AMC Camp Mohican
Day: 15-2010
Daily Mileage: 10.5
Mileage: 1294.9
06/27/10 3:00 pm
My Location: N 41°2'08.02", W 75°0'02.43"
410 m
map it

G-d it is good to be out of PA! Started off this morning with Bloodhound in a light drizzle across the I80 bridge. Climb out of the gap was along a nice stream with waterfalls. Then it was Sunfish pond, one of the 7 natural wonders of NJ since it is a glacial pond. Saw a water moccasin when I first reached it. When I stopped for lunch, I kept seeing something move on the far bank. Turned out it was a deer, but even at max zoom my camera could not get the shot, but it was gorgeous, glacial lake in the foreground, deer feeding on far bank next to rocks. It was one time I wish I had a telephoto lens.

Got to, what I think, is one of the best vistas. Enjoyed the view until the sun broke though the remaining clouds, then it just got too hot to stay.

Got to the Mohican Center, got a roast beef sandwich, Gatorade, fruit and chips. Got a room (well a cabin) all for $36...great deal. Also was given some left over blueberry pancakes for tomorrow morning. The hot shower was wonderful. Overall a good days hike.

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Brink Road Shelter
Day: 16-2010
Daily Mileage: 14.3
Mileage: 1309.2
06/28/10 7:02 pm

Woke up after a good night's sleep (it is amazing what a real pillow can do). Had the blueberry pancakes the AMC guy gave us the day before and then hit the trail. We (Bloodhound and I) hit the trail and it looked a little overcast but cool and breezy. Had some wonderful views today! I never knew NJ was so beautiful. Met up with Barry along the way so there were three of us hiking together most of the day. Hike was too long especially in the 95+ temperatures. Even a brief shower did nothing to relieve the heat, and only made the humidity worse.

Best event of the day: after saying hi to a group of Outward Bound participants, I pulled out in front of Barry and Bloodhound. Just then a crash and grunt off to my left and there was a momma bear getting her two cubs to climb a tree while she guarded them. I took a few photos and then she got the cubs to come down and they walked over the hill just when Barry and Bloodhound showed up. I am really sorry they did not see it, but I guess it was meant to be that way.

Very buggy around the shelter (and not a very nice shelter anyway) so I pitched my tent, got water, ate, put the food in the bear box (provided because of all the bear activity in the area) used the opened air (pilot minus co-pilot) privy and jumped into the tent. Still too hot!

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Marshipacong Shelter
Day: 17-2010
Daily Mileage: 12.5
Mileage: 1321.6
06/30/10 6:55 am

Day started off well. Bloodhound must have felt great because he hoisted his pack and left right when I got out of my tent. Barry and I started off a while later. We got to Culvers Gap and found a sandwich shop right off the trail, so we stopped and got a breakfast sandwich and some drinks then headed off to Gren Anderson Shelter.

No real big events going there, but as usual, so good views. Got there and decided to take a long break during the heat of the day. This day hiker shows up and just will not shut up, one of these "I know everything about everything" type people, but you know they are full of crap! By the time he leaves it is time to cook dinner and stock up on water, since Mashipacong is dry.

Not sure how we both miscalculated, but we had the distance wrong to the shelter. Ended up night hiking for the first time this trip. Did see a nice view at Sunrise Mnt which is also good for sunsets asz well. I must admit I don't like night hiking since you constantly have to move your head to point the headlamp from trail, to trees (to look for blazes and signs) and back again, not to mention the fear of being in bear country and the fear of missing a turn or a sign. Got to the shelter at, I think, 10:30pm. Not my favorite experience, but I have no one to blame but myself, but it goes in the "Been There, Done That, Got the T-Shirt, let's not do it again" category.

The temperature dropped all night, I had to put on every piece of clothing I had to stay warm! But I did get some sleep.

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High Point Shelter
Day: 18-2010
Daily Mileage: 7.2
Mileage: 1328.8
06/30/10 4:35 pm

Well Barry and my PLAN was to hike to Unionville today, but every hill I hit was getting harder and harder and my knees were complaining too much to try to do another 7+ miles so I stopped here. I hated to do it, he has been a good partner, but I just didn't want to push it.

It was a shame too, it perfect hiking weather (breezy, clear and COOL!).

