As I finished hiking the trail in New Jersey, I entered New York. No, I didn't go into the city. New York is a State with a lot of land. The Appalachian Trail crosses a small piece of the lower corner of the State of New York. One of the landmarks is Bear Mountain. You would think that it would be some large, tall mountain, but it's not. The mountain itself is relatively low in height (compared to other mountains on the trail). Because of its proximity to the city and suburbs, it gets a LOT of use by local residents.
Another interesting thing about Bear Mountain in New York is the fact that the Appalachian Trail started there. When the trail was being put together, this is where they cut the first part of the trail. October 7, 1923 was when the first section of trail was opened between Bear Mountain and Delaware Water Gap! Bear Mountain is also close to the Hudson River.
When I reached Bear Mountain in 1980 I was HOT! So far I had been walking North and following Spring. But finally the Summer weather had caught up with me and it was miserably hot. Fortunately I had "an Ace in the hole". If you have been reading this blog all the way through then you may recall a post from May 26th called "Limo Ladies!" That's where I talked about meeting two women at a shelter in Tennessee who were finishing a week of hiking. They were from New York and promised to cook me a big supper when I got to Bear Mountain, New York. Food will attract bears and hungry hikers!
I found a pay phone and made a call. In less than an hour I was riding in a wonderfully clean, air conditioned car headed towards a big feast! Bev L. had picked me up, just as promised. That night I was glad to sleep indoors (with air conditioning). It was wonderful (did I mention the air conditioning?). My journey continued and I was thankful for hospitality along the way!
2011 update: This morning I weighed in at 173.4 pounds. I went jogging yesterday and today. My new running shoes are wonderful! I haven't been very strict on my diet the last couple of days, but I am still working on it!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
Lunch in New Jersey
In 1980 I continued to hike through the great state of New Jersey. One of my favorite things in the day was my lunch break. I read a book called "The New Complete Walker" by Colin Fletcher. I was my guidebook for how to backpack. I carried Plantation Mint tea because of Fletcher's book. I even bought the exact same backpack that Fletcher used! He also advocated a long lunch break. Most hikers would try to get to the shelter or location where they would spend the night as early as possible. Then they would settle in and hang out. I would find a nice spot during the middle of the day and take a long lunch instead.
I would take out my foam pad and sit on it. Then I would get everything out for lunch. I had a quart canteen with a large mouth. I would pour powdered milk and Nestle's Quick chocolate milk mix in. After a vigorous shaking, I had an entire quart of chocolate milk! I drank the entire quart with lunch! Then I would get out the crackers. I had two variations: peanut butter crackers, and Velvetta cheese crackers. I always consumed a large quantity! Afterwards I would have some "gorp" also known as "trail mix" consisting of nuts, M&Ms, raisins, and a little bit of coconut. I would eat about a pound of the "gorp" every day as a snack and as a supplement to meals.
After lunch I would often lie down and stare up at the trees. They look amazing with the sunlight filtering through. Sometimes I would doze a little bit. I might take some pictures and write in my journal. After 1 to 2 hours I would pack everything up and continue down the trail. After the rest, I felt better and had a lot more energy! I knew I was going to make it all the way to Katahdin in Maine. My foot was still a little sore, but it was gradually healing. New York was not far away!
2011 update: After "pigging out" at the cookout yesterday I weighed in at 174.6 today. It's a temporary setback. Even while losing weight you have to live a little! My new running shoes came in today! I may try to break them in tomorrow morning.
I would take out my foam pad and sit on it. Then I would get everything out for lunch. I had a quart canteen with a large mouth. I would pour powdered milk and Nestle's Quick chocolate milk mix in. After a vigorous shaking, I had an entire quart of chocolate milk! I drank the entire quart with lunch! Then I would get out the crackers. I had two variations: peanut butter crackers, and Velvetta cheese crackers. I always consumed a large quantity! Afterwards I would have some "gorp" also known as "trail mix" consisting of nuts, M&Ms, raisins, and a little bit of coconut. I would eat about a pound of the "gorp" every day as a snack and as a supplement to meals.
After lunch I would often lie down and stare up at the trees. They look amazing with the sunlight filtering through. Sometimes I would doze a little bit. I might take some pictures and write in my journal. After 1 to 2 hours I would pack everything up and continue down the trail. After the rest, I felt better and had a lot more energy! I knew I was going to make it all the way to Katahdin in Maine. My foot was still a little sore, but it was gradually healing. New York was not far away!
