Did
I do something stupid… A friend in NY State, near
the border where you cross into Bear Mountain Park,
said she would take care of my backpack so I could
hike without it for a day. Her home was at the
southern end of maybe a 12-mile section. I usually
hike north to south but for convenience this day I
would go south to north. I thought wonderful - I'll
get on the Trail in the morning and she will pick me
up at the end of the day - piece of cake! In the
morning she drove me to the Trial and I start off
feeling great. George was not with me - just me on my
own. I had my bottle of water and a candy bar. I'd be
done in 6 hours.
So
I started up the Trail and after 3 or 4 miles got off
the Trail on a ridge. Instead of turning right, I
turned left to see the view and mistakenly started
following an animal trail. So I backtracked and got on
yet another wrong trail. I think, "Jacques, don't be
stupid - go back to where you last saw the AT's white
blazes and pick up the Trail again."
I
go back across the ridge - find the white blazes and
start following them south - the wrong direction.
After I had gone about 2 1/2 miles I thought,
"something looks familiar about this terrain.
Something looks familiar about that rock." I realized
what I had done. I was too ashamed to tell George but
finally thought I had to fess up because I don't want
any lies hidden between us. I really need him on this
hike to keep me going in the right
direction.
