6/20/06 Tuesday: Vernon, NJ to Fitzgerald Falls, NY (19.2mi)

PICTURES:
1. 1339: State Line NY/NJ... Phoned Jackie and had lunch with some nice views...
2. 1426: Views of Greenwood Lake all day... This is one of the nicer views..
3. 1456: Some lovely summer wildflowers along the trail.
4. While rock hoping almost ran into this guy sunning himself... always got to be on your toes out here...;)
5. 1727: Views of the NY countryside once the lake had passed...
6. 1825: Reached the falls and decided to take a pic at the base before the rather steep ascent..
7. 1826: Thats Sven and Tailwind climbing up the trail besides the falls.. Nice camp spots up above the falls...

The weather system that brought last nights T-storms really eased the temps and reduced the humidity today... I went to breakfast at 0700, and had a nice meal next door to the church... I hooked back up with Sven and Tailwind and we all headed out to the gas station hoping to get a ride the 2.5mi back to the trail... Well, our ride wasnt there so our next option, LOL, our only other option was to hitch... We lined up, clean looking and hoped for the best... 45min later we finally were picked up by a high school kid who had noticed us from a different auto service station, went home with his small car to get his Dads pick-up to take us all to the trail... What a nice gesture and we all thanked him for his kindness and generosity... A nice way to start the day.. We had a long climb ahead but not too steep and nothing too eventful planned for the day... Ten miles into the trip I took a snack break and phoned Jackie from the NJ/NY border... Our best view of the day came late in the afternoon from the NY side with multiple views of Greenwood Lake and the surrounding community... A little later we crossed a road and encountered a sign for an ice cream parlor .2mi away.... Well you dont just pass by something like that...LOL...so off I went and met up again with my 2 Army friends along with 2 other hikers from the hostel. I took an hours break and three of us again struck out for our final 4mi to the falls... There were a few more vistas from the Eastern Pinnacles a mile from the parlor, and 2 miles later we came across the falls and decided to camp above them... There were some nice camping spots up there and we soon set up our tents, made our meals, and retired for the night...

6/19/06 Monday: High Point Shelter to St. Thomas Episcopal Church Hostel, Vernon NJ (20.6mi)

PICTURES:
1. 0801: Beautiful beginning to the day.
2. 0915: Nice bridgework through a swampy area... mosquitoes are very bad.. I need to buy some repellant soon...
3. 0955: I really enjoyed these nice open trails...
4. 1208: Trail runs along a property line of trees...
5. 1229: I broke out of the woods and onto a road for a mile or so until we I reentered at this nature preserve for a nice long walk around the preserve... Lots of birds and a few snakes too..
6. 1402: I would climb back up to another ridge, get some more views...
7. 1530: A lovely board walk through this nature preserve... chatted with a few locals enjoying their day.
8. 1723: Arrived at St. Thomas Episcopal Church hostel just before a rather explosive thunderstorm hit.

