7/19/99 Buink Road Shelter   Miles Today : 24.7 Miles to Katahdin : 865.1

Well, I finally escaped the gravitational pull of the DWG. I can't say that the same is true for many others, however. I went to bed around midnight and the party was still rockin' in the common room. From stories I would hear later, Highlander hiked out at 3am on a bet that Woody wouldn't suck Sir p-alots toes for 2 minutes. Hey, I never said things were high-class out here on the trail. Colorado and I got a late start due to buying fuel and pastries at the DWG bakery. Let me just say this bakery was the best. I had a fresh baked bagel and 2 raspberry pocket pastries with a fine, fine cup of coffee. It was the perfect start to a long hiking day.

So at 9:30 sans DB, we left the wretched hiking state of PA. I would like to thank all of the local bars and Yuengling for easing the pain of my battered feet on the way through. As we crossed into NJ, I got exactly what I expected from this state: a big highway and a toll gate. Soon however we were hiking through National Park Land that looked and felt as remote as any stretch of woods this trip, even the sounds of the highway were drowned out.

Just 5 miles into the hike, we got to Stenson Lake, one of the southern most glacial lakes in the world. It was gorgeous, set at 1600 feet right on the top of the ridge. Colorado and I took a swim along with Highlander who spent the night there. The water was just about the perfect temperature and was a great energy boost for the 20 miles ahead.

More wild life sightings today too. Since we are in a no hunting area, the deer have become much more friendly. It isn't like a petting zoo or anything out here but they hang around to look at you when you approach them. One even stood long enough for me to get a photo.

Also, colorado almost stepped on a rattlesnake today. We were walking side by side on an old railroad bed when I noticed the snake. Just before he put his left foot down about 3 inches from it's head I grabbed his arm and pulled him away. When he realized what I was doing and why, we both ran about 5 steps away, tough AT hikers that we are!

Well, that was enough excitement to keep us going to the shelter. Along the way, we climbed over several very cool peaks on the ridge providing good outlooks of the surrounding Poconos Mountains. The excitement wouldn't end there, however. Arriving at the shelter, we find that our trusty mouse food hangers have been replaced with a bear box. Yes, there is a big steel box outside where you put all of the food so that bears stay away from the shelter, that's the idea anyway. Oh, did I mention that NJ has the highest bear/acre ratio of anyplace on the AT? Did I also mention that we thought we heard a bear right near the shelter around 7? Now this is cool!

Well, it's 9:00 dark, and no sign of DB. Hopefully he will catch up with us tomorrow as he more than likely just got too late a start today. Waiting to see my first bear.

-Chomp

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