Date: 2013-07-10
From: Pochuck shelter

To: Furnace Brook
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: overcast clouds

I've been having trouble getting motivated in the morning. This hike is just as much mental as physical and now is when the mental part really kicks in. The novelty has worn off; and we are tired of being sweaty, dirty, mosquito bait, having sore feet and sore legs. However, as Rachel, one of the section hikers from last night (part of the sister/teacher duo), told me - today's hike is a delight. Thank you New Jersey! We travel through a landscape that reminds me of a Albert Bierstadt painting - his Hudson River works, not the western. Shafts of sunlight illuminate ancient old growth trees. The interior views are calming and restful, the exterior are magnificent. The long climb up Wawayanda Mountain was also fun - big boulders and paths running the side of huge rock walls. It reminded me a little of Hocking Hills, only expanded 10 fold. I ran into a day hiker that told me to beware of the bear halfway up. 'Is he still up there', I asked. 'Well he was until the 45 summer camp kids arrived!'. I ran into those 45 summer camp kids - I settled myself on a rock until they all passed. Wild little 10 - 13 year olds - some of the girls so feminine in their little sandalsWe also went over the Pochuck Boardwalk and bridge. The boardwalk went on for a mile - the bridge was huge. I did a little checking and the cost was $800,000. Someone has a lot of money to spend! In any case, I did enjoy it.I stopped in for a quick stop at the Wawayanda shelter to check the log and see if anyone was around. I must be between bubbles, I rarely run into anyone. The field has been weeded out and the remaining seem to be hiking in tight-knit groups. My normal MO of hiking alone during the day and then enjoying the company of hikers in the evening does not seem to be in store for these Northern states. It's funny though, when I am in a town or in a hostel, I suddenly run into lots of hikers. Again, the changing face of the trail - I wonder what it will be like when I return for my 20th anniversary hike (no way! I'll be 80!).So, when I got to the shelter, I saw a couple of packs laying around but all was quiet. One person was sleeping in the shelter but there were more packs than just one. I took off my pack and looked around. All quiet... wierd. Finally I walked around to the opposite side and there was the picnic table with three people sitting. They were not talking so that's why I never realized they were there. Vagabond is an older lady whom I met back in TN or NC. I also was able to finally meet Beeman from the Caribean and TerBear, a SOBO hiker. TerBear just passed the GA bar exam and is now a lawyer. She actually turned down a job to do this hike! They asked if I was staying the night but I said no - I was determined to be in New York by the end of the day. It was only 3 PM and New York was maybe 5 miles away so it was totally doable. And so it is that I proudly announce I am now in my ninth state - yeah baby! New York! The guidebook advised that this section was misleading - it was full of hard rock climbs - and it was right. But the climb was so much fun! The rocks were dry and the views were great. Plus no mosquitoes made for a happy day!I stealth camped just below the state line next to a brook. The mosquitoes returned so I quickly set up camp and took a nice bath in the brook. No modesty left for this girl. I've been alone too long in the woods, I just strip down and wash up whereever, whenever.