I was up and out by 0630, hoping to get as many miles done in the morning before the afternoon heat set in again... Today temps would again reach 95 with very high humidity... The terrain was a bit easier, helping to ease the burden today... I had 2 opportunities for internet service today as well as a deli for lunch and a shower waiting for me at the end of the day in a climate controlled hostel...:) Sounds good... The mornings 10 miles to the deli were completed by 1030, half the day done and in good shape too... The deli was excellent, I had my usual: 2 liter mountain dew and a foot long ham and cheeze with the works...:)... There was no problem with the bathroom facilities...LOL... but unfortunately the computer normally available for the hikers was being repaired.. The temps continued to soar but the terrain was very nice and flat put together with a couple of key breaks, this day was not quite as severe as the previous one... As I arrived to NJ94, the road to the hostel, a came upon a section hiker named Michelle and we walked the last 1/2mi to the road together... She had done this section before so I was interested in her take on the hostel and surrounding community... She suggested we take a detour .1mi west to a farm stand for some refreshments before she decides if she was going to stay at the hostel... Heaven Hill Farm was a wonderful idea with all sorts of juices, pop, fresh fruits, etc. I indulged in a number of items and sat in a shaded spot for a rest and some conversation... She was a school teacher here from New Mexico for a summer teaching job with a week to spare on the AT... The owner of the Farm stopped by and he inquired as to our destinations and we all chatted for a bit... Storm clouds began to form and thunder was heard and the owner stated that severe storms were predicted for the area... Well at that point we both decided on the hostel for the night... I bought an apple pie to share when I arrived there and we went back out to the road for our hitch into town... We soon secured a ride in the back of a pickup truck with a cap and lots of tools and stuff in the back... I handed my pie to the passenger in the front...with a smile and asked if he would hold it for me on the 2.5mi trip into town...LOL... He looked at me and said only if you dont mind loosing a piece or two...LOL... We soon arrived in town and were dropped off at a gas station, kinda unaware of which direction the Church hostel was... The owner of the gas station came out and directed us next door to the hostel and mentioned to us to stop by in the morning for a ride back to the trail if he was there... We soon arrived at the hostel and I reconnected with Sven and Tailwind, and another 4 hikers... It was a beautiful set up, with kitchen facilities, .25 cent sodas, full bath, and surrounded with restaurants and a grocery store. I went to the A&P and fixed myself a rather large salad, about 2lbs worth...;)... and unfortunately was stuck there during a cloudburst. After a while I asked a woman leaving the store if she could drop myself and another female hiker off at the church hostel... I felt a little awkward asking, but I'm getting over that awkwardness...;)... She thought for a moment and agreed and 5 min later we were back at the hostel...with the other hikers eyeing my salad... After the rain stopped, a few of the other hikers were on their way for their salad ... :)... Unfortunately, the internet at the hostel wasnt working so the blog would have to wait again... Later that evening, a elderly church member named Tom stopped by to check on all of us and stayed to chat a bit... He mentioned that a hiker was viewing porn on the computer when another church member came to visit so the church decided to terminate the internet connection. I offered him some pie, and he broke out the ice cream... He stayed another hour and we chatted about the town, his home in the hills, all sorts of things... He left around 2130 and shortly thereafter we all turned in for the night...

6/18/06 Sunday: Brink Rd Shelter to High Point Shelter (19.6mi)

PICTURES:
1. 0930: Fresh breakfast with Sven and Tailwind... a time to catch up...
2. 1055: Enjoying the view on our way up from the gap.
3. 1259: Lunch at a shelter after a moderate climb on an extremely hot and humid day.
4. 1925: Its not fall, but those are pieces of leaves on the ground and falling off the trees. Parts not eaten by the gypsy moths.

Well, I had a bagel sandwitch on my mind at Culvers Gap, the same place I had dropped the three hikers off the day before... I met up with Sven and Tailwind again and we all made it to the Gap together and headed a short distance to a bagel/coffee shop.. A nice older gentleman makes a mean bagel sandwitch... The three of us were finishing up our meals when I asked the owner to get some water for our bottles from his tap... He said use my office... which I soon found out was a very clean restroom.. I was able to fill up both bottles and use his commode but when another female hiker went for the room, he stopped her and told her to ask before using his office... The three of us continued our trek north... The 95 degree temps were the highest yet... There was tree cover for most of the day but we experienced the devastation from the Gypsy Moth at its worst in New Jersey... As I walk the trail is full of leaves, half eaten and the canopy above is rather thin... At night you can hear the munching and crunching of a million catapillars feasting on the vegitation.... By 1645, I arrived at High Point State Park near complete exhaustion, with the continuous gains and losses in elevation, many short gains of 150-250 feet but very steep... On this day the heat, humidity, terrain, shortage of water, all teamed up to do me in... This was the most exhausting day of my trip so far!!!! Thank God for the Trail Majic that met me as I entered the park... Cold sodas and water... I chatted with the gentleman for 20 min and regained my strenth enough to continue another half mile to the beach area of the park for a couple of burgers and a swim... I couldnt believe how steep the 1/2mi trail to the beach was but made it in about 25min and walked on a road for another .5 miles to the concession, arriving at 1750, ten minutes before the entire operation closed for the day. I ordered my 2 quarter pound cheeseburgers and 2 cokes, sat at a picnic table and chowed down...:) I spent about an hour there relaxing and recovering from my ordeal of this overwhelmingly hot and humid day, and prayed for kinder weather tomorrow... I started moving again to the shelter, about 1 mile away. I arrived arrived at 1930 to find a PopPop (section hiker) and a Ridge Runner there relaxing... I had met PopPop at the concession earlier, but no sign of the Army guys...they had decided to camp behind the parks HQ building near the water faucet.. I soon set up my tent, the mosquitoes were quite bad, and retired for the night...