Already set up camp, cleaned myself and some cloths and airing out the sleeping bag. Supposed to be another cold night (low 48).

Who knows maybe Barry will still be in town when I get there tomorrow...he has a lot to do in town.

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The Outhouse - Unionville, NY
Day: 19-2010
Daily Mileage: 7.1
Mileage: 1335.9
07/1/10 4:04 pm

Last night was cold, but I felt it was warmer than the previous one. Hike into town was unique. It was a microcosm of the trail so far, minus the rhododendron tunnels: board walks over swamps, rocks, climbs, vistas, fields, stiles, ponds, everything.

The hostel has some unique rules, my favorite is "if you use a 4 syllable word it is considered a cuss word and you have to put a quarter in the cuss jar".

Barry showed up here today, so I did catch up with him. Got a shower, and finally did a wash (hadn't done one since Port Clinton) and waiting for dinner.

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Vernon NJ - St Thomas Episcopal Church Hostel
Day: 20+21-2010
Daily Mileage: 11.8
Mileage: 1347.7
07/2/10 8:40 pm
My Location: N 41°11'58.60", W 74°29'02.68"
197 m
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Well last night was just a hoot. Bill is quite a character. For a guy who was a cook in the military in the Korean War, he is sharp as a tack. He grilled me for 15 minutes and caught me using 3 four syllable words. Imagine Groucho Marx with a military cooks gruffness. He kept everyone laughing and he still can cook: salad hot dogs, homemade soup and watermelon for dinner and coffee, hash browns, english muffin, egg and cheese omelets and sausage for breakfast. There were 17 people there last night!

The compulsory video was Paul Potts from Brittan's Got Talent singing Nessum Dorma. The theme was based on the last word of the aria "Vinchero" which Butch said translated into "I will win" and wove the story about how, if you believe in yourself, you can do anything you want from finishing the trail or anything you want to do at life. Well done and told well with friends to share it with.

Today's hike (with Barry again!) was fairly easy with only one or two tuff climbs. Also walked though 2 wildlife sanctuaries (wetlands) and saw 4 snakes, 2 muskrats, herons, ducks and even some swans...I again have to say "This is NJ?". Got to the road and went to the farmers market 0.1 miles from the trail crossing, ate a snack and then asked a man for a ride to town (2.4 miles is a long way to road walk). He responded "going to the hiker hostel?" It turned out he knows the person who runs it. Here with 6 others. Butch (from yesterdays hostel) dropped off one hiker and said no one is at his place tonight so I guess I am about to be in a bubble between groups again.

7/3/10 9:15pm

Neither Barry nor I felt much like hiking today. He was still getting over severe dehydration, and I over did the fried chicken (fat) yesterday so my stomach was off. Decided to take a zero and Rev. Bob said it was ok. This zero, unlike DWG, I really did NOTHING, which I need. Was able to get on the computer and write a script to make it easier to post my photos, but that, a few chores and walks to lunch and dinner were it. Good to take a day off.

Ooh fireworks!

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Wawayanda Shelter
Day: 22-2010
Daily Mileage: 5.1
Mileage: 1352.8
07/4/10 8:30 pm

Well finally got out of Vernon, didn't want to leave but it was time to move on. Had no problem getting a ride out of town. Hike today was easy. The Pinwheel Vista was nice. Did see a bear today while taking a break near the pond 0.6 miles before the shelter. Feet and knees felt good today and the hike was short, but the next shelter is 12 miles away so we (Barry and I) didn't want to push it in the returning heat (back to the 90's).

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Anton's on the Lake - Greenwood Lake NY
Day: 23-2010
Daily Mileage: 9.9
Mileage: 1362.7
07/5/10 9:10 pm
My Location: N 41°13'11.98", W 74°17'28.78"
203 m
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Day started off with good trail and a fast pace. But then we crossed into NY and the trail turned to rock climbs, blazes were non-existent when you needed them most, there was NO shade and it was hot as hell. By the time we got to the road we (Barry and I) were both out of water. Lucky for us trail magic was at hand, cold water, soda, cookies and fruit thanks to thru hiker Ichabad and his parents. What a Blessing. Two other thru hikers were going into the Inn due to illness and I said Barry and I were going too. Had fantastic Chinese for dinner, but still trying to rehydrate after today's hike. Tomorrow done not seem to hold any relief, hot and sunny with the same type of trail ahead, but we sleep on beds with A/C tonight.

