Date: 2006-06-09
From: Pochuck Mountain Shelter

To: Vernon, NJ
Miles today: 6.5

June 9, Vernon, NJAhhh, I'm clean, I have clean clothes, I have full belly. I'm at the hostel at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. And the weather is pleasant. Start. Woke up this morning at a slip before five. Raggamuffin looked like she was awake but not out of her bag. The shelter faces east and the sun was peeking through the trees. I went and got the food bags for the ladies since I knew they were planning to get up early. Made the usual breakfast, you already know it by now, instant coffee and muesli. There was a nip in the air. But I braved it, the tank went on. By the time I was ready to head out, everyone was awake, but I knew Rocky and Swamp Fox won't be moving too soon. Hit the official AT at 6:15. It was a beautiful cool morning. And up Pochuck Mountain I went. 400 foot elevation change in one mile. Not too bad, but they sure are uncomfortable on a full tummy. I like to pre-hydrate before heading on the trail, about one liter. Got to the top and there was a view. It was a sight. Rolling hills and green trees as far as I could see. Then the bumpy descent to NJ94. This stretch is awesome. The trail experience compressed and a bonus. There was a walk in the woods. No rain means bugs. I swatted mosquitoes but the caterpillars weren't awake yet. Then stroll across puncheons, where I swatted mosquitoes and dodged poison ivy. A rose scented stretch and the bonus. A walk OVER the Pochuck Swamp. In 2002 the NY-NJ trail Conference rerouted a section of the trail onto a near one mile wide swamp instead of walking on the road. They and the AC built a boardwalk across the whole thing. Cattails, birds, deer. One drowned vole. I moved him off the walk. So sad. But the sun was shining, the bird were singing and flying around. No mosquitoes. No poison ivy. And least we forget a walk through a meadow soggy from the rain full of meadow muffins. Rocky shared last night how Swamp Fox thought one was a rock on the last leg and stepped on it. Ewe. And then NJ94. Socks full of cow dung water, checked the books and the description was, this is where I head into town. It's 2.4 miles to town. I was ready to hoof it but when I heard a vehicle behind me, I stuck out my thumb. Lucky me, I probably walked about a tenth of a mile. A New Yorker in the town next door (literally) was headed to Vernon. He told me he likes to pick up the hikers because he enjoys finding out where we all come from. He also told me I had to go to a restaurant in town called the Mixing Bowl for breakfast. After all, it was only ten in the morning. He dropped me off at the church, a nice lady showed me where they let the hikers stay and I got permission to use the kitchen. I got down here and there was Tent-Peg Greg, trying to leave. A south bounding section-hiker, The Professor. He was trying to leave also. They let me know the schlick. The shower takes ten minutes to get hot water. The washer and dryer are in the same place as the bathroom. Free hiker box. A "For Sale" box. Location of the donation box. I told them I wanted to get to the post office before the rain hit. They showed me the map the church has next to the sign in sheet and off I went. I detoured by the Mixing bowl and had two eggs, potatoes, four strips of bacon, toast, orange juice and coffee. And a newspaper. Back at the hostel, TentPeg and The Professor and I sat and chatted. These guys are young. I told them if Rocky and Swamp Fox showed up, I was going to cook dinner of spaghetti. They thought maybe they should stay another night. But in the long run, they left, trying to beat the evening rain. Swamp Fox and Rocky showed up and I went to the grocery store. It sure is interesting shopping in a different store then I'm used to. I found everything and a few more things. I have had a hankering for nuts. Rocky and I did the front end of the cooking and Swamp Fox did the clean up. Now, it is thundering outside, and rain is back. The National Weather station says this is what we should expect tomorrow. Since I'm finding out that I still have it in me, I don't want to run out of mileage before days out here, I'm thinking I'll do what TentPeg is doing, just go up the hill. Don't need to rush. We'll see how well I do going slow. Namaste'