6/17/06 Saturday: Delaware Water Gap to Ridge above Brink Rd Shelter (23.5mi)

PICTURES:
1. 1035: Was looking for a spring near this pond just N of the Delaware Water Gap National Park entrance... never found it.... Nice area though..
2. 1229: While continuing N, I came across this volunteer adding some white blazes to the trail. 90+degrees and near 100% humidity... God Bless him...
3. 1300: Had a nice lunch at The Mohican Outdoor Center. Watched a hiker with poison ivy all over her body get driven to the hospital first though...
4. 1355: New Jersey ridge walking
5. 1618: Nice section of trail with a well in the vicinity...
6. 1839: The Falls seem tempting but the extra 4 miles was just too much...
7. 2030: Pitched the tent on a grassy section along the trail about 1/2 miles S of Brink Rd Shelter. I had heard Brink Rd Shelter was a mosquitoe pit this time of year... The ridge was a nice alternative except for the tics... I hate tics....

I got a late start, had to drive a hiker to the hospital before getting underway.. After 7mi and temperatures reaching 90 degrees, I was looking for a spring to replenish my water supply, and never found it... 4mi later at 1300, I arrived at the Mohican Outdoor Center, .3mi off the trail but a nice place with water and soda...:)... The trail was pretty rugged with lots of rocks, more than expected to help slow you down... I took a 45 min break at the center getting there to see a hiker named Kid leaving with a shuttle driver...She was covered with a rash from poison ivy...eyes swollen almost shut with burning and itching all over... I have been fortunate to avoid such things... hopefully my good fortune will continue and Kid will recover quickly to complete her journey... I finally arrived near the Brink Rd Shelter and chose to camp on the ridge just South of the shelter...

6/16/06 Friday: Hahns Lookout to Presbbterain Church of the Mountain Hostel Delaware Water Gap (16.6)

PICTURES:
1. Hey!!!! I think the rocks situation is improving...:)
2. Thats Sven and Tailwind again
3. Apparently a gas line explosion prompted this construction
4. Im descending into the Delaware Water Gap and looking across at the mountains Ill be crossing tomorrow...:(
5. The church hostel....home for tonight
6. Just a note as you exit the church grounds... Very uplifting...



I was up and out by 0700, meeting my two x-ARMY friends right off for the 1000" descent to Wind Gap... Once down in the gap, we all walked .2mi to a hotel to buy some soda and get some much needed water for the days travel... There is prescious little water available up on the ridge where we are walking each day, with hikes of up to .6mi off the main trail just to get water... After a few min, we all struck out again for our 1000" ascent of this last section of Blue Mtn before making it to the Deleware Water Gap and out of Pensylvania and into New Jersey...:) Its always nice to move into another state...:)... Shortly after the ascent, Sven and Tailwind left me in the dust and I was on my own again... about 1015 I decided to take a break on some rocks and have some brunch... After a short break, I started moving and discovered Wolf Rocks which told me I had traveled about 8 miles.. While walking through this area, I took some pics while admiring the views and the rock formations... At 1145 I arrived at the Kirkridge Shelter and met up with Sven and Tailwind again as well as a few other hikers... Mechanical Man, a south bound section hiker provided me with some trail majic...a lightweight cloth towel to use for drying off.. I had had a similar one weeks ago but it fell out of a pocket and was lost forever on the trail... I was elated at the offer and thanked him for his thoughtfullness and generosity... The three of us were soon off again northbound with the church hostel on our minds for the night... We arrived at the hostel about 1430 and found a number of hikers already there from the previous day.. Still plenty of room for all... The hostel holds 10 in the bunkroom, and another 4 in the shelter with even more place to tent camp near the shelter in the back of the property... There were many oppurtunities for eating and resupplying also... I offered to drive a friend and his 2 friends from Ohio to a point 30mi north so they could hike back to the hostel together... the drive took more than 90min one way, but was nice getting a picture of the civilization surrounding the trail... I agreed to hide the keys in special spot and was able to use the care to help out a few other hikers, one needing to go to the local hotel, and early the next day another hiker deciding that the infected tick bite needed to be attended too by a doctor at the hospital after not improving for more than 5 day. I was happy to help in this small way, besides I wasnt paying for the gas...;)...

