Hi all;
Just thought I'd make a report on a short day hike in NY section 9.
Anthony's Nose & Hemlock Springs Campsite.
The Camp Smith side trail to Anthony's nose is 0.6m each direction. It climbs moderately in places, but is a relief after the strenuous climb from 9D.
The view is well worth the extra climb and 1.2m (RT).
I had read somewhere that Hemlock wasn't much of a site, and that it had questionable water supply.
The AT Data Book 2010 indicates reliable water, but I found only a very small stream running across the trail just S of the site.
There is a much more reliable source about 0.2m N of the site, at the South Mountain Pass (Manitou Road) gate.
I read a little about that site in another online forum or someone's journal a couple days ago.
This person said that the site wasn't much, and that it was very noisy with all the trains. He also said that the water source wasn't reliable.
I do agree in that it's not much, but it is a place you can tent, and I did not see evidence of partying, despite its being so close to a road (South Mountain Pass - Manitou Rd)
There are two railroad lines well within earshot of Hemlock Springs.
The Metro North Hudson line where you have passenger trains running all day, and there is a grade crossing nearby, so you get the train horns.
Then, there's the CSX River Line on the west shore of the Hudson, where you have another grade crossing, and long freight trains running pretty frequently at night.
Still, I would prefer the trains to trucks on the highway (which I didn't hear, but maybe you would hear them at night).
I have slept at Gifford Woods SP in Killington VT (on the AT) where you have trucks running all night on VT 100.
It was a bit warm today, but I made out OK.
It took me 20 minutes to climb the 600 vertical from route 9D to the Anthony's Nose side-trail.
I would like to do a complete section(s) hike from Bear Mountain park to the NY-CT line, or maybe even further, but I am going to need to do some more of these strenuous day hikes before I'll feel comfortable carrying a full pack on long distances.
FW