Day 70 – 74 | New Jersey and New Shoes

Day 70 1297.4 – 1309.4 (12)

We spent the morning in Delaware Water Gap doing laundry and cleaning gear in the hotel bathroom. (Trash bags, sleeping pads, packs) 

Rocksylvania has eaten our shoes, and there was a running store in the next town over. We ordered an Uber, and spent a while trying on new shoes. The owner was super knowledgeable about thru hiking, and had some the trail herself in the 80’s. She was extremely helpful with picking out new shoes. Both of us walked out with new Topos on. 

Before heading out of town we stopped at the local pizza shop. I finished a 20″ sub combining 2nd breakfast, 1st lunch, and 2nd lunch.

We walked out of town and over freeway bridge, crossing the Delaware River. 

The hike beautiful heading into New Jersey and full of wildlife. After a few miles we saw a momma bear and two cubs. An hour later a juvenile bear. The rest of the afternoon included a bee sting, a turkey, a rattlesnake, a deer, and a water snake. 

We made it to the Mohican Outdoor Center just after they closed the deli, but enjoyed eating our ramen in the air conditioned dining area. 

We hiked another mile to a ridge line with a view, camping with Fiddler. 

Day 71 1309.4 -1322.3 (13) 

The air was thicck in the morning. We struggled to sleep and moved slowly. After only about 2 miles at 10 am we crossed a parking lot with Trail Magic that a local hiking club puts on. We relished in lemonchello, breakfast sandwiches, hot dogs, and cold beverages. We started hiking again around noon. 

My knee was bothering me for the rest of the day. Between our exhaustion, my knee, and the humidity we called it an early day. I crashed by 6 pm.

Also we saw a porcupine, he was cute. 

Day 72 1322.3- 1342 (19.7)

After a restful night’s sleep, I was ready to hit the trail again. My knee was feeling better and the weather cooled slightly. We crossed Branchville NJ fairly early in the morning and were slightly sad to miss the BBQ joint, which was not yet open.  

The day was uneventful except crossing a few fire towers until we got to High Point State Park. named so since it contains the highest point in NJ. We walked down to Lake Marcia with a concession stand and ordered burgers just before they closed. We hiked out another mile to camp at High Point Shelter next to two converging creeks. 

Day 73 1342 – 1360.9 (18.9)

From High Point Park we dropped down the valley along the NJ-NY border hiking through farm fields and near homes. By lunch time we were near Unionville NY, and walked a half mile into town to grab pizza. It was really good NY style pizza. A few miles out of town while road walking we crossed a house with trail magic of cold drinks, so we hung out there with Strider and Pickup. 

By 5 pm we made it to Route 94, where we hitched into Warwick, NY. That town has a drive in movie theater that allows thru hikers to camp for $5. After resupplying at a nearby grocery store, we watched Inside Out 2 and IF, staying up far too late. 

Day 74 1360.9 – 1376 (15.1) 

Overnight it rained abit, so we were slow to get out of town. But after a quick hitch up the road we were back on trail by 8:30. 

The trail greeted us with what local who gave us a hitch called “the stairway to heaven”- a steep rocky ascent. 

About 10 miles into the day we crossed into New York officially on the AT. NY started out with a lovely pine forrest and some very technical rocks scrambles on puddling rocks. We reached a summit and view point, and could see the New York City skyline in the distance. 

We had coordinated a stay with hostel in Greenwood Lake and a pick up time of 5:30, which under normal trail conditions would have left us with lots of margin, but we barely made it on time. 

After a short ride into town, we showered, changed into loaner clothes (I was rocking capris) and headed out to dinner at the local Mexican restaurant.