Days away from the blog. New York down. Connecticut is under their feet

I apologize that I haven't kept up with the blog. Life and its crazy ups and downs drew me away from the written page.

At last report, there were three. Sculler, Hollywood and Backtrack. Sno had hiked on. He missed the crew and 24 hours after that post he held up while they caught up with him. The flow of the blog made me forget to mention it.

But we are down by one more now. Sculler has left the trail. She had to return to her work-a-day job as a Sculling coach. We wish her well on her continued quest to complete the Appalachian Trail.

Melissa had a visit from home friends in NY so they took a zero over the weekend. Back on the trail again they are now all the way up into Connecticut. It has been difficult keeping up because Hollywood has cut back on her texts to me about their daily activities. She is tuned into the trail and the goal of completing the task. So much so that, even though she wants us all to know where she is and keep encouraging her, she is so focused on the experience of trail life that contact to the outside world takes a back seat. Also with her being in telephone range more often now, she naturally uses facebook, e-mail and direct texting to friends and family more often.

I've mostly kept you apprised of their location due to Sculler reporting in. I hear from Hollywood when it is food drop time. So now that it is Sno, Hollywood and Backtrack together, you may only get updates every ten days or so. When I get an update, be assured, I'll report it to you.

Ups then Downs. Then ups then downs.

New York is proving to be the start of the big climbs. Today they put on 15 miles. five 700+ foot peaks and valleys over hard trails. Staying just off Bear Mountain. The closest campsite is the Hemlock Springs Campsite. 1397.8 NoBo.

They passed through the lowest point on the AT Mile 1395.1 NoBo.  There is a Trailside Museum and Zoo. No charge for thru-hikers but they don't allow dogs in. So Tripwire had to use the bypass This point is 124 ft above sea level. Way back two and a half months ago on April 21st, they were at the highest point, Clingmans dome 6643ft above sea level. The past few weeks they have been just as likely to go to sleep listening to highway noise and train whistles as crickets and night creatures.

A couple of Hollywood's friends, Mel and Marsh, are headed down to Long Island to meet up with her over the weekend. Marsh came by and picked up Jordan's next food drop. No postage fees for this one. Rest well trail weary hikers. The peaks and valleys continue tomorrow. Check out the the NY section of the site Purebound.com. It gives you another taste of the beautiful acreage trhey are hiking through. There are pictures of the Lemon Squeezer sign and the world famous Lemon Squeezer itself.

The Northeast. Where Stone shelters become the norm.

The crew hiked 16 miles in 98% humidity into Fingerboard shelter Mile 1380.0 NoBo. I did some looking up of the shelter and had to post some pictures of it. I think it looks really cool and the view it looks out over is phenomenal.

They are hiking through Harriman State Park. They should hike through Bear Mountain State Park tomorrow and land in Fort Montgomery, NY 1395.6 NoBo. With day after day of hiking to awesome spots hanging out with cool like minded people and seeing views so spectacular they will never be able to fully describe them to us, you can understand why some find it bittersweet to end the adventure of a lifetime at Katahdin.
Many thanks to The Creak Of Boots blog, and Bikersolo.com, for the pictures.