Brien Shelter to Graymoor Spiritual Center

Still hiking with Murphy, 50/50 and Mambo. We have a lot of fun and laugh a lot. We are really close to NYC.

Hiked through Bear Mountain Park. We stopped for a great lunch at the Bear Mountain Inn. A beautiful old lodge, with a nice dining room AND they were very hiker friendly, despite our dirt and scent, but we chose to sit outside to eat.

I had an amazing Ceasar salad with grilled chicken breast. It is funny how we obsess about food out here. I've had a serious craving for grape soda(probably haven't had one since I was 10) and another for a Cobb salad. With homemade ranch dressing. Not the bottled stuff.  Is that really asking too much :) 

There is also a small zoo in the park, and the lowest point on the AT is at the bear enclosure there. No photos of this because it made me too sad to see those bears in a small cement enclosure. 

Made a quick trip into Fort Montgomery to pick up a package from my trail mentor, Tom Tanner. Tom thru-hiked the trail in 2007 (Aka Evil Eye) and has been great about sending me tips on upcoming places to stay, eat and see. Thanks Tom!!!!  (Elmer's Sunnybank Inn is still my favorite!)g

Hiked out of Fort Montgomery and across the Hudson Bridge.

We are camping tonight at the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center on the ball field. The monastery allows hikers to camp here and there is a shower (it's cold but felt great after a long, sweaty day.) 

We are moving in a big "soccer bubble" right now. Probably 25 hikers here. Heading in to a sports bar in Peekskill for the game at noon tomorrow and then we'll all hike out. 

It's interesting how differently everyone experiences this trek. There is a group planning on doing an extended slack pack to try and blast through several of these states with shorter mileage. Again, it's a 'hike your own hike' situation, but for me, this journey is about seeing the places, meeting the people, and experiencing the trail, not just putting in the miles.

Go USA!!!!