September 8, 2005 - Camp near West Mountain Shelter to Island Pond camp
I was up before daylight after some cookies for breakfast. I stopped at Beechy Brook a very nice place. The old trail
crossed up stream a bit and there was an old footbridge with a spring nearby. I walked up to it and drank good water
for the first time in 20 hours. I sat by the creek and was stung by an angry yellow jacket. There was a nest right on
the trail and I had set very close to it. I later heard that several other hikers had had the same problem here. I
carried 3 quarts of water out of here on a hot day so far. I stopped by William Brian Memorial Shelter for a break. I
had been excited to get here because I remember this lovely shelter from my first trip. This shelter is built with a
huge rock in the back and nestled in the bank a little. This time the shelter was trashy and run down and the water
source was dry. There was trash everywhere and the shelter was not very well maintained. I didn’t stay long here
this time and hiked out of there a little bummed. This area seems to have a maintaining problem. Most shelters have
no tables, brooms, or log books in them. People who don’t care are the real problem I guess. This is why the
shelters are taken away from roads. There is one very close to here and it is a party spot. At 2 p.m. I stopped by
Fingerboard Shelter for a break and again water was an issue. It seemed to be ½ mile down the hill which was too
damn far for me. I may camp farther down the trail tonight out in the open with my tent. I read some scratching on
the shelter that said G-man 2005. I had met G-Man in 2004 in Virginia and we were the same age and carried the
same type Kelty old pack which he had also thru-hiked in 1977. He was doing the trail again in sections just like me.
I scribbled under G-Mans name Rowmin Goat 2005. G-Man lives in the area and he would see this and remember
me too. There was no shelter register here. After leaving G-Man the ’note’ I moved on up the trail. This shelter is at
a nice location built on a solid rock foundation, overlooking a nice open forest. It has two fire places made of large
stone. It seems to be an old shelter but I am not sure of the building date. The oldest writing on the walls is from
1982. I hiked on down to Island Pond where it is suppose to be closed to camping. I saw no signs and since it was a
beautiful spot I stayed here in my little tent. I went swimming in the pretty lake and just enjoyed the day. I found a
beer over the hill when I was getting water! I am up on a spot 35 feet up on a little knob overlooking the lake. It is
breezy and 80 degrees and few clouds! I saw many deer today and two bucks. One of them had a big rack. I saw
only 2 people on the trail today. My feet are doing a lot better. Three fellows came in at dark and set up tents and
ate after dark. They are very nice dudes. They got up early and left the area as I got up the next morning. They had
to go to work.
September 9, 2005 - Island Pond to Wildcat Shelter
I got up early and left at 6:30 a.m. It was hard hiking today. There were lots of little ups and downs and I call this
Agony Grind. I saw where the Monbasha Ice cream gang camped out in 1981 after hiking together all day. This had
been 4 dudes including me who hiked through this dry area. I stopped by the road and trail angels have been
leaving water jugs by the road and this would be the only water I saw all day. The hikers need a
permanent water stash in this area. I did pass some lakes today and I could have used that water source. I am up on
top of Monbasha Mountain and I can see the Empire State Building in New York City from here! I was able to see the
skyline three times on this day. It was sunny and a nice day. It is nearly 2 p.m. and I haven’t seen any other hikers
on the trail. My feet hurt. There are many sharp rocks which take a beating on you and your feet. I will drop 5
pounds of gear in the Water Gap. I shouldn’t need the water filter any longer because the water in Pennsylvania is
much better. I got to the shelter at 5 p.m. and 10 minutes later I saw 6 turkeys. This shelter is nice but no water here
either. The normally good spring is dry. Over all the last two days have been the hardest in the second hike so far
including the southern 1000 miles. There have been a few places where hand over hand was necessary. I came
through the lemon squeezer today. I got some big ripe concord grapes today and made a drink out of it and it was
excellent. Moosetracks said the grape juice was very good too.
September 10, 2005 -Wildcat Shelter to Wawayanda Shelter
I left the shelter early and hiked to the nearest road and over to the ice cream shop near the trail. I got there and it
didn’t open till noon. I took a break on the picnic table and got some water and off I went. I hiked a while and got
some water at a nasty looking brook and fixed something to eat there. It is pretty country hiking today even with the
water situation. I got to Wayawanda Shelter. I had to get water out of the lake .2 before the shelter and when I got to
the shelter I found it a small one but nice. It is made out of 6X6 pressure treated lumber. Super feet and Wasso are
here tonight. It is a nice evening. I cooked down grapes and made hot grape juice again and we all shared it.
