Date: 2010-07-20
From: Ken-Etiwa-Pic

To: Lake Tiorati
Miles today: 78.0

Well once again I have fallen way behind in my journal... lots has happened so I'll attempt to recap quickly before I get too far behind to catch up.Well, we survived the night at the boy scout camp after all. And despite the initial creepiness o it all, it turned out to be a good night - and I opened my eyes this morning to view a beautiful sunrise over the pond that I could see from inside my tent. The morning got a bit more exciting when I heard McGyver start screaming. I looked over to see a bear had joined her at the picnic table for breakfast (and had helped himself to her breakfast) and was reluctant to leave (what can I say - we are good company!). LJ finally threw a rock at him so Mr. Bear decided to take his leave. McGyver got a bit more excitement later on when we were all at Culvers Fire Tower and a big rattlesnake sate right by her pack. That was actually the 2nd rattlesnake I had seen that day. Overall day was tough - over 22 miles over pretty rocky, difficult terrain and super hot temperatures. Serenitina, LJ, One Life and myself all trudged into camp just before dark exhausted and ready for bed. Unfortunately the shelter was a half mile off trail and straight down into a mosquito pit. I am officially off planning duty - haha!Saturday morning we were all feeling a bit better after a good nights sleep (aside from a creaking tree nearby that would randomly crack during the night as if it were about to fall!) and we had a nice lazy morning and didn't head out until about 9. Was a scorcher and was sweating lots in the heat and humidity. Water (as often these days) was something we had to ration and keep an eye on - which is really hard to do when the sweat is pouring off you walking up hills in 100 degree weather! Luckily an '89 thru hiker, Jim Murray, lives just off the trail and lets hikers use his water spicit (sp?) and even has a little indoor kitchen with a fan so myself, LJ and Serenitina got a little respite from the cray heat! And we had a short day of 12 miles, arrived in Unionville and met up with my mom and dad who were down to visit for a couply days! They met us and gave us each a soda and beer which was great relief after the hot day and brought us over to Vernon, NJ for the night.Sunday morning, Ma and Pa Lobster dropped me, Serenitina and LJ off in Unionville where we slackpacked the 12 miles back to Vernon. Was was alright - much of it was flatish and along a boardwalk in a bird preserve. Another very hot day and once again lived up to my trail name! When we finished our slackpack around 2, met mom and dad who had a tent set up in the parking lot. Tent was a super idea and was full of hikers attempting to escape the midday sun. So we all hung out there til probably bout 5:30 where we met many hikers coming through - and finally caught up again with Joe and Wood Wrangler. Dad shuttled people from the trail to town a few times and then we got some take away food and hung out at the motel. Was so good to see my parents and as always went by far too quickly! About 9:30, got a call from Red Stick that he had just arrived in Vernon so we went back out there to give him a lift and to give a little late night trail magic to him, beaver Chief, Chopstix and Soul Patch.Onto Monday... what a day... Well got up, ready and had a lovely breakfast with my parents and hiker friends. As we were eating, the skies darkened and opened up with thunderstorms but it passed over quickly and we thought how lucky we were able to have missed it... so we thought. There was a tough climb out of Vernon but a rewarding view once we reached the top. Was a very hot day but had a great time hiking with LJ. Funny story actually - had been hiking with LJ all day and stopped briefly to pee but said we would meet up for lunch on Prospect Rock after crossing into New York. So I got there and didn't see him so I was walking and walking and walking... and walking. So I finally decided I was starving and it was nearly 3 (and figured I must have somehow walked by him) so I sat down and started having my lunch. A few minutes later Creed Diver came by so chatted with her for a bit and she walked on. About 10 seconds later I heard her stop again (literally around the corner) and low and behold LJ was sitting about 20 ft. away having his lunch so we busted out laughing about that! Well after that the day got interesting... New York had loads of exposed ridgeline rocks for us to walk across which of course cued the thunderstorms to roll in. We walked as fast as we could trying to make it to Rt. 17A where we knew there was an ice cream shop near the trail. We could see the dark cloud coming out way and it descended on top of us causing the whole forest to be eerily still... we made it to the road and the sky looked to be brightening up - which was the very moment the rain dumped on us and lightning began striking all around us. ({I'd like to mention not one single car pulled over to see if we wanted any help as the lightning was striking and we were hitting the deck.). Well, I'm sure you know how fond I've become of lightning so as it was striking near us I became very aware of my metal pack and poles, ducked down, dropped my poles (LJ - bless him - picked them up for me) and sprinted in the down-pour to the ice cream shop. A few hikers came in and decided to duck out to hotels because of more storms rolling in that night - but LJ and I waited there for 2 nearly hours for our crew who never showed up (turns out everyone had their misadventures behind us with lightning, exposed ridgelines, hail and slippery rocks). Around 7:30 we figured they must have gone on and not stopped for water at the ice ream shop - and since we still had 2 miles to the shelter, it would be getting dark soon and another storm was coming in, we headed to the shelter where we got caught in another storm but made it in the end, but the rest of our group never made it in that night. Luckily everyone was safe - if not soaked and frazzled by the lightning.Which brings us to today! Ah New York... how I dislike thee (no offense - just think it must be in my blood being from Boston). Today was TOUGH! I don't know what it was but the terrain was really difficult (agony grind), we were all zapped of energy from all the drama yesterday and everything just seemed to take much longer than it should have (reminded me slightly of coming down Clingman's Dome). The Lemon Squeeze and a vertical rock climb were also thrown in at the end of the day for good measure (there was a blue blaze around the vertical climb labeled 'The Easy Way' - as if!!! We (Serenitina, LJ and myself) arrived at Lake Tiorati just before dark (again) where we cooked some dinner and a lovely police officer gave us some info on good camping spots so had a great evening here even if I'm quite tired.