Date: 2005-06-13
From: Gren Anderson Shelter

To: Secret Shelter
Miles today: 19.3

Miles hiked today : 19.318.3 AT miles + 0.5 mile of side trail + 0.5 wrong way mileI woke up this morning at 6:30 a.m. and was packed and hiking at 7:25 a.m. I reached a pavilion at 8:25 a.m. and at 9:55 a.m., I arrived at Mashipacong Shelter. I stayed for a 20 minute rest break and then hiked down a woods road for 1/4 mile before realizing that I was going the wrong way. I doubled back to the shelter and it took a moment to determine that the shelter was hiding the northbound route.At 10:30 a.m., I arrived at a nearly empty water cache at Deckertown Turnpike, courtesy of a local named shelter maintainer Desperado. I filtered 1.5 liters before moving on at 10:50 a.m. At 85 degrees, it was extremely hot and my right ankle had begun to develop a sore spot where the boot was rubbing. Due to the unpleasant hiking circumstances, I was highly interested in reaching High Point State Park, my intended lunch stop.I passed the side trail to Rutherford Shelter at 12:00 p.m. and arrived at High Point State Park at 1:10 p.m. I sat outside the ranger's office for an 1 hour, 15 minute break, during which I ate, drank 2 liters of water, and taped up the raw spot on my right foot.Despite the medical tape, my foot was hurting and given that the extreme heat was causing me to sweat, I was having a problem with posterior chafing, a.k.a. "monkey butt." I passed an observation platform at 3:00 p.m., climbed it, and looked for New York City, which was supposed to be visible in the distance, though I couldn't see it. Continuing on, I passed the side trail to High Point Shelter at 3:35 p.m. and took a 5 minute rest break at 3:40 p.m., as my back was sore.   At 4:40 p.m. I took another 5 minute rest break, as my pack was annoying me to no end. The site of my break, near a pond, had 5 cows blocking the trail and, as I rested, they became very curious and eventually came too close for comfort. At that point, I stood up and clacked my trekking poles together and called out, 'There's nothing to see here, move along!', which caused them to disperse.At 4:55 p.m., I reached Ferguson Road, which marks the beginning of the 25.0 mile stretch of trail that follows the New York / New Jersey border until the trail fully enters New York. At 5:50 p.m., I reached the "Secret Shelter," happy that it was time to take off my boots. The tape on my right ankle had been rubbed off, which means I'll have to tape it more carefully tomorrow.The shelter and privy appear to be the only usable structures in the immediate area. If the owner of the land, Jim Murray, lives on this piece of land, then it must be up the driveway that extends into the woods. After lounging around for a bit, I took a cold shower and then cooked dinner, during which I was treated to the sounds of of a pair of braying donkeys. At one point, they were standing on their back legs and either fighting or playing with their front legs. Quite amusing! After dinner, I journaled and then pitched my tent, as the mosquitos came out to "play" once the sun went down. I would have liked to stay out and watch the fireflies, though the constant biting of the mosquitos is too much.Tomorrow is a shorter day at a little less than 15 miles, which will see me into Unionville, NY for my maildrop and then into Vernon, NJ for laundry and a stay at a church hostel.Bedtime at 10:10 p.m.