Day 98, miles today - 18.6, total - 1,364.7

June 23, 2013

Pochuck Mountain Shelter to Campsite at Cascade Brook.

I got up this morning at 6:15. It was already warm and humid. The mosquitoes were already active. Garfunkel left camp at 7:00. I started hiking at 7:15. Sundance left a little after me.

There was suppose to be water near the shelter, but there wasn't. What little water I had, I drank at breakfast. There was supposed to be a stream after three miles, hopefully it would be running. It was so hot and humid, that before I reached the stream, my shirt and bandanna were both soaked from perspiration. I was definitely ready for some water.

I crossed a gravel drive and saw a sign for some sort of summer camp. I could see a few cars 100 yards away. I was sure I could get water there. As I entered the camp, I saw a lady coming out of one of the several buildings. I told her of my situation. She said there was a hose at the dinning hall. She walked over to show it to me. I could see a group of children near a small lake. She said it was a camp for 9 to 15 year olds. I drank one liter of water there and took two liters with me. I also poured water over my shirt. 

Soon after, Garfunkel, Sundance and I bunched up. We hiked together the rest of the day. When we came to the stream listed in the guide, Finder was sitting there taking a break. The three of us washed our shirts in the cool stream. I also washed my bandanna. It felt great! We passed a lake where park employees were trying to dislodge a beaver dam. They said the beavers will  build it back within a short period of time.

Beaver dam

Garfunkle

Blazer

After six miles or so we came to the NJ-94 road crossing. Finder, Sundance, and Garfunkel were going to the west to Heaven Hill Farm, a store that sold fruit, ice cream and other items. I needed to go to the east into the town of Vernon NJ, 2.4 miles away. I had to pick up a mail drop at the Post Office. I saw a car pull into the small parking lot by the trail. I went over to confirm which way the town was. They offered to drive me to town. Their names were Tom and Carol. They were going to do a dayhike on the AT. When we got to the Post Office they said they would wait and drive me back. I asked them to drop me off at the market that the others went to. It worked out great. 

Carol and Tom

At Heaven Hill Farm I had two donuts, two plums, one peach and two scoops of ice cream. Finder, being from Cincinnati, said the ice cream is good, but not as good as Graeter's. We talked about our favorite flavors. Mac Jetpack and Bella showed up as we were getting ready to leave.

 

Heaven Hill Farm

Garfunkle, Sundance and Finder

Mac Jetpack and Bella

 Sundance, Garfunkle and I hiked about six more miles to the Warwick Turnpike road crossing.

Garfunkle

 From there we  hitch hiked into Warwick NY to resupply. After ten minutes a lady named Katie offered us a ride. She owns a gym in town. She took us to the grocery store.

Katie

We got the items we needed at the grocery store, and  then set out front on a bench organizing our food bags. We also ate some fried chicken from the store. We talked to a few people that passed by about our hike. When we finished we went back to the street. The second car that passed stopped to give us a ride.

At 5:00 pm we entered into the state of New York. It was a great feeling! To think that I hiked all the way to New York. Wow!

We were hiking on top of the ridge and a storm was moving in. As we were dropping down some we saw Finder sitting under a large root mass of a tree that had fallen, taking cover from the stormy weather. We all went down a little further to where a brook was. There was a small clearing there, we setup our tents. We had planned to hike six more miles, but felt this was the best option. The rain was brief.

Day 97, miles today - 19.6, total - 1346.1

June 22, 2013

Mashipacong Shelter to Pochuck Mountain Shelter.

Before Lil Bit and I had left the shelter Hawkeye walked past. We talked for a few minutes. The other guys had already left.

                                                Lil Bit                                                      Hawkeye

In 6.5 miles we would reach the High Point State Park Visitors Center. We were told thru-hikers got a free soft drink there. When I reached the Visitors Center Amos, Sundance and Garfunkel were sitting by a tree drinking a can of Pepsi. I went in and got a can too. I stayed inside so I could charge my phone. A little later Lil Bit and Hawkeye showed up.

Sundance and Garfunkel said they were going to stop by the beach that was a mile or so away. It was within the Park. You could swim there and they had a concessions stand. I stayed at the Visitors Center for another half hour charging my phone. When I left I told Lil Bit goodbye. She's not doing many miles today because she is going to pick up a maildrop tomorrow at the Post Office in Unionville NY. So, I may not see her again.

