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Published: June 18th 2008
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Honeymoon climbing
Honeymoon climbing out of Leigh High Gap. June 11
Ira Fine gave us a ride back to the trail. Aside from ourselves, there were three other hikers staying there: Willie Boy, Root, and Night Terror. We hiked with them for most of the day. The trail coming out of Lehigh Gap was the closest thing to mountain climbing we've had so far. It was actually a lot of fun, and quite challenging. The rest of that day was rocky hiking, and when we made it to the shelter, we decided to set up the tent to avoid the bugs. We met a ridgerunner that day, named Rue. He was very friendly, and he gave us the tip on a potluck hiker dinner at the Presbyterian Church hostel in Delaware Water Gap, PA. We had been debating how far to go the next day, and that settled it.
June 12
We didn't get moving quite as early as we had wished, but tenting it always takes more time than just crashing in a shelter. It was 20.5 miles to DWG, so we had our work cut out for us. The trail was rocky but level for the first 5 miles, and we made good
Short Stick climbing
Short Stick climbing out of Leigh High Gap. time. We startled a homeless lady on the trail just up from Wind Gap, where there was a major highway. Ridgerunner Rue later told us that it wasn't so uncommon, though it was the first time we'd seen it. We kept on truckin' and made it to Kirkridge shelter for a late lunch. The trails were again flanked with poison ivy vines. Short Stick's poison ivy has gotten worse, so we were hoping DWG would have a pharmacy. We got some great views of the Delaware River late in the day, but had a steep descent coming down. We came down off the mountain looking for a PA highway 611 to take us into DWG. After crossing Main St., we stopped to look at the map and decided we had to cross over the I-80 bridge. It was very long and unpleasant in the hot sun. We walked for another mile after the bridge before heading back into the forest. It was only then that we realized we had misread the map and were already in New Jersey, 2 miles past DWG. After a few moments of despair, we asked some nice lady with a dog for a ride, and
Super fund Site
Super fund site. An area that was destroyed by zinc mining. she graciously obliged. So we really walked a little over 22 miles that day. We got to the church just before 7:00 and were immediately accosted by another nice lady who practically shoved us over to a porch where the potluck was just wrapping up. We got some chicken, hot dogs, salad, watermelon, brownies, and doughnuts before they cleared everything away. So many hikers were there that it felt like a little reunion: we saw Daisy, Chief Daddy, Loafy, Root, Night Terror, Willie Boy, Ridgerunner Rue, and Free Hugs (who we hadn't seen since day 2). We even went out that night to a local bar and watched the Celtics win Game 4.
NOTE: In the interest of time, the next entries will be pretty short. We're at a church in Vernon, NJ, right now and have to be out in a few minutes.
June 13
The hostel was so nice that we decided to stay another day. We resupplied and lazed around. And anyway, the hostel was free, they had a shower, a.c., and games. We played Monopoly with Daisy, Chief Daddy, and a girl named Benadryl. The hostel even provided Calamine lotion, so Short Stick
Slug
Huge slug at a campsite we stayed at. was able to get some of her poison ivy dried up. Yea for the Presbyterian church!
June 14
Went over the I-80 bridge again, but less traffic and cooler in the morning. Into Worthington State Park, where there are lots of day-hikers and Sunfish Pond. Only about a mile in, we see A BEAR!! It's a small one, running away from the trail through the woods, but still very exciting. We go 11 miles to Mohican campsite, where we set up our tent, get a shower, and Honeymoon sees another bear. This one is huge, and lumbers across the camp road just 50 feet away, unconcerned about the group of people pointing at it. Short Stick was still in the shower at the time. Later that night, it rains on us. A lot.
June 15
We put the tent away wet and head off. We want to do 21 miles today to set us up well to get to Vernon, NJ. Jersey is nice so far, with fewer big climbs and fewer rocks (though they still litter the trail in some parts, to our severe disappointment). We hit the miles hard but
get turned around a couple times going over Rattlesnake Mountain (where we saw no snakes). At Brink Road shelter that afternoon, we cook some Ramen while we air-dry the tent in the sun. A few miles up the trail, we stop for dinner at a road-crossing, where there's a steakhouse. The meal refreshes us, though we almost walked the wrong way leaving, as we mistook white reflectors on the telephone poles for blazes. The last 3 miles at dusk are very nice hiking, and we make it to Gren Anderson shelter in time to put our food bag in the bear box and hit the hay.
The bear boxes are large metal containers placed near almost every shelter in NJ. This state has the highest concentration of bears of any Appalachian Trail state, so that's probably a good thing (after all, we saw two bears in the first 12 miles of trail in NJ).
June 16
Good hiking today. Cool weather and nice trails. 18-mile day. Some good views before we come down off a ridge and walk through fields for the last few miles. We stay at the Jim Murray property--apparently this guy had
a cabin out here and converted it into an A.T. shelter. It was tiny, but we got there just ahead of the thunderstorm. We had some nervous moments when the power went out (Daisy got shocked while touching the water tap) because the water source was a well with an electric pump. Short Stick was in the shower at the time, so she was still a little soapy that night. Luckily, the power came back on about two hours later, so we got plenty of water to cook.
June 17
We do 13 miles by 2:30 and call a taxi to take us into Vernon, NJ. There is another church hostel here (Episcopal, this time), where we shower up. We share the hostel with Root, Willie Boy, Daisy, Chief Daddy, Benadryl, and a hiker named Cuda. We buy some medicine for the poison ivy, resupply, and have all-you-can-eat pizza. We eat three larges between five people, along with salad and bottomless sodas. We have truly gained our hiker stomachs.
We only have a week or so left on the trail. The plan is to make it to somewhere around Bear Mountain, New York (or perhaps
Church Hostel
Free church hostel in Delaware Water Gap, where we got a wonderful meal at the church pot luck. Wonderful people with great food. Peekskill), then take a train to Boston, where Sean Navin will be our trail angel for a couple of days. Then down to NYC, where Megan Talley will take up that role, then on to Minneapolis to find an apartment, and then home. Should be very exciting.
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Glen Gebhart
non-member comment
Walking in solidarity with you
Great to read your latest update. I have developed a big blister on my left heel as a way to stay in solidarity with you guys on your hike. Those boots I was wearing are definitely not going to Canada. I was going to try and talk you guys into taking a one week detour up to the Boundary Waters until I realized that you do not have Remote Area Border Crossing permits. Oh well, you guys are probably tired of camping out by now anyway. Look forward to seeing you in Minneapolis, Stillwater, or somewhere on I-35. Have fun on the rest of the trip.