Introduction

About Pathways

Appalachian Trail

Why Walk?

Make a Pledge

Hiking Schedule

Journal

Photos

Links

Acknowledgements

July 11, 2001

Another long spell without putting pen to paper. So much has happened on trail, in my head, and in my heart. I've been to NYC and Boston with JJ, Tim, Russ, and Rye, and I'm now in NY state. I've come to realize that the stories people tell about the trail and the legends of the individual states are only pertinent to the Northern half of the state--the last, memorable half on a Northbound thru-hike. For example, VA was supposed to be easy. The Northern third from Waynesboro up was easy. The Southern two thirds were not. Pennsylvania was supposed to be rocky, and the Northern section was brutal on the feet, while the first 100 miles were as flat as Maryland. New York was also claimed to be 'cake' but the first 50 miles were all rocky ascents and descents that became treacherous in the rain. Most of us fell at least a few times. I got off easy with only bruised elbows and scraped knees. But NY state, and especially Harriman State Park, is so beautiful that its secrets must be kept somehow, I suppose. My best fall was a rail slide down a slick log waterbar. I caught myself low to the ground with my trekking poles.

Days in NJ weren't that though terrain-wise. Pulled some long days to catch the fireworks with a group of folks. When I got to the hostel in Vernon, NJ, not everyone had made it and the fireworks had been moved to the following weekend. Luckily, Stacy and Pandora welcomed me to hike with them on the Fourth of July when I told them it was the anniversary of Mom's death. We even had a giggly slumber party of sorts the night before because it was cold. (Since Harper's Ferry I've been changing my gear to be really light weight. Rather than a tent and sleeping bag, I now carry a bivy sack and fleece blanket--warm enough for seasonal summer weather. However, it has been unseasonably cool.)

For the short time I walked alone on [lost section].

You know that old saying, "Screw around, screw around. Miss your Goddamn Train"? Well, that's what we did. Last train to CT and Russ' house left at 1:30. We arrived at 1:36. So we hit another bar where I slept in Russ' lap in the booth until we could catch the 6:30 train. It's not the first time I slept in a bar in NYC, but I felt safe this time--remember my 4 body guards? Well, I walked one of them by the hand through Time Square at sunrise--one very festive JJ. I think the redeeming quality of the night was that JJ and I share very good conversations after imbibing a little truth serum. The talks we had were very good that night.