                               Sundance and Garfunkle                         

Lil Bit

I took the side trail down to the beach area. I didn't plan to swim, but I thought I would eat lunch. Sundance, Garfunkel, Finder, Fatty, Mac Jetpack, Molly, and Perogi were already there. I didn't realize there were so many other backpackers so close together. It's always cool when we bunch up like that. I got a few things to eat and hung out there for a hour or so. When I left I hiked with Molly for about two miles. I first met her and Perogi in Harper's Ferry, while I was waiting for the train going to DC. They were both going too. Molly is a very fast hiker. We talked about a variety of things. After a couple miles I told her I was going to slow down a little.

Finder and Mac Jetpack

The trail passes very close to Unionville NY. Most of the people at the beach were going to stop by there to buy a few snacks or eat dinner. I went ahead and stopped too. There was one store, one restaurant/pub and one gas station. Eight to ten people stopped. I got a little to eat. There was a lady near me that asked about our thru-hike. I told her about our hike, and then asked about their town and where people worked. She said they are ninety minutes from New York City. She went on to say that her husband was a Fireman and that he had died in the World Trade Center on 9/11. I think that was the first time I spoke to someone with a direct connection like that.

We had just under five miles to reach the shelter. There was a 400 ft climb right before it. It was a little bit of a workout. When I got to the shelter, the mosquitoes were as bad as they were last night, which was terrible. I put my tent up and got inside of it. Everyone else did the same as they came into the shelter area. Right here by me is Sundance, Garfunkel, Mac Jetpack, Finder, Fatty, Molly, Perogi and a new flip flop backpacker named Bella.

Day 96, miles today - 23.7, total - 1,326.5

June 21, 2013

Rattlesnake Spring Campsite to Mashipacong Shelter.

I did a few stretches and went to get water at the spring 100 yards away before getting on trail at 8:00 am. The other three guys, along with Lil Bit, had left fifteen minutes earlier.

A little before 9:00 I saw Sundance standing in the trail. When he saw me he said there's a bear up here. I hurried to where he was. We slowly made our way through the brush to where we watched him for a few minutes. As we moved he ran away.

I hiked the next few miles with Sundance. There were signs of a lot of beaver activity. The trail was rerouted in one area to go around a pond created by beavers.

Later the three guys and I were on top of Rattlesnake Mountain. There was a nice view and there were a lot of small bushes with blue berries. We think they were huckleberries. I'm not really sure, but they tasted very good. So we dropped our packs and ate berries for ten minutes. Lil Bit showed up after a few minutes.

The there guys said they were going to stop to eat lunch. There was a road crossing at Culvers Gap in about six miles with a couple restaurants. Lil Bit and I decided to keep hiking and get something to eat there. As we got to the road I saw Hawkeye. The last time I saw him was in Harper's Ferry. He's a nice guy. He hikes a lot slower than I do, if we had the same pace I'd stay with him. Lil Bit and I went to the Stake House. It had been along time since I had a steak. It was a delicious meal. The apple pie with ice cream made it complete.

After a couple miles on trail I saw Hawkeye again. I asked him if the three guys had passed him. I thought for sure they would have passed through. We were in the restaurant for close to ninety minutes. He hadn't seen them. We continued on. 

                                         Culver Fire Tower                                              Lil Bit

When we got to the top of Sunrise Mountain there was a large pavilion. There was a great view in several directions. There were a dozen or so dayhikers sitting on benches enjoying the view. I suppose there is a side trail that leads there. I talked to a couple that had thru-hiked last year. Their names were Pace and Hungus. Pace offered me some water which I excepted. They started their 2012 hike on March 19, the same day I started my hike. We talked about life on the trail and places that we each had stayed.

Pace and Hungus

Lil Bit and I decided to do 3.4 more miles. That would put us at the Mashipacong Shelter. When we arrived we were the only ones there. This was Lil Bit's first day over 20 miles. She's a strong hiker, especially considering she's only been on trail for three weeks. There still was no sign of the other guys. The mosquitoes here are terrible. We both put up our tents instead of sleeping in the open  shelter.  A guy showed up named Half and Half. He's from Austria. His sister is hiking the trail also, she's a few days behind him. At 8:00 the three guys showed up. They had spent time in another restaurant. We wondered where they were, and they wondered where we were.

