Date: 2014-06-17
From: mohican outdoor center

To: rt 206 branchville, nj
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: scattered clouds

I left this morning fairly early knowing that i only had @18 miles to go by 5 but i wanted to make sure i wasnt late for my ride so i gave myself plenty of time. To avoid the thirst i suffered yesterday i drank a quart of water and put two quarts in my camelback, that should be enough to get me to the next good source. As soon as i got on the trail i saw a bear looking at me. It wasnt a huge one but im not counting size, only quantity. I can totally see how people try and get close to them, they look all doofey and cute. I wish i had a jar of honey, maybe i would have lured him in. I had no honey so i kept walking. Two miles in i got to the catfish firetower so i clumb it to get a better view. The breeze was great and i could see for a very long way. Im gonna sound like a snob but the views cant compete with the mountain areas. Its nice and its pretty but its just not the same. At the tower i met a fella that worked for the atc and his dog, hank. They were only out for a couple days but nice to talk to, and pet. After a bit i came to a pretty good size beaver pond, not common thus far on the trail, in fact i dont believe i have seen one yet. There really havent been many ponds of any type so far. I sat and watched for a while to with hopes to see something but no, nothing. 7 hot miles in i got to the blue mt lakes rd where there is a pump we can use to get us some water. I was glad of this because i was getting low. Hmmmm, the pump appears broken, not the best. I was 4.5 miles from the next possibility. Could this really be happening? Not liking new jersey. The trail signs are terrible/ non-existant, the water sources are shakey at best and the trail remains rocky. Onward i would go, out of water. Once i got close to the place there was supposed to be water i took a break, i was hungry and needed a sit down for a minute. I ate two baby ruth bars, they have protein so they are good for you. I set off for water and was glad to see a decent stream with fairly clear water when i got there. I filtered a quart, drank it, filtered another, put it in my camelback, filtered another and drank it. I had six miles to go so i ended up putting a bit more in my camelback so this wouldnt happen again. It was hot so i had been drinking a lot of water, when i had it. Next was rattlesnake mt. Its just a nub bit its all big rocks that looked like just the place i should see some rattlers. No luck, none were seen. I passed right by the last shelter of the day, i just wanted to get to the road and wait for Jon to fetch me. Across the last bit of ridge i walked over lots of open stone, still looking for snakes i only saw one little garter snake. It seemed like just the place i would be if i was the worlds biggest rattler. Just before i started to drop down the hill toward town i spotted something very exciting, BLUEBERRIES. Fruit is healthy, thats why they call it fruit. I ate a few, they were not so ripe yet. I left the rest for the bears. As i was heading down the hill a girl was coming up barefoot. As we passed i said she was crazy, she laughed. She looked like she was a runner and was carrying running shoes, i dont know why she chose to take em off. She yelled back to me, "hay, have you seen a curly haired girl up there?" Nope, no girls of any hair type, she looked concerned. Not ten minutes later i see a curly haired girl coming up the trail. She was looking for her friend that had gone the wrong way. I told her where i saw her and said she should be able to catch her up quick. The curly haired girl had on shoes, a distinct advantage. I almost offered to drop my pack and run up the hill, almost. I made my way down to the road to find i was only feet from 'Joe to Go' convenient store. Unconveniently, they were closed, what horror was this? I walked to the tavern down the road to get three bottles of soda. One orange, one sprite, one lemonade, i was happy. I walked back to the Joe store and waited. I was about an hour early so i typed some journal entries, always a chore to do. Jon and his daughter kelly picked me up and we were headed back to his place for a great night of chatting. Dini was there by the time we got back and was fixin up some dinner, enough for twelve people. We had chicken and pasta and it was really good. I had just enough that i was happy, not stuffed. We had dessert too, pie and ice cream, mmmmm. Thankfully there was some chicken left so i could take some for lunch tomorrow, im fancy like that. We sat around and talked till after eleven! That was the latest i had been up at night the entire time on the trail. I said good night to Jon, Dini, and the kids, Kelly and Anny. It was nice to hang out and talk, they are good folks. The bed i was to sleep in was massive and comfortable with all the fixins, even pillows. Im always glad when i dont have to use my clothes bag for a pillow. I was definitely pampered and felt a little bad for my fellow hikers. They would be jealous if they knew where i was. I will tell them all about it tomorrow, sweet dreams.