2011 update: After "pigging out" at the cookout yesterday I weighed in at 174.6 today. It's a temporary setback. Even while losing weight you have to live a little! My new running shoes came in today! I may try to break them in tomorrow morning.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Bandits At Night!
By this time in 1980 I was in New Jersey. A lot of people think that New Jersey is just one giant suburb of New York City. Yes, there are a lot of suburbs near New York, but the western portion of the state (where the Appalachian Trail passes through) is very beautiful. New Jersey's nickname is "the garden state". I was surprised at how nice the trail was and how little suburban sprawl I saw.
I do remember one night in New Jersey in a shelter. Every night in a shelter I would hang my pack up if possible in order to keep the mice out of my pack. That night I woke to hear something rustling just outside of the shelter. I realized that we were being raided by bandits wearing masks on their faces. But the bandits were small and furry! Yes, raccoons were trying to get to our food! They had climbed down from the trees and were trying to get to our packs. One of the other hikers took a stick and threw it in their general direction. Although he didn't hit them with the stick, it did give them pause. After a while, the raccoons gave up and sauntered out into the woods. They would have to find dinner somewhere else. Our packs were safe and we were wary of the raccoons!
Here in 2011 I weighed in today at 173.2 pounds. Our new church had a cook out tonight. I ate WAY too much. So......tomorrow I will probably weigh more. That's ok. I will keep working on my project to lose weight. I'm not giving up!
I do remember one night in New Jersey in a shelter. Every night in a shelter I would hang my pack up if possible in order to keep the mice out of my pack. That night I woke to hear something rustling just outside of the shelter. I realized that we were being raided by bandits wearing masks on their faces. But the bandits were small and furry! Yes, raccoons were trying to get to our food! They had climbed down from the trees and were trying to get to our packs. One of the other hikers took a stick and threw it in their general direction. Although he didn't hit them with the stick, it did give them pause. After a while, the raccoons gave up and sauntered out into the woods. They would have to find dinner somewhere else. Our packs were safe and we were wary of the raccoons!
Here in 2011 I weighed in today at 173.2 pounds. Our new church had a cook out tonight. I ate WAY too much. So......tomorrow I will probably weigh more. That's ok. I will keep working on my project to lose weight. I'm not giving up!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Recovering fom "Mega-Mile Day"
The morning after "Mega-Mile Day" I woke up in the motel room. I quietly got ready and left the room. The truck driver was still sound asleep when I left. I was extremely hungry, but I didn't have any food or any money. All I could do was start hitch-hiking. By around 10:30am I finally made it back to the town where I had left my pack. I went to the fire station and looked for my pack. It wasn't where I had left it. After a short panic, I found that it had been moved to a storage closet. One of the volunteer firemen begrudgingly opened the door and I retrieved my pack.
I was just getting to leave when I discovered that I didn't have my hiking staff. Where was it? By this time the fireman was busy in the office. I went to him again and asked for him to open the storage closet so I could look for my hiking staff. He was quite irritated! He tried to tell me "no", but finally realized that I wasn't going to leave. So he trudged down the hall (huffing and puffing the entire way) and opened the storage room. Sure enough, there was my hiking staff!
When I left the fire station the first order of business was to get some FOOD! I opened my pack and ate everything I could get my hands on! Once my hunger was satisfied, it was time to hitch-hike back to the point where I left the trail. That took most of the afternoon. And by dinner time I was walking into the town called Deleware Water Gap. I had heard about a Presbyterian Church that took in thru-hikers. Sure enough, I found the church and there were several hikers already present. I was welcomed to the crowd. I don't remember exactly where we slept that night, but I think it was in some Sunday School rooms. I had survived "Mega-Mile Day" and now I was back on track. It would be the last time I would try to do something foolish like that again!
Here in 2011 I weighed in at 173.0 pounds. I was able to walk my regular route this morning, followed by some unsuccessful work on my old 1973 Mazda (trying to fix a coolant leak). Right now I am eating a bean buritto. I'm going to try to stay on track!
I was just getting to leave when I discovered that I didn't have my hiking staff. Where was it? By this time the fireman was busy in the office. I went to him again and asked for him to open the storage closet so I could look for my hiking staff. He was quite irritated! He tried to tell me "no", but finally realized that I wasn't going to leave. So he trudged down the hall (huffing and puffing the entire way) and opened the storage room. Sure enough, there was my hiking staff!