Day 95, miles today - 13.5, total - 1,302.8

June 20, 2013

Delaware Water Gap to Campsite at Rattlesnake Spring Campsite

I got up this morning at about 7:00. I would have liked to have slept later, given how late it was when I went to sleep. The church hostel was a nice stop.

Sundance, Garfunkel, Amos and I walked a few blocks to a diner that we heard was good. As we were walking down the street I saw Garbage Man and Little Foot walking on the other side of the street. I went over to say hello. They had just hiked into town and were headed to the diner to eat too. We all sat together and we each had a hearty breakfast.

Garbage Man and Little Foot

Sundance, Garfunkel, Amos and I were all going to leave mid day. It's nice having a little down time every five or six days. I went to the Post Office and looked around the Outfitter. When I got back to the church I saw Pfeiffer and Lentil. I talked to them for awhile. Sundance, Garfunkel and Amos decided to head out at 12:00. I was charging my phone so I stayed behind. Garbage Man and Little Foot came in. They were going to take showers before heading back out on trail. 

I walked a short distance to a ice cream shop called Zoe's. It was pretty cool inside. Sort of old fashion. I had a hot fudge sunday. I had seen handouts about the Poconos, so I asked the lady there where it was. She said we are in the Poconos. I didn't realize that. I had heard of it before, but didn't know where or what it was. 

At 1:30 I had my pack and was headed out of town. At 1:45 I crossed the I-80 Delaware River Bridge.

 It was goodbye Pennsylvania, hello New Jersey. It felt great entering into NJ.

I went through a park system on the Delaware River. I walked over to a picnic area where a lot of people were. There were a few people swimming in the river near the shore. It didn't look like something I'd want to do, but they seemed to be enjoying it. I then entered the Worthington Forest. It was a well maintained park. The trails were in great shape and it obviously got a lot of day use. The further I got from the parking lot the fewer people there were.

When I got to Sunfish Pond, which is a beautiful lake, I saw the three guys taking a break. From that point on we hiked together.

 When we were about three miles from where we planned to camp, we saw Lil Bit. She's by herself so we told her she could camp with us if she wanted. She's a young girl from Oregon. She was going to college in Toronto. She plans to go back to school when she finishes her hike. She started hiking a few weeks ago with a friend. The friend quit but Lil Bit decided to continue on. She plans to hike to Maine and then return to PA. and hike south to Georgia. It's called a flip flop. Once we had setup camp she said she lost her squeeze bag for her water filter, so she borrowed mine. I gave her one of my one-liter bottles which will work with her filter. I can buy another bottle the next time I get to a store.

                                               Sundance                                                     Lil Bit

                                                  Amos                                                     Garfunkle

Day 94, miles today - 17.2, total- 1,289.3

June 19, 2013

Campsite at 1,272.1 to Delaware Water Gap, PA.

I got up at 6:00 this morning and was on trail at 7:00. It was another beautiful day. It was warm and sunny.

The trail today was a mixture of small rocks and large boulders. I saw two deer and two black snakes. The second snake was at the Kirkridge Shelter. Sundance, Garfunkel and I were taking a break at the shelter. We watched it for at least ten minutes as it worked it's way into the shelter. It didn't seem to mind that we were just feet away.

As I neared  Delaware Water Gap I saw a lot of dayhikers. There were a couple of nice overlooks on the way. I could look down at the river and roadway.

I got into town at 2:30 pm. The trail passes through one end of town. My first stop was the Church of the Mountain Hostel. It's donation based. They have a bunk room, shower, and break area with couches and even a recliner. Sundance, Garfunkel and I went to a motel down the street to use their washer and dryer. The dryer didn't work so we took our clothes back to the church. We laid our clothes out on the parking lot to dry. 

Each Thursday they have a dinner for the hikers and church members. It was an excellent meal. Hikers there were Amos, Sundance, Garfunkel, Finder, Fatty, Techie, Lucky Strike, Lil Bit and Bison. Everyone was super nice.

 Ken, a member of the church, offered to give three of us a ride  to Walmart in Stroudsburg, the next town over. It was great! 

Sundance mentioned that the NBA championship game was on tonight. Sundance, Garfunkel, Lucky Strike, Amos, Bison and I went to the Sycamore Grille to watch the game. After the game we went back to the church. We stayed up for forty-five minutes talking and eating the left over's from the dinner. They had given us a few plates full of food to eat later.