Date: 2007-10-05
To: Stealth Site
Miles today: 20.0

mi. 20sleep hammockdest. Stealth site .6 up from Blue Mtn Lakes Rd day 85 Well Finally my first 20. At least that is what I am calling it. We are camped about .6 up, and since I make the rules here that is what I am calling it. We got a crazy early start today. I woke up around 5:30am and heard a large bang at the bear box. I looked over and saw a headlamp at the picnic table. I was set up 10 yards or so through some trees. I figured either the bear got a headlamp and was sitting at the table fixing breakfest (This would be a good site to see) or Torque was up and making breakfest. I walked over and no luck, it was only Torque. So under light of head lamp I ate breakfest. We hit the trail south around 7am. My earliest start in a while. Sunrise mountain a couple miles in was great. A stone pavillion with a 360 view. This was what we were originally shooting for. We should have pressed on. It would have made for some great views. But that's the way it goes. The downide of stopping early is a larger day today and tomorrow. Also there is a camp that lets hikers stay there .3 off the trail. It would have been prefect if we would have pressed on. Oh well. After the break I was walking back to the trail. I looked over and saw a big black snake. The biggest snake I saw on the trail yet. Of course I took a couple pictures. The whole time the snake thought to itself, " Another photo opt, CHEEZE! Ok enough with the photos I am tired of smiling." The snake then decided to slither away. I passed my first working firetower today. I talked with the guy and he said NJ has something like 21 working firetowers throughout the state. He said I could walk up there, But I passed. Too many stairs. I was on a mission to get to a road crossing with a store. Now when I got to the store it was 8.5 miles without a water source after dry camping. I walked down to the shelter we pssed and couldn't find the spring. I heard later it was dry. I got there and got a huge flavor ice and a soda. $2.50, pricey but what can you do. I walk to the gas station 20 yards away and try to send my pocketmail. No go, the phone speaker isn't loud enough. So Torque and I try to get water. No go the spigit is turned off. He asked the owner and got the reply that gallon jugs were $2.50. This was after we sat down in front and we cam out to inform us it was a public walk ways and to sit on the side. He had a bench there so no big deal. It wasn't a public walkway, just the area infront of the store. This was the jerlk store owner I heard about so much. So if you can help it, spend you money elsewhere. We walked to the gas station and the attendent let us fill up for free. Nice guy. Now for those who know a little about the trail, know PA is famous for being rocky. Really rocky. I have been seeing a lot o rocks o and off from NY. Today they seem t be there more often.                                                                                                                                                                                                            today I think I finally figured out what it takes for me to enjoy bigger miles. I need to start early and take lots of breaks. We sat at a shelter for around an hour and a half eating lunch and drinking. Not just water. Someone left some great trail magic. Some full 'nati lights on the picnic table. A warm one at lunch tasted great. I even had time to read a little and play my tin whistle. I cankt wait to pick up my new steri-pen. It would have shinned today. I could have drank up and filled up faster and relaxed more. I should have my new one monday or tuesday. Soon enough for the desert that is PA. Today's ending point was also determined by water. At the last road crossing there was a hand pump. So we filled and and walked .6 up to a good spot. It has a pretty good eastern view. A great sunrise hopefully. Tomorrow night DWG and the church hostel. The outfitter is open to 5pm, so if I get there early enough I can swap out my leki poles. If not they open at 9am on sunday. Oh and we thought we heard some people coming down the trail when we found a spot. We are 50 feet or so off the trail behind some trees and bushes. We sat for a few minutes to see. I really don't like people knowing where I stealth. No one came though. We figured they must be camped somewhere close. After dark I can see lots of cabins and camps around the lake down below. I am thinking there are down there. It is only a couple hundred yards away. Close enough for the loud sounds to carry. After all this is Friday night. If you can't tell I am reading hitch hikers guide to the galaxy. Some of John Adams writing quirks came out in today's journal.