Arden Valley Rd to Seven Lakes Dr (8.9 Miles)

We hiked this section on May 21, 2012.

We decreed that today was PLAID hiking day!

Dirigo’s Facebook friend “Doinit” from NJ met us at the Arden Valley Road parking lot with a huge bag of candy, a plaid hat, and orange Hike for Mental Health bracelets.

We did the short road walk again on Arden Valley Road and this time we turned right onto the AT. The trail was nice and gentle and we really enjoying meeting “Doinit” for the first time in person. Within no time, we reached Seven Lakes Drive (2.2 miles).

“Doinit” had planned on turning around at this point but since he was having such a good time he decided to join us for the rest of the hike.

We reached the William Brien Memorial Shelter and decided to stop for an early lunch.

We saw the backpacks for the 2 section hikers we saw yesterday near the campsite but no one was at the shelter. I guess everyone was getting water?

There was also no privy! Does NY have something against privies?

“Doinit” had a Trekker’s Trail Magic “Beef BBQ Pocket Sandwich . He told us that he had trail tested some of the meals and provided feedback to the owner.

As we were enjoying lunch and some of the candy provided by “Doinit”, we felt rain drops and decided to start hiking again. We initially had trouble finding the trail and then realized it went up and over the rocks to the left of the shelter.

Then the rain started to pour, and pour, and pour. This is when trail tourettes, a phrase coined by “Certain”, officially started! Then “Doinit” announced that this would be his last PLAID hiking day! We kept reminding him that he could have turned around – but he kept saying that he was glad to be here.

We met 2 section hikers putting on rain gear and they said we were headed up to an exposed area. It was really pouring and Dirigo pulled out a water proof bag to put her Nikon in as everyone’s packs were getting soaked. We eventually reached exposed rock ledge and saw lightning so we kept moving at a quick pace while being careful on the slippery rocks. Initially, we tried to keep our feet dry but once they got wet it was just quicker sloshing through the puddles than trying to avoid them.

We were all glad when we started to descend down Black Mountain and got some tree cover again. We reached the Palisades Interstate Parkway (PIP) and we were glad we only had to cross two lanes at a time. It was pouring again and the road spray from the cars only helped us get more wet.

Can you believe they put a trail register in the middle of the PIP? We were not thinking good thoughts so we did not sign the log. Fortunately, we got a nice break each time and were able to cross the highway safely in the rain.

Signage! We finally saw a sign! And it said we still had 2.3 miles to go! The climb to the West Mountain shelter was very rocky, slippery and long! “Doinit” bonked during the ascent and had to gulp down a gel pack to get some more energy. We kept climbing, climbing, and climbing and the rain kept pouring, pouring, pouring.

Everyone was relieved when we finally started to descend! At one point the trail got nice and soft again and we saw several small tags attached to a tree with the letter F – we all had an idea about what the letter F stood for. We were told about a phrase in NJ that has the letter F in it.

Dirigo let out a holler when she saw the 1777 trail! We took a left onto the 1777 trail and then had a short walk to the car.

We were all soaking wet but had smiles on our faces!

Python wore her Saucony trail runners and they did great on the slippery rocks! The trail runners are not waterproof so her feet got soaking wet.

Dirigo wore her Asics trail runners.