When I left the fire station the first order of business was to get some FOOD! I opened my pack and ate everything I could get my hands on! Once my hunger was satisfied, it was time to hitch-hike back to the point where I left the trail. That took most of the afternoon. And by dinner time I was walking into the town called Deleware Water Gap. I had heard about a Presbyterian Church that took in thru-hikers. Sure enough, I found the church and there were several hikers already present. I was welcomed to the crowd. I don't remember exactly where we slept that night, but I think it was in some Sunday School rooms. I had survived "Mega-Mile Day" and now I was back on track. It would be the last time I would try to do something foolish like that again!
Here in 2011 I weighed in at 173.0 pounds. I was able to walk my regular route this morning, followed by some unsuccessful work on my old 1973 Mazda (trying to fix a coolant leak). Right now I am eating a bean buritto. I'm going to try to stay on track!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Mega-Mile Day!
At some point while walking over all the rocks in Pennsylvania I started to wonder if there was a better way. Having seen another guy "slackpacking", I wondered if there was some way to hike without carrying my heavy pack. That's when I came up with the idea of "Mega-Mile Day". I decided that I would leave my pack in a safe location, then hike about 35 miles, then hitch-hike back to get my pack, then hitch-hike back to where I left off. I came up with 35 miles because that was the distance to the New Jersey border. I know it was a crazy idea, but I was 18 back in 1980, and it made sense to me at the time (even though it was not such a good idea).
I was in a small town (it may have been Palmerton, PA where I received my food box in the mail). The guys at the local fire station were friendly to hikers. They agreed to let me leave my pack at the fire station and come back later to pick it up. I put together a small stuff sack with my canteen, some food for the day, and a few emergency items. Very early in the morning I set out to conquer "Mega-Mile Day".
The hiking without a heavy pack went much faster, but I still had to hike over all those sharp rocks. I made pretty good time, but I had to keep moving. I wasn't running, but I was walking fast. As the shadows began to lengthen, and the sun began to set I found myself at a road crossing. It was a few more miles to the New Jersey border (at another town). I could press on, but found myself in a "pickle". I had forgotten to bring my flashlight. I knew that I could get lost in the dark without a flashlight. So, I decided it was time to hitch-hike back to my pack. That wasn't as easy as it sounds.
Several hours later I found myself in the cab of an 18 wheeler, riding down the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The driver took the exit where I wanted to get off. It was very late, and we stopped for supper. Here was another problem, I had forgotten to bring my money (which was in my pack). I seem to remember that the trucker bought me something small for supper. Then he checked into a motel for the night. He offered to let me stay (there were two beds in the room). I was still many miles away from my pack and it was too late to find a ride, so I stayed.
In the room he took a hot shower. Then I took a hot shower. When I came out, he was sitting in his bed, smoking some weed. He offered it to me, but I turned him down. Then he asked me something else (seriously, you might be offended by this next sentence, so don't blame me if you read it). He asked me if I wanted to have "intimate relations" with him, he said he sometimes would "get it on with a dude". I was stunned, and turned him down. All night long I slept with one eye open, but I was relatively safe. I realized that "Mega-Mile Day" was a BIG mistake. In the morning I would try to get back to my pack & continue on my journey without any "shortcuts".
Here in 2011 I weighed in at 173.0 pounds this morning. I am so happy to be making such good progress with my weight loss! I went walking again this morning (the same route I jog when I am well). My leg did good, but I'm still being careful. Last night I ordered a new pair of running shoes online. I hope that will help! I ate a big salad for lunch and am getting ready to go to "Seekers" group where we are having dinner. I'll try not to splurge too much! I was able to cut my blood pressure medicine in half. If I keep on losing weight, I may be able to quit taking it all together!
I was in a small town (it may have been Palmerton, PA where I received my food box in the mail). The guys at the local fire station were friendly to hikers. They agreed to let me leave my pack at the fire station and come back later to pick it up. I put together a small stuff sack with my canteen, some food for the day, and a few emergency items. Very early in the morning I set out to conquer "Mega-Mile Day".
The hiking without a heavy pack went much faster, but I still had to hike over all those sharp rocks. I made pretty good time, but I had to keep moving. I wasn't running, but I was walking fast. As the shadows began to lengthen, and the sun began to set I found myself at a road crossing. It was a few more miles to the New Jersey border (at another town). I could press on, but found myself in a "pickle". I had forgotten to bring my flashlight. I knew that I could get lost in the dark without a flashlight. So, I decided it was time to hitch-hike back to my pack. That wasn't as easy as it sounds.
