We hiked this section on May 25, 2012.
We left a cooler with goodies next to the AT parking lot (blue blaze trail) on NY 52 just before we started our hike. We left a note in the cooler asking hikers to please put the trash back inside the cooler.
We started hiking just before 8 am and the temperature was a bit chilly. The weather forecast for today called for scattered thunderstorms and the sky was overcast.
We quickly reached the viewpoint at mile one and told several northbound hikers that we saw yesterday about the trail magic. One of the hikers was “High Guy” and he joked about not knowing which way was north on the trail. Python told him that we were tempted to play a joke on him and send him in the wrong direction. He laughed and said it would have probably taken him a couple of days to figure out he was going in the wrong direction. He told us that he set up his hammock right on the trail last night. He told us he was getting off the trail today and his girlfriend was picking him up.
After we crossed Hosner Mountain Road, we started ascending again and ran into “Flatbush” and Rocky Bottom” for the 4th day in a row. They stayed at the RPH cabin last night and said it was like a Hilton. When we told them about the trail magic, “Rocky Bottom” asked “are you ladies inviting us to have a soda?”
We reached the blue blazed Hosner Mountain Side trail at 9:35. There was a sign saying that the trail had been closed since 2010. This trail intersects the AT in two places and there was a sign at both ends.
Fortunately, the AT goes underneath the Taconic State Parkway (TSP); otherwise this would have been a very dangerous road crossing. We saw two vehicles parked underneath the bridge for the TSP.
Bridge for the Taconic State Parkway
The AT crosses Miller Hill Road and then re-enters the woods. Shortly after that the AT crosses a nice wooden bridge over a stream.
Bridge before shelter
We were so happy to see a privy in New York! The privy is near the Ralph’s Peak Hiker’s (RPH) cabin. The cabin is a 3 sided shelter made of concrete with four bunk beds, a table with a chair, trash can, several lawn chairs, and a picnic table. There are also clothes line for hanging wet gear.
Ralph's Peak Hikers' (RPH) Cabin
Bunk beds
We met a thru-hiker named “Peanut Eater” who is hoping to complete the AT in 100 days. He is currently on day 66. Python offered him some Nutter Butter cookies and some Paleo crunch. “Peanut Eater” has hiked the PCT and part of the CDT. So far, “Peanut Eater” has not been impressed by the AT because there are no views.
“Peanut Eater” found a woman’s license on the trail. The license was from New Hampshire – we looked at the picture and did not recognize the lady. He said he was going to mail the license back to the lady.
Signage
As we left the shelter we felt rain drops but fortunately it did not last very long. We crossed a beautiful bridge and on one of the steps was a good sized black/yellow snake sunning itself. He finally moved under the bridge as Dirigo stepped down on to the step. Then we had a steep climb up to Shenandoah Mountain. In a couple of places the trail went straight up.
We saw the tenting area and then entered an open field with some powerlines. At the other end of the field were trail maintainers Peter & Stella (golden retriver). Peter was working up a sweat using his sickle to cut down the weeds. We had a nice chat with him and he told us that we just climbed up “Heart Attack Hill.”
NY Trail Maintainers Peter & Stella
Just before we reached the car, we ran into two locals who were looking for their two black dogs who had escaped. Unfortunately, one of the dogs still had a leash around its neck.
Once we got back to the car, we drove back to NY 52 to get the other car and the cooler. When we arrived, “Peanut Eater” was eating his lunch and had a coke from the cooler and we gave him some chocolate.