Category: June 29 to July 18

Day 101 NY 17A to Orange Turnpike (10.1 miles) 1382.1 miles total

Had a good sleep and a nice breakfast with Brent, Laure, Sophie, and Alix. Thanks much, guys!

Laure hiked with me for the first 4 miles of the day to Fitzgerald Falls. It was great to have a guide!

Water is getting tighter up here as very few springs. Contacted Nina, a friend who lives in area, as I was hoping to catch a ride to town for water. She just happened to be at a friend’s who lives about 3 miles from Orange Turnpike.

I setup my tent about a quarter mile from road and met Nina about 2PM. Got to a McDonalds, sat on a chair on Mike’s patio, and got water.

Nina saw some trail magic when she dropped me off. Guessing she’ll be out here some day!

Happy trails!

 

Day 100 County Rd 517 to NY 17A, Bellvale, NY (17.4 miles) 1372.0 miles total

Been out here wandering through the woods for 100 days now. Have told many people that “I’m not a hiker and I hate camping”. May have to drop the first part as I’m thinking 100 days and 1372 miles probably counts as being a hiker!

Dave took me back out to trail this AM. Took a while to get used to carrying pack again. Fortunately first couple of miles where a boardwalk.

Got a little more difficult after that. Had to climb Stairway to Heaven. Pretty good climb.

Finished NJ (state #8) early afternoon.

My friend, Brent, and his family live in Warwick, NY. I am planning to meet his wife, Laure, on trail today. She will hike last 5-6 miles with me and then they’ve invited me to stay at their house.

Laure can hike!! I had to work to keep up. She knew what she was doing and where she was going so all I had to do was follow. Haven’t been able to do that yet on hike so it was kind of relaxing.

We finished the day close to the Bellvale Creamery. Quite a few hikers will stop here for ice cream as only 1/4 mile from trail.

Brent, Sophie, and Alix met us at the Creamery. Sophie is 10 and Alix, 7. Super nice and polite young ladies.

Will be getting close to NYC in next couple of days. There is a shelter I hope to stay near that has views of Manhattan.

Happy trails!

Day 99 Glenwood, NJ Zero Day 1354.6 miles total

Felt very fortunate that I wasn’t hiking today. Lots of rain in morning and afternoon.

Stopped by Ferring (former employer) office today. Saw lots of familiar faces.

Leaving Lake Hopatcong in AM. Thanks to everyone who gave me a ride, came out to see me, and especially to John and Jen for your hospitality. I’ve had a great time passing through!

This stop has really made me aware of the large number of people who are into this adventure. Mind boggling. Thanks so much to all of you for your amazing support. I know that I don’t walk alone.

Happy trails!

Day 98 High Point State Park HQ to Glenwood, NJ (18.3 miles) 1354.6 miles total

Really good day today. Hiked what I was planning on doing over 2 days because sounds like rain tomorrow.

My ride to the trail this AM was with the Lake Hopatcong News staff and Mary Lynn. They are going to do an article on my hike and connection to Lake Hopatcong.

Hiked by the High Point Monument. A Navy buddy (Ozzy) grew up near there and his grandfather worked on the construction of monument. Before I began hiking Ozzy asked me to say a prayer there for all active duty military and veterans. Got it done Ozzy!

Long walk on wooden path over marshy area. There will be several more areas like this up the road.

After I got past High Point there were few rocks and fairly flat terrain. Took me 2 hrs and 40 minutes to finish first 9 miles of day. That’s booking!

If I could have figured out how to carry this masterpiece for 850 miles, I would have made an offer.

Dave was there to pick me up in PM. He got there an hour before me to do trail magic. He’s really enjoyed that and I’m sure he’ll do it again after I’m gone from the area.

Two of my favorite “young” hikers have been Goddess and Ontario. I had seen them regularly from the end of Shenandoahs to Duncannon, PA. You’re never really sure if/when you will run into people again. Especially after you crash and take 3 zero days!

As Dave and I were getting ready to leave trail Goddess showed up with her friend, Mariah. Mariah is not hiking but came to see Goddess who was taking a zero today and out to show Mariah a bit of the trail. Had a fun time hanging out with them for a while.

That’s Goddess on the left. I’m the one in center!

Zero day tomorrow and then Saturday I’ll be leaving this area and back to reality.

Happy trails!

Day 97 Culvers Gap to High Point State Park HQ (14.3 miles) 1336.3 miles total

Ed gave me a ride out to the trail this AM. He also picked me up in PM.

