Aug 9th, Day Nine

Where we jumped across the washed out bridge.

Creek next to our tent.

This morning we woke up to the same sound that put us to sleep the night before, rain pounding on our tent.  It seemed to have rained heavily all night, and some small chinks in the armor of the rain fly had been revealed.  The last thing we wanted to do was break camp in the rain so we waited a bit.  Finally with the rain at the lightest we assumed it would get, Miles made his move.  He hopped out of the tent, and proceeded to put on cold wet shorts, a cold wet shirt, cold wet socks, and cold wet shoes. 

The Basha Kill.

In the area right next to the tent where dinner had been cooked the night before there was a stream rushing by; it was about three inches deep and three feet wide, we sure got lucky in our tent placement.  As we started hiking we realized that every possible low point on the whole hillside was rushing water.  The morning part of the hike was down into the Basha Kill, which was like a big marshy river.  All morning we heard nothing but water rushing around.  At one point we needed to cross a half washed out bridge that was partially submerged in the flood.  Miles had to just jump as far as possible, and hope that the bank was shallow enough to stand on; we lived. 

FOOOOOOD.

The one thing that kept us going as we walked through the swamp was the knowledge that at the end of the swamp was a town, and in that town there would be hot food.  We dreamed of getting a hot meal and refilling our supplies.  When we finally did happen into Wartsburg the rain had just stopped, but we were still dripping wet so we found a place with an order window and outdoor seating.  A girl came to the window and asked what we would like.  Miles ordered two burger and fries combo meals, the girl kinda glanced around to see who was with us, then set off to make the food.  She brought them out shortly.  Miles proceeded to demolish both of them, and then ordered a large three scoop ice cream.  He claims it was an amazing meal.   The girl, we found out her name was Erika, said she had never seen anyone eat that much there before, but we didn’t get our picture on the wall or anything cool like that.

Beautiful storm aftermath.

Storm clouds leaving the valley.

After a resupply we headed back out of town and up another mountain.  As we started to climb the mountain a heavy thunderstorm rolled through again and soaked us for another hour or so, just to remind us that it could.  When it departed though, we were on top of a hill and the clouds that it left behind were amazing.  We were also surrounded by tons of huckleberry bushes, like enough to where we can finally understand how something as big as a bear can actually live off of them.  The bad part was they made the possibility of finding a campsite impossible.  We had to walk six more miles before we found anything that resembled a suitable campsite.  They tell you in the guide book that you are allowed to camp in certain areas, what they don’t tell you is that there is no way in hell you are actually going to be able to camp there in real life. 

Storms make gorgeous sunsets.

This is what the area your allowed to camp in looks like.

Traveled 15.6 miles of trail. 

-SM-

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Aug 8th, Day Eight

This is actually looking back on my trail.

Today we woke up early to the sounds of a deer snorting in alarm.  It could have just been scared off by our tent but we could not be sure.  When you are sitting by your selves in a tent in bear country, it’s hard to go back to sleep after an animal has raised the alarm.  Thus we got up and broke camp, continuing our trek down the SRT path. 

Bear scratches on a rock.

The trail that morning was rough; there was lots of underbrush grabbing at your legs, and overgrown trail portions.    The second part of the trail was far better kept so that was nice.  We still think the whole path was the equivalent of RT66 for bears though.  There was bear sign everywhere, but we didn’t get to see any this day. 

After about 7 miles of hiking the SRT path we had been on, it reconnected with the original Long Path trail we had started out hiking on.  Here our trail followed along an abandon railroad bed for a while, which is not much in the way of story but it was hell on our feet with all those big rocks. 

The SRT reconnects with the Long Path

Looking out over some of the forest.

After the railroad bed we hiked a couple miles further and as we walked along a nice level point half way up a ridge we decided to take advantage of the semi level, semi open ground to make camp.  We put up our tent and made some dinner.  Miles sensed there would be a storm coming that night so he hung his cloths outside to be washed; then crawled into the tent and laid down.  The thunderstorm rolled in while it was still light out and lulled us off to sleep.

My camp for the night.

Traveled 15.85 miles of trail. 

-SM-

Please comment, favorite or subscribe to the blog, and friend spike on Facebook, if you have not already.  His page is http://www.facebook.com/spikemiller.adventure 

Aug 7th, Day Seven

This morning after we descended the hill we had camped upon we soon found ourselves walking through a bird sanctuary area.  There was a lot of open space and wetlands for water fowl.  After that we hiked a lot of lowlands and rolling fields with no serious elevation change. 

Bird sanctuary

The goal had been set to reach the last shelter we would stay at along the Appalachian Trail, which would be a 12.3 mile hike.  It threatened rain all day as we walked through the forests and fields.  Towards the end of the allotted hike there was a drastic climb to reach the plateau that the shelter had been built on.  We reached the shelter easily, and as some sprinkles fell we set up our tent. 

Low lying clouds over rolling fields.

Since it was one week into the trip Miles put the battery back into his phone and turned it on to see if he could reach anyone to let people know we were ok.  When the phone started up we discovered it was only three thirty in the afternoon, and although he could send out some texts, he could not call home like he had wanted to.  This, combined with the thought of hours of wasting daylight sitting around a camp alone, put Miles in the go mode.  He looked at the map and saw that once we broke off of the Appalachian Trail we would be able to camp in a nation forest about five miles in.  The distance was pushing it for the daylight left, especially in rain.  We decided what the hell though YOLO, might as well go for it, and quickly packed out tent back up.  After a half mile we broke off the Appalachian Trail and started hiking the Shawangunk Ridge Trail (SRT).  The trail started as only a minor step down in quality from the AT but after the park area it quickly deteriorated into a deer and bear path.

