Here's the thing about the AT in New Jersey: it passes towns more often than it passes shelters. Which makes it all too easy to fall into the habit of hotel-ing it every night. It goes something like this:
July 9: early start, pass Funky Town on the way out. Immediately see that your decision to stealth camp rather than push on to the campsite was wise, since the terrain is STEEP. And rocky. Come to a road mile 10 where you had planned to eat at a diner. See that the diner is closed. See that it has started raining. Remember how miserable carrying a heavy, wet tent is. Hitch into Branchville and stay in a hotel.
July10: get ride back to trail. Hike over steep, rocky terrain, surrounded by your own personal swarm of mosquitoes in hot, humid weather. See that the terrain has given way to wetlands with boardwalks. Meaning more mosquitoes. Oh wait- we are back to rocks. Emerge at a road at mile 14. See that Road Runner has decided to go to a hotel, as he is completely exhausted. Go with him.
July 11: take a zero day in Port Jervis. Spend the entire day in bed.
July 12: take another zero day. Spend the entire day in bed.
*What is going on here? Weren't the mid-Atlantic states supposed to be easy? Weren't we supposed to be pushing BIG miles? How are we ever going to finish at this rate?*
July 13: make a push for a 20 mile day. Wear long pants to protect yourself from bugs as there is lots of swamp walking today.
July 9: early start, pass Funky Town on the way out. Immediately see that your decision to stealth camp rather than push on to the campsite was wise, since the terrain is STEEP. And rocky. Come to a road mile 10 where you had planned to eat at a diner. See that the diner is closed. See that it has started raining. Remember how miserable carrying a heavy, wet tent is. Hitch into Branchville and stay in a hotel.
July10: get ride back to trail. Hike over steep, rocky terrain, surrounded by your own personal swarm of mosquitoes in hot, humid weather. See that the terrain has given way to wetlands with boardwalks. Meaning more mosquitoes. Oh wait- we are back to rocks. Emerge at a road at mile 14. See that Road Runner has decided to go to a hotel, as he is completely exhausted. Go with him.
July 11: take a zero day in Port Jervis. Spend the entire day in bed.
July 12: take another zero day. Spend the entire day in bed.
*What is going on here? Weren't the mid-Atlantic states supposed to be easy? Weren't we supposed to be pushing BIG miles? How are we ever going to finish at this rate?*
July 13: make a push for a 20 mile day. Wear long pants to protect yourself from bugs as there is lots of swamp walking today.
Actually, there is a lovely section of protected wetlands at the end with very few mosquitoes.
Finish in Vernon, NJ where you stay at a hostel.
July 14: hitch back to the trail. Begin the day with a hot, sweaty climb that goes on and on and on. But at least has a mice view
July 14: hitch back to the trail. Begin the day with a hot, sweaty climb that goes on and on and on. But at least has a mice view
Miss the turn off trail to the state park where your friend is waiting for you with bagels. Walk an extra mile to get there. Hang out in the park for 2 1/2 hours. Start the afternoon late, but finally make it out of NJ
Who ever would have thought New Jersey would be so hard?
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