I’m getting pretty spoiled. Walk 14-15 miles, back for a shower, happy hour, dinner, and a bed to sleep in.

Photo below is from Sunrise Mtn. There is a really nice pavilion at top. Should have taken a picture.

Below is Mashipacong Shelter.

Weather was nice again today. Low 80’s and not too humid.

Enjoying NJ hike. Rocks lessening, terrain relatively flat, and I’m slack packing. Feel guilty for about half a second when I pass other thru-hikers.

Been planning for 10 mile days tomorrow and Friday. Possible rain on Friday. If that is still forecast in AM, I hope to do close to 20 tomorrow.

Happy trails!

Day 96 Millbrook-Blairstown Rd to Culvers Gap (14.4 miles) 1322.0 miles total

Hope everyone had a great Independence Day.

My walking stick has lost at least 6″ of length from 1300 miles of pounding. Left it with Tom last night so he could devise a fix so it lasts to Maine. He added a wooden extension and a screw to bottom. Looks cool and worked great!

Tom, Amy, and Stella took us out to trail this AM. I say us because I had my first “guest hiker” (Mike). They stayed after dropping us off to provide trail magic. Had about a dozen hikers stop in. Really thrilled that my friends are so enthusiastic to do that. Pretty sure they would all say it’s fun and rewarding. Thanks, guys!

Mike did well on hike. I cut him no slack and he was able to keep pace! Certain he was glad we didn’t have 5 more miles.

Tom, Teri, Carli, and Warren met us on trail about 3 miles from destination at a spot Tom used to camp at 30 years ago. Surprised he could find it as pretty overgrown now. Pic below is at Purple Rock.

Culver Lake, our destination, in background.

Gyps Tavern is 1/4 mile off trail and well known to hikers. Very welcoming. They’re a bit off on mileage for this year but it’s the thought that counts!

Had a big group show up at Gyps for lunch and a drink…or 2+!

Still hiking out of John and Jen’s house in Lake Hopatcong. Will have to cut the cord and get back to reality on Friday. Hopefully I can still carry a full pack.

Happy trails!

Day 95 PA 611 to Millbrook-Blairstown Rd (14.0 miles) 1307.6 miles total 

Got a ride back out to trail from Rick. PA quickly in the rear view. 7 states down…7 to go! Next 4 (NJ, NY, CT, MA) should go by pretty quickly.

Rocks don’t magically end when you cross the border but are better.

Saw bear #3 today. It was going south about 20 yds off trail. Paid no attention to me. I even backtracked about 100 yds (hate doing that usually) hoping it would pose for a photo. Uncooperative. May have to use your imagination on this one!

You can see his head below if you look closely.

If you only know NJ from shows like the Sopranos, it’s way different here in NW Jersey. Lots of wildlife, forests, etc. Former neighbors, Jim and Mary Lynn) had a bear on their deck and there was one filmed swimming in Lake Hopatcong this week.

Below is Sunfish Pond, a glacial lake at 1400 ft elevation.

Some rock “statues” on the Pond.

Looking back to Delaware River. Pretty sure north end of photo is NY.

Not sure what this body of water is but pretty large and no development around it.

Dave picked me up at end of day. He actually got there more than an hour early and provided trail magic for 4 thru-hikers (plus me!). How cool is that?!  

Will hike a little over 14 miles today. End point for the day is right next to Gyp’s Tavern. Sounds as if there will be quite a few people meeting me there!

Happy trails!

Day 94 PA 33 to PA 611 (15.5 miles) 1293.6 miles total

Happy birthday, Dad!

Finally moving again. Arm is OK unless I bump it. Toe is OK unless I stub it. Of course both of the unless’ happened a couple times today.

Got a ride back out to Wind Gap, PA this AM from Jim. Hiking by 9. Most of day was on a ridge line so not a lot of ups and downs which is good.

Below is the Delaware River. It forms the border between PA and NJ.

Got into town of Delaware Water Gap, PA about 2:50. Dawn and Franco pulled up to give me a ride back within minutes.

Felt good to get some miles in today. Fewer than 900 miles to go!

Happy trails!

 

Day 93 Wind Gap, PA Zero Day 1278.1 miles total

Feeling better and weather forecast is good for tomorrow. Will be back on the trail then.

A few good downpours today. Glad I wasn’t hiking!

Happy trails!