Date: 2022-05-15
From: Rutherford Shelter 

To: High Point State Park Headquarters
Miles today: 2.9
Weather: overcast clouds

May 15 - Rutherford Shelter to High Point State Park HQ - 2.9 miles (191.3 trip miles) - 14387 stepsIt rained lightly almost all night. I woke up a few times to stronger rain that was very loud in the tent. Luckily, when I woke up at 5, it had stopped but the trees were still dripping moisture. I got packed up quietly since it was so early, filtered the water I had carried from the creek up the access trail, and was heading out before 6.I had decided to end this hike. The blisters on my heels were just too much. The pain was bearable. I was mostly concerned about them becoming infected from them being open, always damp from sweat and still rubbing on the shoes. They were also getting slightly larger. All the tape and mole skin in the world wasn't going to fix this.The trail today was again in the fog. It was mostly rocky ups and downs. Only one short steep section. Nothing to see other than a lot more orange newts. I rolled into the grassy High Point State Park HQ just after 7. There was bench where I at some breakfast bars and relaxed. Nothing was open yet. The skies tried to clear and the sun made a very brief appearance only to be covered again by much thicker clouds. I had good cell coverage and began looking for a ride to Port Jervis, NY. It is less than 10 miles from the park. I tried Uber and Lyft numerous times but a driver was never found. I called some taxi companies. They wanted nothing to do with coming out to the park (isn't that how they make money?). I suppose since it was a Sunday morning this wasn't going to work. When the HQ office opened at 8 the woman working there gave me a number for another taxi company. Again, same line from them, and rather rude in delivering it. OK. I'll try hitching. I walked the 100 yards over to the road that leads to Port Jervis. Hustled to get across with my thumb out as I heard a car coming over the rise. Voila! The driver stopped and picked me up. Zero time and no effort. I'll need to try this hitching thing more often. The driver, an older gentleman headed to an auto race he was participating in, dropped me at the first road in town after the train bridge. The station must be close. It was. Just a mile down the main street was the platform. I got there so early I was able to take the 857am train to the Newark airport. I would be there about 1130. While on the train I booked a flight on United to Orlando. My family was going to be in Orlando that afternoon. I got home and was able to shower and soak my feet in Epsom salts. Everything worked out as planned. It's amazing that you can be in the woods in the morning and get yourself over 1000 miles home all with the use of your phone.This hike was a mixed bag. The rocky terrain the whole way was frustrating. Those 2 days of cold continuous rain started my problems that were not going to resolve without a week or 2 off trail. As a section hiker, I'm not going to sit around that long. That's OK. When there was scenery it was great. The climbs out of Palmerton and Wind Gap were memorable. The people I hiked with were great, particularly Lost Man and Silva. Thanks to those that provided trail magic including G Money, Random Adventures 2.0 and others, who I did not get their names. I had hoped to meet up with a buddy in CT for a few days of the hike. Maybe in the fall or next year we can make that happen.Until the Next Hike.