Several hours later I found myself in the cab of an 18 wheeler, riding down the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The driver took the exit where I wanted to get off. It was very late, and we stopped for supper. Here was another problem, I had forgotten to bring my money (which was in my pack). I seem to remember that the trucker bought me something small for supper. Then he checked into a motel for the night. He offered to let me stay (there were two beds in the room). I was still many miles away from my pack and it was too late to find a ride, so I stayed.
In the room he took a hot shower. Then I took a hot shower. When I came out, he was sitting in his bed, smoking some weed. He offered it to me, but I turned him down. Then he asked me something else (seriously, you might be offended by this next sentence, so don't blame me if you read it). He asked me if I wanted to have "intimate relations" with him, he said he sometimes would "get it on with a dude". I was stunned, and turned him down. All night long I slept with one eye open, but I was relatively safe. I realized that "Mega-Mile Day" was a BIG mistake. In the morning I would try to get back to my pack & continue on my journey without any "shortcuts".
Here in 2011 I weighed in at 173.0 pounds this morning. I am so happy to be making such good progress with my weight loss! I went walking again this morning (the same route I jog when I am well). My leg did good, but I'm still being careful. Last night I ordered a new pair of running shoes online. I hope that will help! I ate a big salad for lunch and am getting ready to go to "Seekers" group where we are having dinner. I'll try not to splurge too much! I was able to cut my blood pressure medicine in half. If I keep on losing weight, I may be able to quit taking it all together!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
ROCKS!!!
When I hiked through Pennsylvania in 1980 I encountered the famous rocks! Many, many years ago (during the Ice Age), giant glaciers covered large areas of North America (at least that's what some scientists say). The glaciers moved slowly, pushing rocks and debris forward. When the glaciers finally stopped moving and began to melt, the rocks on the leading edge of the glaciers also stopped. They weren't smooth rocks, they were jagged, sharp rocks. And they were all dumped in the mountains of Pennsylvania.
Down in the South, I was used to trail that was mostly dirt, some rocks, and lots of tree roots & vegatation. In PA, I was shocked to find how many rocks there were, and how hard it was to hike on them. Remember, I was still nursing my sore foot so I had to be careful not to re-injure it. I remember seeing one particularly difficult stretch of rocky trail. At the shelter following that stretch, another hiker complained about the people who put the trail on the rocks instead of on the nice dirt by the side of the trail. I knew better. I knew that the rocks were everywhere. The trail was well worn and the light topsoil was either compacted or had washed away from the trail. If the trail were relocated, in a very short time it would look just like the rock strewn path we had just labored across.
I had heard about the rocks in PA for a long time. I assumed that they were just in PA, but actually there were lots of rocks for the rest of the trip, all the way to Maine. PA had the sharpest rocks and the most quantity, but the nice dirt paths were seldom seen from this point forward. I made the best time I could and tried to come up with some way to get through this stretch. I was also behind schedule by a few days & needed to catch up if I could. I started to get an idea....but that story will have to wait until tomorrow.
Here in 2011 I weighed in at 173.8 pounds again this morning. I went for a long walk this morning before the sun was very high in the sky. I followed the exact route that I usually take when jogging, but I simply walked. My leg did pretty good. I think I will buy some new running shoes. That may help give me better cushion when I do return to jogging. A big salad for lunch and bean burritos for supper. I'm stuffed!
Down in the South, I was used to trail that was mostly dirt, some rocks, and lots of tree roots & vegatation. In PA, I was shocked to find how many rocks there were, and how hard it was to hike on them. Remember, I was still nursing my sore foot so I had to be careful not to re-injure it. I remember seeing one particularly difficult stretch of rocky trail. At the shelter following that stretch, another hiker complained about the people who put the trail on the rocks instead of on the nice dirt by the side of the trail. I knew better. I knew that the rocks were everywhere. The trail was well worn and the light topsoil was either compacted or had washed away from the trail. If the trail were relocated, in a very short time it would look just like the rock strewn path we had just labored across.
I had heard about the rocks in PA for a long time. I assumed that they were just in PA, but actually there were lots of rocks for the rest of the trip, all the way to Maine. PA had the sharpest rocks and the most quantity, but the nice dirt paths were seldom seen from this point forward. I made the best time I could and tried to come up with some way to get through this stretch. I was also behind schedule by a few days & needed to catch up if I could. I started to get an idea....but that story will have to wait until tomorrow.
