Bear Mountain, NY Area

Bear Mountain is one of the most urban spots along the trail. After everything thru-hikers have experienced up to this point, there is still no feeling like walking through a public zoo with your backpack on the official Appalachian Trail. Walking the massive Bear Mountain Bridge over the Hudson River is also a shocking reminder that life is very fast paced outside your hiker bubble. Just before the zoo, you walk past the immense Bear Mountain Inn on Hessian Lake. You could really treat yourself staying a night here, but most thru-hikers are on a major budget and can barely afford the café inside. Along the lake and in the nearby fields are hundreds of people out enjoying the park and lakeshore. It is really quite overwhelming having been in the forest for so long. When I was walking through this area, there were dozens of barbecues happening. I walked slowly enjoying the smell, hoping some family would invite me into their gathering. But these people are not familiar with the AT and have no clue why you are caring a backpack, you are just a homeless person to them.

As quick as all the development and people appeared, you can get away just as quick. Once across the bridge and up the road a bit, the trail leaves all the hustle and bustle immediately immersing you back into the forest. The only thing you will keep hearing are the boat barge horns for many miles to come.