Date: 2021-05-23
From: Wawayanda Shelter

To: Stealth site 
Miles today: 16.21
Weather: overcast clouds

About 7:30 last night a group of weekenders came to the shelter area to set up camp. Hilarity ensued. One guy somehow put up his tent inside out and another forgot his tent stakes. A lot of discussion ensued as the skies darkened. Eventually another hiker politely let them know that ¢hiker midnight¢ was sundown and that quiet would be appreciated. To their credit, the threesome quoted down as they fussed and fought with their gear. It was so hot, I couldn¢t fall asleep anyway and was mostly just cracking up. Then around 9:45 one of them headed cross-country to the privy and when they came back, couldn¢t find their camp. He actually circled my hammock twice, muttering to himself. I was dying. I rolled out at 6 am and took a side trail to park headquarters to load up on water as most the sources today came from ponds or swamps - negative, ghost rider. I had about 4 miles left of New Jersey before reaching the state line with New York. I had been shut out in NJ when it came to seeing deer, I saw lots of tracks, but no live ¢uns. About 1/2 mile from the last road crossing I spooked 4 white tails and breathed a sigh of relief - way to go NJ!Then just past the last road crossing I found Trail Magic/hilarity. There was a bag weighted down with rocks (pic above) that had my name on it. Inside was a note from Easy. He had printed out a Certificate of Completion for the EINJC and signed it. Also included was an AT buff that I¢ll wear with pride. That Easy took time to do all that AND drive however far he had to come just to leave that for me is something that I will never forget. I¢m glad he took my literal reading of his NJ suggestions as a challenge and ran with it. I had a blast doing it and loved my time in the Garden State. A lot of the day today consisted of rock climbs over small NY peaks with some great views down to the lakes below. I also had my first rebar climb where assist handles were sunk into the vertical face of a huge boulder. I kept looking for snakes, but was shut out. Around 11 I ran into a SOBO day hiker named Stan the Man and he handed me a frozen Powerade as a trail magic treat. I got to enjoy the drink an hour later while waiting for a creamery that was 1/4 off trail to open. I bought myself a chocolate shake and used the charging station and water station provided for hikers by the Bellvale Farm creamery. I set my sights on doing another 6 miles (stopping once for a long foot soak in a cold cream) and ended up at a stealth site on a ridge. The wind is helping keep the bugs to a minimum, but I am a little nervous as this is a high bear activity area. In fact, one of the trees from which I¢m hanging has old claw marks in the bark about 6 feet off the ground. This is fine. After another day with temps in the mid 80¢s, tomorrow is supposed to cool off significantly into the 60¢s which should make for a good hiking day. For the first time in my 6 weeks on the trail, I may actually get to town on Tuesday with an empty food bag!I go to bed as the first person to ever complete the EINJC.  I could see coming back here in the future to do it a second time  I hope your night proves to be bear-free!