Virtual AT: New Jersey State Line to Pochuck Shelter

"Beans, here..."

After a few Zero Days and a totally bourgeois weekend...back on the virtual trail.

78 degrees and a little overcast today...and they are predicting storms tonight.

There are 74 miles of trail through New Jersey...so we will probably cut our trek through into two days...

(real-time it would take 3 or 4)

Today's Goal will be Pochuck Shelter.

As you cross the Delaware...about midway on the bridge you will see the sign on the concrete shown above.

Now we are in New Jersey...seven states crossed and seven to go.

The first thing to notice is the ground and trail...after crossing over is a little less rocky.

YAY.

Our first stop here is the Delaware Water Gap.

 Delaware Water Gap Hike

https://youtu.be/9GxZx9m2Ry8

By the Herbert Hiller Plaque

Past the Mohican Outdoor Center

A Black Bear at the Center

https://youtu.be/vWu5NuLg_Wk

To  Crater Lake

and Buttermilk Falls

Crater Lake, Buttermilk Falls and Hemlock Pond

https://youtu.be/xGsHJ9pXP24

To the Top of Rattlesnake Mountain  (1,489 feet)

Past the newly built Brink Road Shelter

Which looks inviting...has a privy to use....but we must hike on and the far off rumblings of the upcoming storm, only a mountain or so away, spurs us on...

Past the Culver Fire Tower

 Okay...we have to climb the fire-tower.



View From the Tower

https://youtu.be/kOQXsDUcxh0

Past the Gren Anderson Shelter

The Trail

The Shelter

Which is not very well maintained and closed at this time.

Upward again, to Sunrise Mountain Day Use Shelter

Sunrise Mountain and one of the wild turkeys

Hiking Sunrise Mountain

https://youtu.be/a5gb0J5ZEPU

Mashipacong Shelter

Jessica from Mashipacong to Pochuck

https://youtu.be/6h8zz2b33_0

Past Rutherford Shelter

Which surprisingly boasts of free satellite TV...

Pretty sure I have NOT seen this on the AT before (...and even less sure WHY???)

But if it's Five Minutes to Wapner (or your favorite show)

Well...you won't have to miss it here.

To Highpoint Shelter

Named so, because at 1671 feet, this IS the highest point in New Jersey.

Located in Highpoint State Park

And the Monument in HSP.

Hike to the Monument

https://youtu.be/6AHNVn4Yf_E

and onward to the Wallkill River

(grateful the storm seems to have veered away and it is sunny out now!!!)

A Beaver Dam at Wallkill

And we have stumbled across a Wildlife Refuge!

What a great surprise!!!

Although most of our wildlife today seems to be of the feathered variety.

Wildlife Refuge

https://youtu.be/ZL60xFaQ8hY

Finally, to Liberty Corners Road and Pochuck Shelter

A rather small and well worn shelter...but I'm here early and it will do for tonight.

With the exception of the fairly new shelter that we saw earlier...and the one with the oddly placed "dish" I am underwhelmed with New Jersey's hiker hospitality for thru-hiking.

They don't seem to care, or do a lot about maintenance.

It runs more along the lines of

"When it collapses...we will build a new one."

The trail is much better now...not nearly as rocky as Pennsylvania.

The nights are getting chillier, and seeing a definite changing of the leaves and colors, now. Fall is slowly unfolding before our eyes.

I haven't seen any SOBO hikers today, and The White Blaze App is reporting 55 degrees in New Hampshire...and it is only August 20th.

Hoping to get an early dinner and sleep, and an even earlier start tomorrow.

Must get warmer gear before hitting the real cold.

Glad the rain missed us!

Love, 

"Beans"

(...although there will be pasta tonight!)

 Instant Pot Spaghetti

(just add boiling water)