Date: 2009-07-06
From: Lott Rd, Unionville

To: 1 mi. past Wawayanda Shelter
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: few clouds

I was happy to be back on the trail once again (and even happier that Butch drove me to the trailhead this time! ). Today¢s hike first took me through forest, then along roads, fields, wetlands, mosquito-infested bogs, and almost a mile of beautiful boardwalk. After nearly 12 miles, I came to NJ 94, upon which ¢Heaven Hill Farm¢ was located! It was my first goal point of the day. I perused the farm store and bought a cinnamon doughnut and coffee. Then, I went out to find the farm animals. I saw goats, a turkey fluffed up like I¢ve never seen before (and with the ugliest face), cute, shy donkeys, and a goose that looked like it had a tumor on its head! After I was finished with my animal visit, I went back to the store for an ice cream sundae. Many more hikers had gathered by that time. I eventually packed up and made my way up Wawayanda Mountain. On the climb, I lost the trail due to a downed tree with a white blaze on it, and ended up climbing over huge fallen trees to a false summit. I had no idea where to go next! I decided to drop my pack and go back until I found a white blaze. I was startled by the freedom I felt without my pack! I felt like a fairy! I decided that after I finished the AT, it might be nice to do a day hike without my pack!   Nearing the top of the mountain, now on the correct path, I heard a noise in the growth ahead of me. Immediately, I knew it was a bear (although I could not have known as it was still too far away to be seen). I had been reading about everyone else¢s bear encounters in New Jersey (the bear¢s nose would pop up in front of them as they were eating, or they would appear in the blueberry bushes), but I had seen none, which disappointed me. I was in my last few miles of New Jersey and knew that my chances of seeing another bear on this journey would greatly diminish once I left this state. I crested the hill and looked toward my right. I could not believe it when I saw three cubs scurrying up a tree at the command of their mother, about 50-70 yards away from me. I had seen video that Mischa had taken of bear cubs climbing and descending a tree and really wanted my own! Now was my chance! I got out my camera, set it to video mode, and started recorded. However, the bears were so far away that the video was not very good. As I tried to take a photo, the mother growled at me and stamped her feet. ¢It¢s okay...¢ I told her, trying to calm her down. I just wanted a picture. Then I thought better, and skiddadaled away...I was so thankful that I was able to see these cubs, even it I wasn¢t able to capture the moment. It was very special to me.      I stopped in at Wawayanda Shelter to cook dinner. Several hikers were coming in, including Stonebrown, Rock Lobster and Walkabout. Squeegie and her group were thinking about staying at Wawayanda State Park, as there was no water source at this shelter. I decided to check it out as well. However, after much reading of fine print, Sunbeam determined that it was not legal for us to camp there. They were going to find a place along the sidetrail to set up their tents. I decided to keep walking for a bit. I found a place to set up my hammock about a mile down the trail and decided to tie my URsack to a tree because of the bears in the vicinity (normally, I just put my foodbag in my backpack and place it under my hammock). Around midnight, I heard a hiker pass by and wondered who it was. (I think it was probably Pusher). Later on in the night, I heard a noise that sounded like a large animal in the vicinity of my foodbag. Should I go check on it? Naah...