Black spruce hanging over the boardwalk

Some gorgeous wildflowers.

We clamored along with little to no trail, over bolder fields and through huckleberry and fern brush, as the dark grew closer.  Finally we emerged onto a road that signified soon we would reach the national forest where camping was allowed.  There was one thing we had not really encountered yet this trip though.  We were now hiking on a seldom used trail, and had no idea how hard it was to actually find/make a campsite in a very inhospitable environment of brush, rocks, and shrub trees.  All the hiking we had done so far we were on well used trails where campsites had been created by frequent use.  Now we were on our own in the wild.  After about a mile of searching and seeing nothing even remotely usable we finally spotted a small area that looked like we may be able to clear it out enough to pitch our tent.  It was a great relief, its high stress when dark is about upon you and you have no place to sleep.  We made camp and cooked dinner in the dark.  The nice part was somehow Miles cell phone worked here so he did get to call home and let his parents know he was ok; thus ended week one of the journey. 

Our campsite, we managed to wedge the tent between the rocks and the logs.

Traveled 17.8 miles of trail.

Aug 6th, Day Six

Miles is not sure on what to call this day; it is either “The day we should have died”, or “The day we are lucky to have lived”.  It really seems to be six in one and a half dozen in the other. 

Our path meandered through some beautiful wildflowers.

We woke up early and took an early departure from camp.  The plan was to do an easy thirteen mile day do allow ourselves some respite from the past couple days.  We departed the camp while it was still rather cold so miles kept his long pants and long sleeve sleeping cloths on; just until it got a bit warmer. 

We walked by some awesome lakes too.

About an hour later the warmth started to become noticeable so we sat down on a nice rock to change to our day outfit.  With our shoes off and cloths lying around in various positions of changing we suddenly start to hear something.  There is what sounds like a rhinoceros running through the woods off of Miles left shoulder.   It peaks our curiosity and we look to see what the commotion is.  After a few seconds, what looks to be a large black dog runs out of the brush and is headed straight for us.  We know however that it is not a dog; we know it is a small bear.  It breaks to the side a bit, showing its obvious bear form, and jumps up on a rock wall about 10 feet from us.  The crashing continues behind it.  At this point Miles is caught without his shoes on, and with conflicting mindset.  The adventurer in him is going, “This is so cool” while the side that likes living is going, “oooooooh no were gonna die”.  We both assumed that a momma bear was going to burst form the brush behind the cub at any second.  The cub decides to run off behind us, and the crashing revealed its self into another cub who was chasing after the first one.  This all took the time of about three seconds, not even enough time for a picture unfortunately.  We rapidly got our shoes on, threw everything into our pack and high tailed it on down the path.  What an awesome experience, now that I look back still alive. 

SNAKE!!!

The snake as we first saw it.

After traveling a while longer that day I reached a nice spot on a ridge.  There were two trails that split in front of me, and a sign which read, “Old Appalachian Trail Lookout”.  It is really nice of them to label it for us, but the problem is the sign was between the fork in the trail, so we didn’t know which trail it referred to.  We wanted to simply keep hiking on the main trail but had to scout to see which way to go.  We walked about twenty feet down the path to the right, and it looked correct, but we still wanted to check the other to make sure.  We retraced our steps and walked about twenty feet down the path to the left.  It was far less traveled so we decided the other way was the one we wanted.  We backtracked and turned back down the first trail again.  After going two steps Miles noticed something out of place in his peripheral vision….at the same moment as the rattle snake let out his warning.  Ohhhhh talk about chilled blood, and making your hair stand on end, that sounds will do it for sure.  Miles quickly surveyed the ground at his feet to make sure then was not another one behind and took a safe step back.  We then proceeded to take some pictures.  The snake was beautiful; about three and a half feet long, and as big around as Miles forearm.  The really scary part is that we had already walked somewhere in the vicinity of the creature twice without knowing it.  It was an awesome experience, now that I look back still alive. 

LUNCH!!!

All of this excitement had actually happened before lunch time even.  We continued on, though Miles now jumped at every stick that crossed our path.  When we got off the hill and reached a road a couple day hikers informed us that there was a small farm grocery around the bend in the road.  This would allow us to buy some food and resupply a bit.  When we arrived we discovered they also had a small deli.  The owner/cook sold us on the pulled pork sandwich, which we followed with a large ice cream.  It was a wonderful meal which we shared in the company of Appalachian Trail through hikers.  We talked a bit about the trail then resupplied and departed on our way. 

How Miles got his trail name

I signed the camper (top right)

Later in the day, with our harrowing morning seeming a distant memory, we walked out of the woods to cross another road and were hailed by a lady in a camper truck parked across the road.  She asked about our hike, and if we would like a drink.  As Miles relaxed and enjoyed a can of ginger ale, we chatted with this nice lady.  It turned out her daughter was hiking the trail, and since she was the youngest person to solo through hike it (when she completes/completed it) she camped her nights in the camper on the back of the truck.  This is how we met Chipmunks mom.  As we were departing she asked if we wanted to sign the camper; Miles declined, informing her that he did not have a trail name yet.  (For those of you that don’t know all through hikers get a trail name bestowed upon them by another hiker and that is what they are called while hiking.)  I however elected to sign the camper since I plan on always going by Spike.  Miles was informed that when he ran into Chipmunk on the trail he should see if she could give him a trail name.  This is how, about an hour later, Miles acquired the trail name of Sneakers; thanks to the big purple and white eighties style Nike skate sneakers he was wearing.   

Hanging around the campfire that night.

Traveled 13 miles of trail.  

 -SM-

Please comment, favorite or subscribe to the blog, and friend spike on Facebook, if you have not already.  His page is http://www.facebook.com/spikemiller.adventure