Date: 2003-07-29
From: NJ 23 (Highpoint State Park)

To: Pochuck Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: broken clouds

7/29 High Point State Park to Pochuck Mountain Shelter - 14.1 milesThe stealth camping mission was successful. We didn't get caught and I slept pretty good despite the creature lurking around, the geese, frogs and occasional truck speeding by.After utilizing their restrooms I was off. My first stop was at an observation deck where you could observe the Highpoint Monument. Apparently there is a side trail to get to the higest point in NJ, but I couldn't find it. I guess observing the highest point in NJ, and not hiking it, will have to do for me.My next stop was at the secret shelter. It was a great spot to sit and relax and eat lunch at. The owner hiked in '89 and his name is Shooter because he is into photography. He took several pictures of No Pepsi, Skidmark and her dog Frodo and me. He is going to try and leave them for us up the trail in a couple days. He also has two donkeys on his property and one sure makes a racket. I really wanted to take a longer break at this great spot but I had a maildrop to pickup and No Pepsi kept talking about cheeseburgers so we moved on to Unionville, NY.A note about water. I have yet to get water from an untreated source in NJ and NY. There are many spigots and pumps along the trail which has made the water situation very good. I just hope it continues through NY.In Unionville we stopped at the Backtrack Inn and ate what I considered to be 1st dinner. Finally we left town at 5. On the way to this shelter we had to walk through a wetlands/wildlife preserve. First off, it is a loop and we probably ended up hiking 7/10ths of this loop. Second, the mosquitoes were relentless. Despite bug dope, bug nets and flailing hiking poles they still managed to attack us. I'm guessing AT hikers are probably the only people that walk this little path and that is why they make us use it. It would be nicer to walk the road and the small 3/10ths of this loop. Other funny thing is that dogs are only allowed on the AT portion of the loop. So if you wanted to walk your dog you couldn't even hike the entire loop, you'd have a doubly long walk. So strange. No Pepsi spotted 2 deer in the marshy mosquito land. Even after we left that park we were walking on planks through swampland and the bugs were still bad. There is a big crowd here tonight. Strider, Baloo, Skidmark, Frodo, Bucky, No Pepsi, Jay and his sister Leah, and another couple we don't know yet are all here.Moo and 42 have a great bear story. I'm sure they will write it in their journal (which is also on trailjournals). But I'll recap their register entry anyway. They woke up at 5:30am to a bear sleeping next to their tent. They got a picture and then 42 attempted to scare it away with her hiking poles. The bear moved about 20 feet away and sat down again. Then the bear went over to the privy, got on its hind legs and opened it. Then the bear circled the shelter a few times waiting for breakfast and it eventually walked away. How scary would it be to have a sleeping bear that close to you. I'd be afraid to wake it as it could get grumpy and swipe at the tent or something. I'm hoping the large crowd and Frodo will keep the bear away tonight. I'd love to see one, I just don't want it to be that close.