Date: 2012-06-20
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Rattlesnake Spring Campground
Miles today: 13.4

So many things to talk about today. I got sucked into the vortex that is town and ended up going to breakfast with everyone, washing clothing to hang on my pack, and generally dragging my feet. i missed Huff and Puff leaving as they headed out early and i was still passed out in my stayed up to late coma. so when i finally did end up leaving it was noon. you know hottest time of the day on a day that was suppose to have "oppressive" heat of 96 degrees. As you can see, i am totally using my brain on this hike. yeah not so much. so I'm crossing the bridge, NJ Baby! It's hot, there's no shade, and every time a 18 wheeler goes by, the whole bridge bounces under my feet. weird. but i get across fine, head into the woods and have a pretty easy climb up to the ridge line. It still took me forever mostly because it was so hot I had to force myself to slow down because while my legs were fresh, i was overheating, skin all dry and too warm to the touch, heart racing. At the top of the hill was a really pretty glacial lake that we walked around for awhile. and also there was dirt. omg whole little stretches of honest to goodness dirt trail in between the continuing rock fields. so happy. the ridge lines are very pretty, meadow like with short trees for shade. I had a little scare when I almost stepped on the tail of a copperhead. My foot came down 2 inches from his tail before he shot off into the tall fern brush. I think we were both happy this didn't go down another way. okay on the the climax. The biggest news of the day was that i saw three bears in the last hour of my hike. Big Bears, not the little ones from down south. and these were NJ bears, infamously smarter than your average bear. they have been reported to have figured out the hiker bear bagging trick and will just swipe a paw at your rope and cut it. they have also been know to bluff rush, or run at hikers in hopes they'll get scared and drop their pack. so i was traveling along a ridge line toward the end of the day, already tired and starting to look for a campsite when i hear a big crashing noise, look left, see a bear, cool. then a little bit further on I see a big big bear, all bulky and well fed up the trail and I start my normal routine of clicking my poles together. Except this bear doesn't run. he stops, looks around, spots me and starts speeding up on the trail bee lining for me. Crap! Now I'm really banging poles, and yelling "hey! get out of hear!" look at me I'm all intimidating with my lack of claws, teeth, and well toned body wrapped in delicious soft skin. So at this point I believe I was making a spectical of myself and apparently crazy was not on the bear's menu so he slows down, hesitates and takes off into the woods. Buy this point I'm just a tad freaked by the unusual bear behavior, and it's getting dark, and I'm tired, so I am booking it down the trail, thinking I am going to put as much distance between myself and this bear. I even briefly contemplated hanging my food and myself in the watch tower I passed but then thought, hmmm lightening rod. so i made it down the ridge to a campsite area where i was relieved to see a bear bag hanging. Two steps and pay man were there and could tell i was just a tad freaked out so they were all, "you stay here." "okay" i said meekly. Get water, hang bear bag (really really well), put up hammock. and in the middle of tat look up and see another bear 20 ft away moving in the woods. really? luckily he showed the proper response to my call, and took off running. I put up my tarp for the extra imaginary protection it gave me. perhaps the two seconds it takes bear to go through that will give me just enough warning to be fully awake for my mauling. Yes I'm being ridiculous. I know. But now I'm stating to calm down and laughing at how quickly i went from, "oh cool, look a bear" to "OMG Kill it, kill it". okay then, let's try to get through tonight shall we.