getting married. He's one of the nicest thru hikers we've met from Georgia and it feels great to be back with him tonight. We're so happy with the trail family we have and feel so lucky.

We passed a really nice stone shelter earlier in the day. It was a steep climb but the shelter was right on the AT. We stopped at the William Brien Memorial Shelter for lunch with Mountain Man and Karma.

We had to walk across a busy highway today. It had a wide area in the middle with woods. There was a sign for NYC, it's only 34 miles to the city. Right after the sign was the spot where I stopped to filter water. There wasn't a spring at the shelter so we had to carry what we needed to camp from there.

Black mountain was a steep tough incline but that is when we started to get views of NYC. It was awesome and kind of took my mind off the climb up. It was a hard hike into West Mountain Shelter too. The trail wasn't marked very well and that made it that much more challenging. Usually there is a sign, next to a blue blaze, if the shelter is off the AT. There wasn't a sign here so we had to be extra careful.

On the way to the shelter a storm was rolling in and loud crack of thunder made me put my hike into high speed! Luckily it didn't rain too hard and I was able to collect enough firewood for a fire for tonight. I love it when there's a fireplace inside the shelter! Right before the sun was about to go down the rain stopped and a huge rainbow was in front of the shelter going all the way down into the Hudson River! It was a beautiful way to end the day!