Dates ........ SAT SEPT 25, 1999
Miles ........ 14.3 miles
From ........ NY - WILLIAM BRIEN SHELTER
To ............. TENTSITE 0.3 mi north of Fitzgerald Falls
Weather ... 55 degree morning warming into the 70's. Sunny, hazy.

SAT SEPT 25, 1999

Leaving the shelter in the morning I was able to observe a deer getting up from her night's bed along the trail. I stopped at Tiorati Circle, Lake Tiorati to call home and have some yummies out of their vending machines. I pass by Fingerboard Shelter. The trail crosses Fingerboard and Surebridge Mountain and Arden Valley Road is familiar - Kirsten Robbins, my step mother worked at Arden house when she met dad. They were married at Arden house and I was able to spend some time exploring the region. Island Pond would be a great place except for the slobs and litterbugs that trash it. (Seems that's what happens to a place in the woods with road access. Lazy vandals and low life visit and leave their mark.)

The Lemon Squeezer is a neat rock formation reminding me of the Split Rocks area of the Loyalsock Trail. The climb down is challenging. The trail goes onto Arden Valley Road, crosses NY 17 expressway and treats you to the climb up Arden Mountain. Agony Grind's near vertical rockface climb is appropriatly named will not soon be forgotten. Glad I am going up rather than down. Views at the top are your reward. Resting and taking in the views, That Guy, Moon Roof and Shaggy again come up from behind me. Seems we are destined to travel together. They push on to Wildcat Shelter, I plan on tenting near Fitzgerald Falls and taking Lake Road into Greenwood Lake.

"Speedy", a former through hiker, left jugs of much needed water near East Mombasha Road. Thank you Speedy.

I set up camp near Trout Brook in a Hemlock grove a few feet off the trail as it gets dark and hang my food high from a tree branch. During the night I hear twigs snap and soft grunting. I lay in my tent unable to see out and bark like hell - like a mean dog. The heavy twig snapping footsteps fade rapidly into the distance. (In the morning I see bear prints along the stream bank.)