Book 2, Chapter 21 – Appalachian Trail – Murray Cabin, NJ to Delaware Water Gap, PA – September 29-October 2, 2018 – 49.5 miles

Another FANTASTIC redeeming hike in New Jersey! I finished this state this week, making it my 8th state completed on the AT – 49.5 miles in 3.5 days. 1,409.4 +/- miles down, 770.6 +/- miles to go!

New Jersey is a BEAUTIFUL state to hike on the AT, and one

We aborted our trip this past April when we woke up to 6″ of snow on the ground. So we picked up where we left off — “The Secret Place” a.k.a. Murray Cabin just off the AT. This is the owner’s private little “tiny house.”

This is the cabin we stayed in back in April when it snowed, it was originally an ice house, so it’s well insulated. Although insulation was not necessary this trip, the weather & temps were PERFECT!

Nothing like the first morning light over a farmer’s field to get one energized for the day’s hike!

PEACEFUL… enough said.

I love all the little towns we drive through to get to trailheads, or roads we cross on the AT. I would never even know these little towns exist if it weren’t for my adventures on the AT. 🙂

These stiles were used exclusively further south on the AT to cross over into farmer’s fields. Further north it seems they have set them aside and the Trail simply goes around.

Challenging myself by going OVER!

Part of the peaceful morning — the moon was still out from the night before. Couldn’t have asked for a clearer day.

I love all the little wildflowers that the Master Gardner has planted simply for our enjoyment! Thank You Father!

We passed so many ponds and had views of lakes all along the Jersey section of the AT

Another view of the farm pond. We could hear sheep just through the woods

Throwing in some black & whites 🙂

We were 1/2 way up a climb when Rick turned around and saw the High Point Monument! We almost missed it at the bottom — we thought it was just another trail crossing the AT! So we stashed our packs in the weeds, headed back down, and then up the other side — we simply couldn’t come this close to the highest point in New Jersey and not experience it!

High Point Monument

View from High Point — this was looking towards Port Jervis, NY.

Great day to be at High Point!

Another view — above the clouds!

Living life on the “edge!”

“Life is Good!” — End of Day 1

Beginning of Day 2…

I had no idea I even captured this bird until I was editing my pictures for this journal! Not sure if it is an owl or a hawk!

Here is the original picture!

This dog was AWESOME! A Newfoundland

This pic doesn’t even do his size justice — and soooo SWEET! This was the closest we came to seeing a bear! ha!

Culver Fire tower — giving us even MORE views…

It’s always a treat when you learn that there is a restaurant with REAL food, within walking distance from the AT! We stopped here and had lunch — very good food! Highly recommend! This was at Culver’s Gap, U.S. 206. The Trail crosses right over the highway, turn to the left before continuing the climb up.

I believe this was Culver Lake

There had been so much rain in NJ that water sources were unusually plentiful — a lot of the low lying wooded areas were like swamps.

Black & White Version

The shelter we were heading for (Brink Shelter) did not have a sign (in the southbound direction) indicating that the shelter was down a forest road. So we ended up unkowningly passing the shelter by. That’s when “Plan B” kicks in! We ended up tenting off trail on top of “Rattlesnake Mountain.” I have always wanted to tent off trail where there would be an amazing view of either a sunrise or a sunset — well now was that time! I love how God turns all things into good! Sit back and enjoy the next dozen pictures or so of this amazing sunset! I just couldn’t stop taking pictures and couldn’t decide which to post and which not — so you got almost all of them!

Ahhhhh, life really is good! And so is God!

a pic of the rock we sat up on to eat our dinner and breakfast the next morning..

There was not another living soul for as far as we could see or hear — that is such an AMAZING feeling! Makes you realize just how small you are and how BIG our God is

Day 3: And good morning! This is what we saw the next morning — enjoying breakfast above the clouds!

I just thought this underwater plant was cool looking!

A cairn — not really marking the Trail, but, just because.

We came down that boulder field — this pic certainly doesn’t do the steepness justice (as usual!). One of these days I’m going to learn how to capture these kinds of things on camera! But after my New Hampshire experience this summer, this was a piece of cake!

Rick coming down the boulder field.

Another pond. These ponds were quite big — and beautiful! So again, a bunch of pics!

I love the reflection of the clouds and trees in the pond!

I love looking down on all the farm land — just gives you that all American feeling — a feeling of back in time, when things were so less hectic and peaceful.

Yes, these rock ledges are the Trail — again, New Hampshire really broke me in and has increased my fear factor level!

Our destination for night 3 — the Mohican Outdoor Center, run by the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) — which also runs the Huts & Lodges in New Hampshire — again, some luxury amenities like a hot sandwich!

After we ate, we walked around and explored the grounds — if I lived closer to here, I would be taking some weekend getaways here. In addition to the bunkhouse where we stayed they have little cabins, and larger cabins, tenting sites, a little beach area, kayaking & canoeing, and of course hiking. So, some more pics…!

…okay…? A little spooky, don’t you think?

…and you use that table and fire pit for…what? “Ahhhh, let’s get out of here!”

End of Day 3.

Day 4 (last day): Woke to mild morning temps, but foggy. I don’t necessarily mind the fog — it certainly gives a whole different dynamic to the scenery. We probably missed a few overlooks but…

There seemed to be a little more fall color this day.

Just another version…

Nature never ceases to amaze me!

Like I said…

ame up on another pond — Sunfish Pond —

Sunfish Pond. It was really foggy and we could not actually even see beyond what you see in these pics. But really cool looking! Thankful for the fog! I was playing around with these next few pics with different coloring.

Some more cairns — really sitting on the edge of the pond.

More cairns in the water…

Version 2

Another shot of the cairns — they just looked so cool! Here is a link I found interesting describing the representation of cairns: https://www.goshen.edu/…/26/can-cairns-teach-us-wellness/

Still hiking around the pond..

And yes, the Trail literally went RIGHT ON THE EDGE of the pond! You can see one white blaze in the foreground, and one off in the distance on the rock at just about north of center of the picture! Crazy!

Have a seat on this bench? Oh wait, it’s flooded out!

I LOVE Nature’s Sidewalk — thank You again God! We were blessed to walk over several of these — only wish there were more! It certainly would have been easier on the feet! I realized that I didn’t take any pictures of the rocky parts of the Trail — of which there were many. Jersey is a fairly level trail in regards to elevation change, but it makes up for it in rocks — my “dogs” were quite angry by the end of each day!

All these cairns were stacked up off the side of the Trail! I have no idea how they got started — kind of neat!

Ahhh, if only the entire Trail could be like this! Our last 3 miles, down, were pretty much like this — THANKFUL!

The Trail ran alongside of beautiful Dunfield Creek — it looked more like a river to me! These pics don’t do it justice how rushing this water was (so listen to the video in the next pic!)! A lot of trees blown down too — must have had a mighty storm pass through there at some point.

Several more pics of Dunfield Creek…

The Trail then comes out of the peaceful woods, for a walk on the road for about a mile, running parallel to noisy I-80.

It then puts you on a ramp that leads to a footbridge alongside of I-80 that goes over the Delaware River.

View of Delaware River from the AT

Crossing into PA from Jersey!

YES! Did it! State #8 done!

of the easiest so far — well, minus the rocks! It’s amazing how many views there were considering it’s not that high in elevation (1,700 +/- at the highest). Forgive all the pics, but I just couldn’t decide which ones to post! Just zip through them if you get bored!