Date: 2007-07-27
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Culvers Gap, US206
Miles today: 28.4

NOTE: One more reminder - on Friday (8/3) I'll be in Fishkill, NY having a few drinks with anyone who wants to join me. I'll be at Michael's Sports Bar on Route 9 (in the shopping plaza at the junction of Rt. 52), probably around 6:30pm or so. Stop on by and join me for a cocktail or two...Ah, my first day in NJ. I didn't start hiking until 10am or so - not because I had alot to do, but because I was lazy. This was the wrong day for that. I was getting picked up in the evening by Ally to spend the weekend relaxing - 28 miles away. That's a huge day! I was moving pretty well, and soon came upon a very picturesque pond, notable as the most southerly glacial pond along the AT. After taking a quick break, it was back to hiking. The rocks hadn't disappeared, but they weren't as bad as they had been. I continued to make good time, and expected to reach my destination around 9pm. I still couldn't believe I was in New Jersey, pumped by being this far north. It wass a pretty routine day, though I did see a mama bear and three cubs in the afternoon. Around 6:30 pm, I noticed the sky darkening quickly. It had been extremely humid all day, and I knew a thunderstorm was rolling in. By 7, the sky was so dark I needed to use my headlamp. With one mountain to head over, I picked up the pace and literally ran up and down the thing, not wanting to be caught in an exposed area during a lightning storm. With the sound of thunder all around me, I made record time over the mountain. Five miles to go...Soon the rain started. A strong, heavy downpour. My pace considerably slowed as the rain made the rocks slick, the trail muddy. Plus, my visibility was cut to about 10 feet between the darkness, the rain and the heavy mist. It was all I could do to stay on the trail. What I didn't plan on was the trail running along an exposed ridge. With the thunderstorm directly over me, I found an area just off the ridge and decided to wait out the worst of the storm. One place you don't want to be is on a rock face with little vegetation, where you're the tallest object, with lightning falling all around. So I hung out just off the ridge, getting completely soaked, watching a brilliant light and sound show. It was...exciting. And a bit scary. When I figured the lightning had passed me by, I ventured onto the ridge. I had no idea how long it ran. Like I did a bit earlier, I ducked down and jogged along the ridge, trying to get off it as soon as possible. Well, the lightning hadn't passed. It was still cracking overhead, it was still pouring, I still couldn't see ahead of me, and I was in a dangerous situation. I found a small stand of short trees, and laid down at the edge of them. This would reduce my profile, and the risk of getting struck by lightning. I was cold, soaked, and just wanted the day to finish with me alive at the end of it. Finally, I judged it was as safe as it was going to be. So I got up again and moved as fast as I could. After 10 minutes or so, I was off the ridge (as best as I could determine, not being able to see much around me.) Often guessing on the direction of the trail, given the fog, mist, rain and darkness obscuring the trail markers, I finally made it to Culvers Gap around 11pm. I walked into the bar where Ally and I were to meet, dripping wet, smelling, and not caring what anybody thought. Ally wasn't there yet (she was lost), so I grabbed a beer, a burger and a whole pizza, changed into wet, but less smelly clothes, and hung out for awhile. I chatted with a few patrons, got some very interesting looks from others, and eventually made the trip home to Yonkers when Ally found the bar. It was good to be home!!! What a long, exciting day!