Date: 2010-05-14
From: Unionville NY

To: Wawayanda Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: overcast clouds

2 Report. As I was slackpacking into tow last nite, a driver noticed I was a hiker and asked bow to get to the Outhouse. I gave home directions and went to gener store tomtop off supplies. Hiked to Outhouse and met Further ( the driver), Mtn Goat and Biff. We has another extraordinary dinner: oven roasted chicken, 2x baked potatoes, steamed carrots and broccolli in some cheese sauce, another great salad a d for a side dish, we had fresh trout that Firther had caught: brownies and a brookie and rainbow. The only fresher fish is the ones I've caught and cooled myself. And for dessert I had to choke down 3 cream cheese croissants ( guess we're not in kolache country here )Had a good nights sleep and another great breakfast. Dick took Mtn Goat and me down the road, dropping me off near Pochuck Shelter.  It started raining about 0930 and continued until near 1100.  It was a fairly easy hike up to the Jersey Boardwalk, where I met Outside Dog, who had some friends take him into town and forced him to eat steak and eggs for breakfast. The boardwalk was quite impressive, nearly a mile co wrong a boggy section with a rather large suspension bridge. I hanged out of my rain gear and OD hiked on. I then appoached Wawayanda (way way yonder) Mtn  it was a 1000 ft climb that really took it out of me. The trail was fairly well marked, reasonable switchbacks and rocksteps. However, a number of blowdown had made some sections particularly difficult.  This section is called "staircase to heaven". I rolled in the shelter around 1800 and met Wool E Mammoth. Dog and I went to nearby park to water up. Fixed dinner and getting ready for bed. The neighbor just got a bit crowded as a Scout troop hiked in foe the niteRocket scientist confession: I plugged int Iphone to charge upover the nite.  When I packed this am I noticed the other end of the cord wasn't plugged in.  So, I'll ne going into battery conservation mode the next several days until I can get more powerI have been most impressed by the general hopitality extended to the hikers.  And I would like to recognize the Outhouse as one of the finest places I've stayed.  But I can't. One of the finest would include Lazy Fox Inn in Damascus where Ms Ginny fixed a superb breakfast ( it would easily have been a 5 Greasy Spoon place if inwas giving ratings last year). Plus the residents were most helpful in ground transportation and M and M Air services in air evacuating me out so I could get home for Libra Lady's surgery. Another one of the best would be Shaw's Lodging in Monson ME for shuttling me out of the 100 mile wilderness and into Bangor so I could go home and get my broken ribs treated. Or one of my favorites, the trail angel in VA that literally came out of the woods and provided trail magic when I had everything soaked and was ready to get off the trail. No, I can't say the Outhouse is one of the best. I can say unequivicably the Outhouse is the best!  They are all totally committed and dedicated to assisting hikers for our every need. God bless Dick, JoAnn, Bill, Butch and Shadow ( even though she barked at me every time I came into thehouse.Vinchero!