Date: 2016-08-24
From: Brinks Road Shelter

To: Backpackers Campsite
Miles today: 19.5

August 24, 2016Backpackers Campsite  mile 890.9   19.5 miles hikedPretty Boy had a big day planned for himself, getting all the way to Delaware Water Gap, over 24 miles! Well, he just graduated from high school and has high school muscles. I saw a figure in the dark in the morning leaving, he nodded and was off. I wanted to get as close to Delaware Water Gap as I could today. DWG is in Pennsylvania!! and the trail goes right through town. I plan to stay at the Church of the Mountain Hostel. But I can¢t hike over 24 miles¢¦..yet. My decision to fill up my water in the morning was a grave mistake. I ALWAYS fill up the night before. It was dark, I had to use my headlamp, the blue blazes to the water source don¢t show up well in headlamp light. I got to the water source after loosing the trail 3 times, only to find it dry, I noticed more blazes and got to the second source, DRY, finally I noticed a surveyors tape and went there and beyond and finally found a small spring. Ugh, I had taken off my hat somewhere and lost it. I became really turned around trying to get back to my tent, no one was up so I couldn't even see a random headlamp in the distance. In the end, it got light enough that I recognized a few features and sheepishly got back to my tent. 45 minutes to get water!!! I will NEVER put off the getting water chore again! Newbie mistake. The hiking day turned out very nice, lots of ridge walking, gravel roads another fire tower. I stopped at Catfish Tower for lunch and was entertained by a Penn State Orientation Group. They are all nervous and not trying to show nervousness at all. Like they have already done the whole college thing. The views are endless, New Jersey looks so flat and it really is. The elevation changes are minor, mountains consist of 800 foot climbs and that is for the MONSTER NJ mountains. However for having so many wetland and pond areas, there is very little water. I am going to need yet another water bottle. I stopped at Sunfish Pond and enjoy the hundreds of rock sculptures at pond¢s edge. I met a family out for a day hike, we chatted a bit. I didn't get any of the snacks that they were munching, but I did get the now familiar ¢you are by yourself???¢ and the crazy look that follows. ¢yes, I am¢ - awkward looks - I¢m thinking, why? are you going to gang up and take my smelly pack, moldy wraps and sweaty cheese?¢. I think not. Backpackers campsite is awesome!! It is huge and flat, there is a privy and a bear box. It sits up on the ridge with a great view of the valley, that night I can see town lights. The family walked by and the Dad sends his son to do something with a bag at the bear box. After they leave I put my food in the box and discover that they put their GARBAGE in the bear box. That¢s upsetting. What a horrible example for the kids. Do they think a garbage truck comes by once a week? If Pretty Boy were here, he would have taken the garbage and hunted them down, yelling ¢ITS CARRY IN, CARRY OUT!¢ I have to shake off my annoyance so I can enjoy the view and solitude, no one else but me here. You bring food on a hike, its in some sort of container. You eat the food and now the container weighs a fraction of what it did with the food. Why is it so difficult to take the now empty container home and put it in your trash? Sorry, I was really peeved. I will pack out the stupid garbage. Insect SOBO 201