September 11, 2005 -Wawayanda Shelter to Pochuck Shelter
I am staying at Pochuck shelter tonight. It was an easy day of hiking today except for a couple of steep down hills. I
stopped at N.J. 94 and got some food this morning which was only .1 off the trail. I got bananas, apples, peanut
butter, milk, garlic, and licorice. I also got some great cheese form Amish country in Ohio. I spent $13.00 for all of it
and they let me use their phone to call home. I will send my tent home tomorrow. I should not need it from here on
out. Super Feet is here tonight again. Disco another sobo went on and camped three miles further down last night.
Disco wrote that he saw a bear yesterday. Trail angels left water by the trail near the shelter which was good. It
saved me from carrying water a full mile out of my way. Today is my anniversary of finishing the trail in 1981. I
always remember this date.
September 12, 2005 - Pochuck Shelter to Unionville New York, Dick Ludwick House
I left the shelter at 7 a.m. after my last coffee and toast with cheese for breakfast. I hiked fast and hard 5 miles to the
side road going into town and walked the ½ mile to Unionville. I went to the post office and picked up my mail from
home. While there a man came up to me and introduced himself as the mayor of the village. Dick Ludwick was his
name. He welcomed me to the town and told us if we needed anything just ask. Super Feet was with me and asked
Dick if there was anywhere he could watch the Atlanta Philadelphia football game at tonight. He was from Atlanta
and this is the first Monday night football game of the year. Dick said that we could watch the game at his house.
Super Feet accepted but I wanted to move on today to the secret shelter which I had heard so much about. Dick left
and then 5 minutes came back and apologized for not inviting us for dinner. I then was hooked myself when food
was suggested. We had filet minion for dinner and potatoes and a salad and soda. Dick’s wife was out of town and
he decided we could stay at his house for the night. We did our laundry and took a shower. Dick had some city
business to attend to and gave us two the run of his house. Total strangers and he left us his house. We were
grateful and hung out and watched T.V. and called home from the phone there. Dick had unlimited long distance at
his house and I called everyone I knew and caught with everyone that I knew. I watched the game till half time and
went to bed and slept well through the night. Atlanta won the game. I also met a man at the post office who had
worked with my dad in the 60’s at Western Electric. I had mentioned that I was hiking back to West Virginia and he
said he worked for the telephone company in that state in the 60’s. As we talked a little more I found out that my dad
and he had stayed at the same boarding house and knew each other while working throughout the years. It is a
small world. As we watched the game I drank Black Velvet and Coke and sat in an easy chair. This is not how I
thought the day would end for me. Unionville turned out to be a neat town the second time. The first time I was here
in 1981 it was a road walk through here and the dogs were a big problem. Dick asked me if he could be of help to
hikers and I suggested that the village carry some stove fuel and give it to hikers for a donation. There aren’t many
places to get fuel through here. He said he would do it starting next year.
September 13, 2005– Unionville to Rutherford Lake Shelter
I was up at 6:30 a.m. after great nights sleep. Dick fixed bacon and eggs and coffee and toast for breakfast for us.
Dick gave me a ride back to the trail and thanked me for staying with him. I laughed and told him that was my line. I
hiked out on the trail and soon came to the secret shelter. It is not an official shelter but nicer with a hot shower and
a sink with hot water and an outhouse. I got some apples at this shelter too and took a hot shower. When I went to
get the apples a jack ass started bellowing and I laughed at the beast, he was mad that I was getting his apples. I
also saw a big groundhog at this shelter. I watched him get an apple and go into his hole. I left the secret shelter and
hiked to the High Point Shelter where I took another break. Super Feet came in here with another hiker and after a
long break I decided to hike 4 more miles to Rutherford Shelter. I weighed my pack at the secret shelter and it
weighed 46 pounds with all the food. Rutherford Shelter is off the trail by .4 miles but has a great spring on the way
down. This shelter was on the trail in 1981. Relocations have wreaked havoc on the shelters. Many are .3 off the
trail and some are 1 mile off the trail. The water is still at the shelters so if you need water you have to go 1 mile out
of your way to get it. This makes no sense to me. This is a nice shelter which is not seen by many hikers but it is
pretty here. It always has some apple trees out front. The bugs are bad here. I found an old skillet and put some
birch bark in it to smoke up the place. It is getting dark with a full moon rising. I did a long and hard today despite a
late start from Dicks. I went by High Tower today. It is a monument like the Washington Monument in Pennsylvania.
The trail does not go over it though. You can see it well from an observation deck on a nearby ridge. This is a very
rocky trail around here. I am writing this in the dark. I need to pig out and eat up some of this weight from extra food
that I bought. It is killing me to carry 20# of food. I will do a short day tomorrow at around 9 miles. There is no water
until I get to the next shelter. I slept alone here at this isolated shelter.
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