Wow, my wife and I really had a horrible winter, sick with viruses that we seemed to be passing back and forth, complete with chronic coughs, fatigue and even bronchitis, in my case. I actually got well for a while, returning to trail running and even did a couple of easy winter hike/camp trips. Then promptly got sick – again!
So I'm finally well enough to hike again and try out some of the new lightweight gear acquired over the winter, including a Zpacks Arc Blast and Hexamid Duplex, and to employ some of the new ideas gleaned from much reading of BPL over the winter. The only problem is, I am spectacularly unfit from all the physical idleness imposed by the long stretches of being sick. Because of this "we" (my wife and I) decided I would do something not too physically challenging so that I wouldn't end up getting sick yet again. There is a nice little section of New York's Long Path that is about a 20 minute drive from where we live. It starts at Turkey Hill Loop on Rt 6 and goes south in Harriman State Park to the junction of Long Path and the AT, which is about 7 miles with about 1800 ft of vertical. I know, very lame-n-tame by BPL standards, but just right for me at this point.
Although my dog, Cyrus, and I did not get on the trail until 11:15am, there was no rush because 7 miles is easy even at a very slow pace for an out-of-shape hiker, and we would find a campsite well before sunset and really enjoy the area for a while.
Unfortunately, the day started off with high, thin cloud cover that got thicker gradually throughout the day, and temperatures in the high 40's with a light breeze from the south. The southern breeze was uncharacteristically cool for this time of year, and it was also unusual that overnight it shifted 180 degrees and was fairly strong in the morning at about 15mph. Spring is also arriving late this year, so the buds on the trees were barely starting to swell, with the only green being some moss and a few sprigs of grass here and there.
The hike in was my first experience carrying a UL 3-season system, and I must say it was a great pleasure. I met a few other backpackers along the trail who were all carrying the traditional kit that I used to schlep into the woods, which really gave me a new perspective on the whole hiking experience. Instantly it became glaringly obvious that lighter is better.
I realize this is a trip report and not a gear review, so I will just mention briefly some of the items that I used for the first time on an actual trip.
The Arc Blast backpack was instantly comfortable in every respect. The one I ordered was the basic set-up with no top load lifters nor lumbar pad. I kept the sleeping bag in the bottom of the pack, and it served well as the lumbar pad. The side water bottle pockets and the back mesh panel are function and perfection defined.
Shelter was the Zpacks Hexamid Duplex which is also another amazing piece of gear. When selecting tents I vacillated between the Solo Plus and the Duplex, knowing that either choice would have to accommodate Cyrus and me. In the end, the fact that the Duplex is only 2oz heavier than the Solo Plus made the decision easier. Setting it up for the first time, it took a little tweaking to get it tensioned out reasonably well on uneven ground. Site selection is often difficult because of rocks hidden under the duff, so when an adequately-sized, somewhat flat and soft spot is located, you just grab it.
Cooking kit was an Emberlit mini (love it!) and an 800ml Evernew tea pot. Nemo Siren quilt was paired with a NeoAir Xlite regular. The water treatment option was another tough call, but after evaluating the pros and cons of Aquamira, Sawyer and others, I decided upon the Platypus Gravity works with 2-liter dirty water reservoir. Leaving out the Nalgene bottle adapter, it weighs 8.3oz
Cyrus and I had an early dinner, after which we played 'fetch the stick' for a while. As a cattle dog mix, Cyrus is not a natural retriever. However, he will do anything for a Pup-peroni treat and has gotten better and better at it, although after a while he forgets all about the treats on the way back when he catches a whiff of deer poop.
Since we were resigned to a totally unremarkable, dull end to daylight under the gray sky, I used Cyrus' sleep pad as a sit pad and had a coffee and cigar while Cyrus snoozed comfortably in the dead grass and leaves.I was facing the wrong way to see the hilly horizon behind which the sun was setting, but suddenly realized I might be missing something when a rock face in front of us started turning a warm orange. I turned around to see the sun peeking through a tiny break in the clouds, treating us to a very nice sunset.
The following morning was so breezy (now, from the north!) that I had trouble getting the stove fired up until I piled up a couple of rocks for a wind break. With the wind break in place, it was no problem at all to boil water for 2 cups of coffee and oatmeal. By that time, the sun had risen above the rocky ridge behind us and it was warming up very nicely after an overnight low of about 34 degrees.
I fed Cyrus, took down the tent and along the way managed to lose one of the titanium stakes (Grrrrr!). Everything else was packed up quickly and we were soon on the trail for the long, 7.3 mile (ha!) hike out. It really was comforting to have the warm sun and calm air in the areas below the hill tops. With the moisture from all the snow we had this winter and with recent rains, there was plenty of stream water for Cyrus to take a drink every half mile or so. In his doggie pack he carried only his food bowl, leash and some trash.
The walk out was fun, but it was disheartening to see little pieces of trash and tissue paper along the trail, and significant trash and live trees cut in the vicinity of the shelters. Sadly, there are many people who don't embrace the LNT ethic. What to do about this? I don't know, but that's a rant for another time and forum topic.
As I type this morning, I am a little tired but don't have that dreaded feeling that I am on the verge of a virus relapse. Going out for a short walk with my Sweetie Pie wife to enjoy a quiet Easter Sunday.
In closing, I'd like to share an image that all of you AT thru-hikers have seen at one time or another, featuring the sign post where the Long Path and the AT cross.