6/15/06 Thursday: Lehigh Gap to Hahns Lookout Campsite (19.7mi)

PICTURES:
1. Kind of a precarious climb up from Lehigh Gap...This is a view back down into the Gap...
2. Lots of these today...And yes this is the trail...LOL
3. A Picture with Palmerton in the background showing much of the devastation from atop Blue Mtn.
4. As you move away from the mining operation the vegetation returns...
5. But the rocks are here to stay...LOL...

I woke early for breakfast at a nearby restaurant and was ready to go by the agreed upon departure time of 0830... As part of the "Hiker Package", Ira was to drop me off at the trailhead, about a 2.5 mile drive. I thanked him for his kindness and wished him well as I departed across the Lehigh River Bridge for my 1000" in about .7miles ascent of Blue Mtn through the area known as the Palmerton EPA Superfund Site... This climb according to the ALDA guide (Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association) was suppose to be one of the most challenging on the trail... This is a devastated area along Blue Mtn near Lehigh Gap that was a result of nearly a century of zinc smelting. In 1980,the EPA shut down the furnaces and in 1982, put the affected area on the Superfund cleanup list... It is apparent that a revegetation effort is underway with the mountain slowly returning to life... I did take a few breaks on the ascent, taking some pics of the area... Once on top the terrain improved significantly and I was able to move rather well while enjoying vistas of the surrounding mountains... The Forest Service had college students on summer break working in the area, 3 within the first 4 miles of my trip, handing out bottled water in exchange for info from hikers passing through the devasted area... I willingly complied, eagerly seeking my prize each time.... They were all very nice but seemed quite perplexed at the thought of backpacking out in the wild... About 1200, I took a snack break on some rocks, taking time to dry off some...When I decended to Smith Gap, I encountered some Trail Majic, always improves my day...:).. At 1500, I had dinner at the Leroy A. Smith Shelter and a few hours later at 1700 I camped out along the trail near Hahns Lookout just before the decent into Wind Gap. This would set me up for a nice 16.6mi day into the Delaware Water Gap Hostel... :)

6/14/06 Wednesday: Allentown Hiking Club Shelter to PA 873 Lehigh Gap, Slatington, PA (18mi)

PICTURES:
1. The Allentown Hiking Club shelter early morning as were all getting ready to go...
2. Lots of this today...
3. Some nice vistas throughtout the day...
4. Whats this guy doing up on the mountain??
5. Mountain Laurel blossoms set in an opening...Beautiful...

2.

