Date: 2008-06-04
From: Gren Anderson Shelter, NJ

To: Stealth site 2 miles past High Point Shelter, NJ
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Oh what a day...ugh...rough. But first, it was 60 degrees when I woke, and last nite remember me writing about the worm poop sounding like light rain? Well, around 4:00 a.m., I woke up and thought, "Wow, those worms must REALLY need to crap," and I got up to water the leaves to find that it was actually raining! I have to hand it to mother nature, it was a beautiful transition from worm poop to rain. I didn't even notice the change over.So because it was raining @ 5:30 a.m. I decided to sleep till 6:00 and see if it stopped at all. It defnitely lightened up and had pretty much stopped by the time I stepped off @ 8:04 a.m.I didn't wear rain gear, because it was quite warm despite the wetness. It got into the 70's today, but was that wet, foggy gross weather that makes you feel soaked to the bone.Today was just one of THOSE days. I'm declaring it gear malfunction day. Everything just seemed hard.The trail had a few steep climbs and downs, but all of the rocks (yup, there are still rocky sections after PA) were super slick, and I was having to slow down because I about fell like 3 times.The orange salamanders were out in full force, which is always cool. There should have been a view on top of Sunrise Mt. but it was fog. There's a pavillion there with benches.I got to the Mashipacong Shelter and there's no water there, but there's one great privy. Actually manufactured by a company in MA. It was a composting privy with solar panels on it. You could hear something running. I also read Peter Pan's (Jack from JRB) register entry. So far he had counted 620 Chestnut Trees since Delaware Water Gap, PA.I moved on and saw a sign a bit further north for water, 1200 feet down the Iris Trail. I hate taking time to go way off the AT, but the next water was several miles away, so I walked FOREVER to this bridge. I got water, but it smelled a bit skunky (not as in actal skunk), so I hoped I wouldn't need to drink this stuff.I stopped for lunch around 12:45 p.m. on this cool little boulder that was perfect to sit and cook on. I'm diggin the "Sailor Lunch" (where you make your hot meal at noon). I have been craving steak fajitas, guacamole, chips & salsa so much! I had a taco seasoned mac-n-cheese, so I used the skunky water (because it would also be boiled) and it was actually really great. I also put my crocks on, because my water logged feet needed some air.Hiking on trail that is so overgrown means when you hike, it's like getting a shower, My shirt was soaked, shoes and socks too of course.I took about 1 hr for lunch, which is good rest for my achng feet.I finally passed the trail to get to the next shelter, and knew I had about 3.5 more hrs of hiking left. I got down the mountain and ended up @ the High Point State Park Hdqt, where I used an actual flushig toilet and filled up with water. After I headed out, and tasted the water it was like YUCK! So many places have water that taste like rusty pipes. I need iron, but not this way.I got to the top of High Point Mountain where there's a platform that you can see the NYC skyline on a CLEAR day, but not today. I did notice that my right (and only my right) butt-cheek was soaking wet, but it hadn't been raining. I discovered one of my canteens sprung a leak @ the top on a seam...argh! I've got patches, but this is a weird place, so we'll see if they work @ camp.It was a beautiful hike (but very steep in one spot) down to High Point Shelter. I knew I needed to hike 1 hr past this shelter to do 15 miles, but again, the guidebook and topos are different wth road placement. It doesn't really change anything though.So I hiked on and found a nice place to stealth camp. I was exhausted again, it was a hard 15 miles for some reason. I set up camp and went to bearbag, and got my damn rope stuck and had to cut almost half of it off! Of all places..in NJ to have a really short rope! So I had to throw it, and then use a stick to grab the end while trying to hang on to the other end. I got it high enough, but a smart bear could climb the tree right next to it and grab my whole bag. Ugh..what a day (it also took me forever to find a good rock and get the now very short rope over the branch).On top of this, my attitue was crappy today. I feel slow, my feet hurt constantly, and I'm tired of being wet. There! HOW'S THAT for whining?!It's a little disheartening when these guys fly by you just skipping and hopping along like this is so easy. Every step is hard for me...it just is. The first journal I found was by a woman named Nina Baxley, she was writing for GORP magazine online. She did a SOBO and talked a lot about how she didn't understand why she got up earlier, hiked later, took less breaks, and yet, so many people still made better time, as if it is so easy. Well, I understand how she feels. Luckily, I know that I simply have to keep walking, and I'll get there eventually. I have zero interest in competing with anybody, it's a ridiculous notion from my point of view, but sometimes you wish for an easier day. Ahh...the AT, you take it as it is unconditionally, or you go home right? Well, I'm NOT going home!Normally I'd call Karen after I'm tucked in, but of course, no cell reception tonight. She always talks me out of my funk, so I guess it's up to me tonight. It's 65 degrees @ 7:52 p.m. and my eyes are closing involuntarily. Thank God tomorrow is a new day.~Certain