7-27-12

7-27-12

Why New Jersey is Better than Pennsylvania (To Hike In)

Today I finally crossed into New Jersey. I’ve put the rocks and monotony of PA behind me. For miles I envisioned the transition. I imagined it to be similar to when you’re riding in a car on a multi-state trip, and you go from a state with notoriously bad roads, say for instance, I don’t know, PA, and you drive into a state with good roads. The change is instant. You can go from 2 lanes of potholes, to 6 lanes of smooth, fresh, well engineered roads. As far as the trail goes I was thinking I’d step from rock strewn, poison ivy lined misery in PA, to moss carpeted, wild strawberry lined bliss in Jersey. Well here’s how it really was, I stepped off the noisy I-80 bridge after crossing the Delaware River onto asphalt. Don’t let that disappoint you though, soon the road led to the Kittatinny Visitor Center which seemed nice, then crossed under I-80 and then started up alongside a creek that was home to native brook trout; a clean, cool, pleasant stream.  As I walk I see a man with an easel painting with water colors. How nice.  I paralleled the stream, admiring how it cascades into clear, inviting pools. At the top of the climb, on a mountain, mind you, I came to Sunfish Pond, a 41 acre Glacial Lake, what?! There were no lakes, let alone on a mountaintop in PA. Score 1 for Jersey. No, 2, there weren’t any water color artists either. Then the woods open up and I walk on smooth rock, with panoramic views on BOTH sides, on a ridge, and I can walk and enjoy the view at the same time because I’m not tripping over small rocks. Plus, to get a view I don’t have to take a blue blaze trail that has only a 10 foot window in the foliage. Another point for Jersey; panoramic views. Then I came to another mountain top lake covered with blooming lily pads and a few beaver huts, another plus. Then I had some bear action.

       I was told before that NJ has many bears. So I’m walking along and these 2 SOBO guys say to me, “Hey, just letting you know, in about 200 feet there are 4 bears.”

I was like, “Uhhhh….”

“Yeah, they’re just over this crest here below the tra…” Probably a 3 inch branch cracks in half from the direction they’re talking about. “There, did you hear that? That was one of them.”

“Uhhhh…” I’m trying to come up with something intelligent to say. “Well did they seem aggressive?” I ask.

“There were 2 cubs and a mama. And then we saw another one too.” ‘How does that answer my question?’  I wonder silently. “Anyway, at the end of this gravel road there’s a hand pump for water when you get there.”

“If I get there.” I say. They laughed and said I’d be fine, and we both started walking our separate directions. Well I should say they walked, and I tiptoed. Knife clenched in my teeth, camera in left hand, trekking pole ready to fly as a spear in my right. Actually, I’m kidding about the spear, I couldn’t even get it to stick in a hay bale in PA, it’s not going into a charging bear. But I did walk gingerly for the next quarter mile, every sense alert. I faintly heard some snapping down below, but it seemed the bears moved on. I was actually a little disappointed, I do want to see some bears, although 4 would have been quite enough at once.

So bear excitement, another plus for New Jersey. And another plus, now that I’m not watching every next footstep, I can look around. What a novel idea! I saw a doe, and twin fawns, still in their spots. They were pretty relaxed, even with me being close to them, then later another doe and fawn, again, relaxed.  The deer I saw in PA were always bolting off, except for maybe one time.

It just has some great terrain changes here. Once I saw this craggy rock outcropping maybe 60ft tall and I was thinking it would be great to climb that, then I soon saw white blazes going up it and I was very pleased. In PA, you walk across flat ridges, with few decent views, descend at the gaps into a town, then climb right back up again to another ridge and hike on that for 30 miles. One after the other. I hate to complain, but it got old after 230 miles. The farm country was the most redeeming part for PA I think, and a few great towns. So, if you didn’t pick up on it, I’m happy to be in Jersey. It was a good day.