This was a newer shelter, built with care in 1997... They did a wonderful job... We all had a very restfull nights sleep and were all up and out by 0630... The first 8 miles were unremarkable but then came some climbing on boulders, slow going but worth it for the views they produced... We all crossed a road together at Blue Mtn, and noticed a hotel/restaurant and all thought about burgers for lunch till we noticed the restaurant was openned for dinner Thrusday through Saturday... Oh well... I stopped at a shelter 10 miles away for some water aptly called the Bake Oven Knob Shelter, a 1940's era shelter that could use some TLC... the water was located down a steep path about 250yds... The climb back up was not pleasant... but necessary for lunch... The other 4 hikers soon joined me for a rest and snack before we all moved on to Lehigh Gap... I was anxious to get to Lehigh Gap and hitch into Slatington, PA for a stay at Fine Lodging... The others were equally anxious to get there, they were all headed for a home on the New Jersey shoreline for a week off the trail while one of them recovers from a nasty persistant cough which was sounding alot like pneumonia... They offered me a ride into town but I secured my own transportation within 5 minutes of sticking my thumb out... Pretty good even for me... :)... I arrived at the residence at about 1530, which was nice located in the middle of Slatington surrounded with pubs, restaurants, and convenience stores... I wasnt able to get a room for a few hours but got a shower, using one of my clean shirts as a towel, then went to get my laundry done a block from the place, picked up a nice sub for a late afternoon snack, and after getting into my room about 1930, went for dinner. Ira let me use his computer for a couple of blog entries before I finally retired for the night at 2300...

6/13/06 Tuesday: Port Clinton,PA Pavillion to Allentown Hiking Club Shelter (22.6mi)

PICTURES:
1. Views from Pulpit Rock
2. Turkey buzzard resting on the rocks of the Pinnacle
3. After the buzzard flew off, I stripped off some clothes and got some sun on the rocks and rested a bit..
4. Apparently its a tradition here a the Pinnacle to grab a rock and toss it up on this pile of rocks... Apparently they have had a few visitors over the years...LOL
5. On my way north I came across this sign reminding me of what I had accomplished and what was to come...
6. Another view from Dan's Pulpit just a few miles from my shelter for the night
7. Yup more rocks, this trail leads to the top where apparently 3 counties converge...

It was pretty mild over night and quite comfy at the pavillion... PA61, a rather busy thruway passed within 100yds above the pavillion providing all hikers with the not so pleasant sound of 18 wheelers passing in the night... LOL... I woke early as usual, about 0530 and walked the .4mi to the restaurant for breakfast... After a nice meal I returned to the pavillion to find most of the other hikers getting up an ready for the day... I finished packing and was again headed north by 0730... I took a short break at the Windsor Furnace Shelter, enough to fill up with water for lunch later.. The walk thru the Windsor Furnace State Park was pleasant but soon changed to a climb up to Pulpit Rock with magnificant vistas of the valley below... I met Matt there, a local college student out for the morning. We chatted about our good fortune on this day before I continued on to my next stop of the morning... The Pinnacle... More vistas were to come on this perfect hiking day... With temps in the 80s, low humidity, and plenty of sun, this was a hikers dream day... When I arrived at the Pinnacle I caught a couple of turkey buzzards by surprise on my camera... They were perched on the rocks taking a break from their usual soaring above the valley... They soon caught me eyeing them and flew off.. I broke out my stove and cooked lunch and spent an hour lounging in the sun, eating, relaxing, and enjoying the moment... A few other day hikers passed by, all enjoying the marvelous views and birds buzzing about... After lunch, I joined another day hiker, an teacher on summer break, for a walk out of the park... We chatted about all sorts of thins, our careers, the beauty of the park, thru hiking, to name but a few... He turned off on another trail to head for his car while I continued toward my objective for the day... still 12 miles off... I reached the side trail leading to the Eckville Shelter, another supervised shelter right on the road... I chose to continue passed it, having plenty of water and aware of the still 7 more miles yet to be done before I could stop for the night.. The afternoon hike proved to be very unpleasant with a 1000" climb worstened considerably by the black flies swarming about my face, repeatedly landing in my eyes... I cant begin to tell you how much I hate that...LOL... By 1615 the climb was over and I had reached Dan's Pulpit, another vista. About an hour later, I checked out the Tri-County Corner, a marker placed in a rather high pile of rocks signifying the point where the border of 3 Eastern PA counties lie... And finally at 1830 I arrived at the shelter, joined shortly after by 4 other hikers who had taken a 4 hour break at the Eckville Shelter earlier in the day... The four had been hiking together for a while, Sleeper (An anesthesiologist) Bushwacker, Tricycle, and Bonesaw. After chatting for a bit and going the .3 miles for water, we all turned in for the night...