Here in 2011 I weighed in at 173.8 pounds again this morning. I went for a long walk this morning before the sun was very high in the sky. I followed the exact route that I usually take when jogging, but I simply walked. My leg did pretty good. I think I will buy some new running shoes. That may help give me better cushion when I do return to jogging. A big salad for lunch and bean burritos for supper. I'm stuffed!
Monday, July 4, 2011
The Independence Day Slackpacker
Back in 1980 I remember celebrating Independence Day (4th of July) on the Appalachian Trail. I was at a shelter with several other hikers. We laughed and joked and had a good time. One of the guys at the shelter was a thru-hiker but he was doing something unusual. He was "slackpacking". Perhaps you remember my writing about a guy called "O.D. Coyote" who I called "the king of slackpacking." O.D. was going extremely slow. The guy I met on July 4th was actually walking a lot of miles per day. BUT, he had his girlfriend drive up and meet him.
The girlfriend was driving a "recreational vehicle" a.k.a. "RV" or "Camper". It had a small kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, living room, and air conditioning! This stretch of the Appalachian Trail was in the woods, but it often crossed roads. This hiker would spend the night in the RV and then hike for the entire day without carrying his backpack (that stayed in the RV with his girlfriend). Every night they would meet at a road crossing and he would spend another night in the RV. They had plans for about two weeks worth of this until she had to go back home.
The idea of hiking without a heavy backpack was very appealing to me (and all of the other hikers). Certainly he carried a small bag with water, food, rain poncho, and some basic emergency items. But all of the things for sleeping and shelter and cooking were riding comfortably along in the RV. Those were the heavy things. I would gladly trade a 40 pound pack for a 3 pound fanny pack! I guess it brings to mind the whole concept of "independence". While we were celebrating the freedom of our nation, he was also celebrating freedom from his burdensome backpack (even if only temporarily)!
Here in 2011: I weighed in at 173.8 pounds this morning, that is a loss of 13 POUNDS! ((*** FIREWORKS***)). That is a cause for celebration! The big salad last night was delicious. The handful of corn chips as a snack before bedtime was great. I had two bean burritos for lunch today. This morning I hoed in the garden for a long time, then cut the grass and did some other yard work. Last night I took the dog for a walk. When she had had enough of walking I dropped her off at the house and kept walking. I covered most of the route that I usually jog on, but I was walking. The good news is that my leg did not hurt. I'm not going to over do it with my leg, but I hope to get back to jogging soon. I'm considering getting some new running shoes (my old ones are almost worn out). That might help keep me from getting injured again. I'm excited about my progress, and I am NOT hungry. I'm celebrating my "independence" from 13 extra pounds!
The girlfriend was driving a "recreational vehicle" a.k.a. "RV" or "Camper". It had a small kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, living room, and air conditioning! This stretch of the Appalachian Trail was in the woods, but it often crossed roads. This hiker would spend the night in the RV and then hike for the entire day without carrying his backpack (that stayed in the RV with his girlfriend). Every night they would meet at a road crossing and he would spend another night in the RV. They had plans for about two weeks worth of this until she had to go back home.
The idea of hiking without a heavy backpack was very appealing to me (and all of the other hikers). Certainly he carried a small bag with water, food, rain poncho, and some basic emergency items. But all of the things for sleeping and shelter and cooking were riding comfortably along in the RV. Those were the heavy things. I would gladly trade a 40 pound pack for a 3 pound fanny pack! I guess it brings to mind the whole concept of "independence". While we were celebrating the freedom of our nation, he was also celebrating freedom from his burdensome backpack (even if only temporarily)!
Here in 2011: I weighed in at 173.8 pounds this morning, that is a loss of 13 POUNDS! ((*** FIREWORKS***)). That is a cause for celebration! The big salad last night was delicious. The handful of corn chips as a snack before bedtime was great. I had two bean burritos for lunch today. This morning I hoed in the garden for a long time, then cut the grass and did some other yard work. Last night I took the dog for a walk. When she had had enough of walking I dropped her off at the house and kept walking. I covered most of the route that I usually jog on, but I was walking. The good news is that my leg did not hurt. I'm not going to over do it with my leg, but I hope to get back to jogging soon. I'm considering getting some new running shoes (my old ones are almost worn out). That might help keep me from getting injured again. I'm excited about my progress, and I am NOT hungry. I'm celebrating my "independence" from 13 extra pounds!
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