Date: 2013-02-26
From: Delaware Water Gap Visitor Center

To: Worthington State Forest backpacker campground
Miles today: 0.0

(In which I decide to go for a walk, don't do trail magic, and do something else nice)I'm not quite at Springer Mountain walking to Maine yet, but with this journal I go from "preparation" to "trail" status. At this point, I have no more preparations to do. My bag is packed and complete, my Amtrak ticket from Trenton to Atlanta was bought a while ago, and the central focus of my world is now about being in motion. (You could argue that has also been the central focus of my world with all the dancing, but I'm sure I'll have more time to muse on that later!)Yesterday was my first would-be workday that was not. I spent the morning doing something not unlike my job - working on a map. I have been fleshing out my trail-dancing plans. I am in the process of adding all the major crossroads to my map, and measuring the distances from those crossroads to nearby dances. This information is going on the map, as well as in a document that lists the crossroad, AT milepost, nearby dance communities, the distances to those communities, and the days of the week / month the dances occur there. This is a lengthy process and I have gotten as far north as Harper's Ferry. Past that point the Trail reaches the edges of my home dancing range, and I am less concerned about performing all those tasks for those dances if I already know I will have support there.Last night I wound up going to my first blues dance that wasn't a house party. I have wanted to really step out and try blues dancing for a while. It's fortunate and unfortunate that I finally found the opportunity to give it a try at the last possible dance before I leave. It was a small crowd and there were more leads than follows, but I was able to step out of my comfort zone and partner with strangers who were already experienced in this form of dance. I got home very late, but I still planned to go to the Delaware Water Gap today. I woke fairly well rested at nine - I feel more purpose waking up for a hike than for work, so I was able to wake up and immediately get moving. I probably should have eaten before leaving, but I could also argue that I had ice cream for breakfast at midnight!I originally planned to fill my pack with food to leave at the Worthington State Forest backpacker campground, but I decided I would not do that. It will be a while until the thru-hikers arrive there. I know one of the two bear boxes was free of mice, but that intel came from a ridgerunner over a year ago, and that might not be the case now. It would be a shame to see trail magic go to mice or weekenders. Beside, that campground is only a few miles out of Delaware Water Gap, PA and its resupply opportunities. While trail magic is always welcome, I imagine it would not be the most opportune place to leave plenty of non-perishable food.Shortly after leaving home and driving up NJ Route 31, I spotted someone walking north with a tremendous backpack. With the journey I have before me, there was no choice in my mind beyond offering them a ride. Their only destination was north - this guy is from Florida and lost their job there, and he's been walking, hitchhiking, and hopping trains north since then. The conversation was mostly one-sided, with the hitchhiker talking about his rough treatment headed north. It doesn't surprise me to hear that things have been rough while headed through my area. I watched two patrol cars traveling the other direction slow down and look him over closely just before I pulled over to offer a ride. I don't mind the conversation being rather one sided in cases like this. I can picture it being similar when I'm hitchhiking near the Trail, wanting to relate my stories and offer some entertainment to those that are helping me out.I dropped the hitchhiker off at a truck stop shortly before the Delaware Water Gap. I'm glad I was able to help them get 50 miles further north and into a much better spot for hitchhiking. From there it was a few miles west on Interstate 80 to the trailhead. I didn't walk too long, just five hours covering about ten miles. There are some nice spots up north, but the Delaware Water Gap is the one I have known of longer than the others and is still my favourite. (Splitrock Reservoir is my second favourite, if anybody cares to know.) I've covered all the trails in the Water Gap multiple times in all weather. The bare trees and mud don't lend themselves to great photography, so I didn't bother to shoot photos I've already taken in more photogenic conditions and just focused on testing myself on actual, white blazed miles.I walked up to the Worthington State Forest backpacker campground. I've stayed there a few nights before, but it isn't a great place for a hammock since the trees are not dense here and there is plenty of low growth around them. Still, it has bear boxes and a privy, and sometimes has a New Jersey - New York Trail Conference ridgerunner. I signed the register as Shepherd, GAME with only one day on the Trail and the promise that I will be back in a few months. I flipped back through the last few pages and wasn't surprised to see scarce activity over the winter. The last thru-hikers to sign were from mid-October, and were all MEGA.Today's trip was a great way for me to burn off some of the energy that has built up with my excitement. My pack was pretty comfortable, and will certainly become even more bearable as I eat my way through the tremendous amount of food in it. (I stuffed some extra energy bars and chocolate-covered coffee beans into it, bringing me up to maybe 22,000 calories and at least 13 pounds of food!) The weather was in the mid-30s to lower 40s and the wind varied from calm to about 15mph. With my kilt, long-sleeved shirt, and lightweight base layer I was comfortable while walking. I was a bit cool walking downhill while the wind was active, or when I took off my pack and took a break. While walking uphill for long stretches I warmed up, but I didn't feel the need to stop and remove one of my shirts. Of course, this is New Jersey in late February. Georgia in March will be different for sure, but I am as ready as I can be! I look forward to finding myself atop Springer Mountain on Saturday.Peace,