Date: 2006-06-29
From: Clearing on the Ridge

To: Branchville, NJ
Miles today: 6.0

Sitting at Gyp's Tavern in Culvers Gap, NJ. It's 5.30 and most of our hiking is over for the day. Three or so miles left to get back into the woods. Really enjoying the slow-down-and-enjoy mode.Started slowly this morning. Not too slowly but a big thunder storm last night brought rain until the early morning. My seam sealing worked and I stayed dry throughout. I cooked breakfast for the first time in a while. Just as we were ready to leave, Uberdude challenged Ice Tea to a badminton game. We all ended up playing doubles. Then we hiked.New Jersey is still pretty, maybe even prettier. The trail followed low ridgeline most of the morning. The terrain is more New England rocky than Pennsylvania rocky. Trees aren't thick on the ridges which allows good views of the surrounding hills and valleys.After several longer breaks didn't reach Sunrise Mtn. tonight. Uberdude and Ice Tea wanted to stop in Branchville which has a deli, a bar and a restaurant right off the trail. The rest of the walk there was easy. John (Ice Tea), Lily and Uberdude are ultralight and light hikers. John carried my pack for a short distance and couldn't believe how heavy it is. Theirs weigh between 10-15 pounds. Mine's closer to 30. I'm not carrying anything extra. That always frustrates me when comparing pack weight. The biggest problem is that my pack weighs 5 pounds empty. Theirs weigh less than a pound. I carry a 3-4 pound tent, They carry lighter tarps. Uberdude uses a hammock. If we arrange it, John will send for a spare light pack. If I like it, it's mine for $20. Uberdude can lend me a tarp to test out. I'm glad to try anything. My pack is still heavy after getting rid of all my winter gear. I love the thing less and less every time I drop it off my back. The pain between my shoulders gets bad and I have to stop. I can stretch the time out between stops but there is no way to enjoy the hike in pain.Branchville services are right off the trail as promised. We went fast to Gyp's. I had a burger and drank my first beer since the hike started. We all sat out behind the place with packs and dogs looking over Kitaninny Lake. We answered lots of questions about the hike from bar patrons. I still like doing this even though it's worn thin with the others.Next came dinner at the steakhouse next door. From there we hiked about half a mile up the trail and pitched tents in a flat dry spot. Lost Buck was there ahead of us and picked the site. He's 58 years old and retired from the Forest Service. He started the trail in Harper's Ferry and will flip flop after Maine to finish in Harper's Ferry again.After setting up camp I called Andrew on a borrowed cell phone. He's sending out the shoes Garment sent to replace the 1st pair. Hi-Tec is sending replacement boots for the current pair to Hanover. I will have worn at least 7 pairs of shoes and boots by the time I finish this trip. None of them have fit me correctly.I found a crumbled cherry pop tart in my pack, a gift from a trail angel back in PA. Poptarts all around and then to bed.Just woke up in a puddle but it's not raining. Damn water bladder leaked about a liter of water and soaked my pair of dry socks. Already a strike against the new day. I'm piling up frustrations again and this one gets tossed on the pile. I hate complaining and try not to do it but this far into it there are still things lacking or that I haven't acheived with my hike. I'm still for the most part hiking alone. When hooking in with a groupI feel like the extra wheel. Have yet to fully hike my own hike. I keep standing tall and clearing my head of all negative energy and think of myself as the independent man. Being the independent man is attractive to me, but still I'd like someone to talk to. Think maybe I'm doing both. Some hikers like to do it all on their own. I like to both be in charge of my hike and to have company.