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Arden Mountain Campsite
Day: 24-2010
Daily Mileage: 10.9
Mileage: 1373.6
07/6/10 9:00 pm
My Location: N 41°16'16.95", W 74°10'47.96"
291 m
map it

Today was too hot, too rocky, too buggy and just too long! The only fun I had today was a dip in a pond, dinner by a nice cold water spring (which was 0.5 miles off the trail) and a nice sunset from the campsite. Water is very scarce in these parts right now. Fitzgerald Falls was a trickle and the Orange Turnpike spring was flowing but that was it (we didn't need water at the two ponds we passed, but I wouldn't drink from them anyway). I am still sweating like a pig and it is after 9pm! Anybody make an a/c unit for a tent?

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Campsite between Seven Lakes Dr and William Brien Shelter
Day: 25-2010
Mileage: ~10
07/7/10 8:50 pm
My Location: N 41°17'01.57", W 74°4'27.77"
291 m
map it

Today was much better than yesterday. Although it was still HOT, there was a cool breeze at times, and a cloud from time to time. After the downhill nicknamed "Agony", my knees started feeling better and the trail seemed a lot more fun. We swam at Island Pond, which was fantastic! The "Lemon Squeezer" was fun, or at least I thought so, and then we swam a second time at Lake Tiorati, which had soda and ice cream as well. We left after they closed the place down and hiked until almost dark and just threw up a quick camp.

All and all a HOT but fun day!
PS Saw a bear before crossing 17A (no pic, happened too fast), 4 deer and a small water moccasin.

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The Garrison House - Fort Montgomery, NY
Day: 26+27-2010
Daily Mileage: ~10.3
Mileage: 1393.3
07/8/10 9:50 pm
My Location: N 41°20'04.58", W 73°59'06.87"
290 m
map it

Today was HOT.....DAMN HOT. Actually, it was more humid than hot, but it kicked my butt. Once again it was not a fun day and I just seemed to be off all day. I woke up to a crazy bird that made a call that sounded like a cross between someone calling for help, and a rabbit being killed by a bird of prey. Then I was sweating like a pig before even putting on my backpack on. Then up and down all day on top of the humidity. I had to take a nap at an overview, loosing Barry for the first time in days. Only good parts of the day: got hit by a rain drop (yes I mean A raindrop) and the sun stayed behind clouds most of the day. I also missed going through Bear Mountain Zoo (really, from what I heard, that goes in the good column) and just missed the post office by a half hour. Walked down to The Garrison House (a bright spot for the day) now sitting here well after hiker midnight, watching TV and writing this. Looking forward to a change of weather promised over the next day or two.

7/9/10 7:15am

I do have to make a comment about yesterday's section. Going down to Bear Mountain State Park there are some 1000 steps, made out of stone, a beautiful surface of stone and gravel and rock walls. I sure hope this was NOT done by the NJ/NY Trail Club, because it was that money could have kept the whole AT maintained for years, bought material for all new shelters and funded the ridge runner program just on the interest of the money spent. If it was funded by tax dollars.....well that's government for ya.

Also, if you have walked this section and think the AT is all like that, you are dead wrong. The trail rarely has steps and is not surfaced the way this section is. This section is the Bill Bryson section, not what the AT is truly like.

7/9/10 9:15pm

Got up with my left knee hurting a bit and very stiff. Walked to the deli for breakfast, then the post office (food drop and boots) and then back. It was hot, even though it was before 8am and my knee didn't loosen up at all, so by the time I got back I had decided to take a zero day. Sat around all day watching a "House" Marathon and resting my knee. No sign of anyone to pay all day (but she just walked it not a minute ago, and it took some time before she said a word about "what are you still doing here?", but she finally did). Went to Foodies for dinner (where the M&R market used to be). This place's sign says "Pizza and Sushi". Interesting combination, but the place gave me a sense of being in NY for the first time, the owner was a true NY'er Deli owner and the food was really good. The owner even gave use a ride back to the B&B. Knee feeling better on the walk there, so I will be moving on tomorrow.

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