NJ > AT Columbus Day week 2013 through NJ

**Rain Man** · 10-03-2013, 10:03

NJ AT Columbus Day week 2013

I'm planning to hike the New Jersey section of the AT in a couple of weeks, starting Monday, Columbus Day (or perhaps some time on Sunday) at Delaware Water Gap and doing the 70-80 miles (depending on where we choose to exit the trail at a road crossing). End day will probably be some time on Saturday, October 19th. That's about 10-12 miles a day. Leisurely.

If the government shut-down is still in effect (which has closed the Delaware Water Gap NRRA), then plans will be adjusted accordingly.

One or two WhiteBlaze.net locals from up that way plan to meet and hike with me. If anyone else is interested, get in touch with me and let's discuss.

Also, anyone care to share hints, suggestions, warnings, sites to avoid or not-to-miss? What about hunting season? Thanks in advance!

Rain Man

P.S. I also posted this trip on WhiteBlaze.

**Silent Bob** · 10-10-2013, 17:04

Originally Posted by Rain Man

NJ AT Columbus Day week 2013

I'm planning to hike the New Jersey section of the AT in a couple of weeks, starting Monday, Columbus Day (or perhaps some time on Sunday) at Delaware Water Gap and doing the 70-80 miles (depending on where we choose to exit the trail at a road crossing). End day will probably be some time on Saturday, October 19th. That's about 10-12 miles a day. Leisurely.

If the government shut-down is still in effect (which has closed the Delaware Water Gap NRRA), then plans will be adjusted accordingly.

One or two WhiteBlaze.net locals from up that way plan to meet and hike with me. If anyone else is interested, get in touch with me and let's discuss.

Also, anyone care to share hints, suggestions, warnings, sites to avoid or not-to-miss? What about hunting season? Thanks in advance!

Rain Man

P.S. I also posted this trip on WhiteBlaze.

I saw your tentative schedule on WB and I believe St. Thomas hostel is closed. I did this hike last year around this time and remember seeing a flyer saying it was closed the first of October. Places to see i would suggest taking the blue blaze trail Pinwheels vista a nice view from Wawayanda mountain. Glen Anderson and High Point had nice places to hang. Murrays place is a must see but dont recall anywhere to hang. If you have a pad and there aren't many SOBO you might get a spot in shelter. We stopped there for lunch on a rainy day. It was nice warming up and being able to charge our phones. High point is very rocky and dont forget to get water at house before climbing Pochuck mountain. Have a nice hike..

**Rain Man** · 10-10-2013, 17:25

Originally Posted by Silent Bob

I saw your tentative schedule on WB and I believe St. Thomas hostel is closed. I did this hike last year around this time and remember seeing a flyer saying it was closed the first of October.

I did (and do) plan to call them to confirm, so I thank you for the warning. Also, for the other suggestions! HF is a great place.

Here's the tentative schedule, which I meant to also post here, but it took a while--

Sun eve - hike 4.6 miles from DWG to "Backpacker Site."
Mon - hike 11.4 miles to "Campsite."
Tue - hike 11.7 miles to Hwy 206 (places to eat/stay?)
Wed - hike 11.7 miles to Rutherford Shelter
Thur - hike 12.5 miles to Unionville (places to eat/stay?)
Fri - hike 10.7 miles to Vernon (places to eat/stay?)
Sat - hike 15 miles to NY Hwy 17A

A couple of folks from WB have PM'd me and hope to come out to hike with us a day or two, or just to meet at road crossings or towns to share a meal with us at a restaurant. Feel free to contact me if any of you here on HF would like to do the same.

Rain Man

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**Rockdawg69** · 10-10-2013, 18:53

Hey Rain Man,

Did all NJ south bound about this time in 2008. Provided weather is good you should have some great fall color. Watch out for bears in the leftover blueberry patches, if any are left over. AMC owns the Mohican Outdoor Center you will pass after Backpacker #2 site. Limited re-supply and good for a cold drink. In bad conditions, you could haul in for an overnight. Should be able to get into the hostel at Union City, NY for cleanup and re-supply. Not much between DWG and Union City, just one major crossing with stores as best I remember.
Check out my 2008 journal at: www.trailjournals.com/rockdawg69
if you want more info.

Have a blast!

**Rain Man** · 10-10-2013, 23:10

Thanks, Rockdawy69! I appreciate the info. RM

Originally Posted by Rockdawg69

Hey Rain Man,

Did all NJ south bound about this time in 2008. Provided weather is good you should have some great fall color. Watch out for bears in the leftover blueberry patches, if any are left over. AMC owns the Mohican Outdoor Center you will pass after Backpacker #2 site. Limited re-supply and good for a cold drink. In bad conditions, you could haul in for an overnight. Should be able to get into the hostel at Union City, NY for cleanup and re-supply. Not much between DWG and Union City, just one major crossing with stores as best I remember.
Check out my 2008 journal at: www.trailjournals.com/rockdawg69
if you want more info.

Have a blast!

**Silent Bob** · 10-11-2013, 06:27

There is a farmers market in vernon. When you come to nj94 make a left and walk 5 mintues down road. They will let you use the spigot for water.

**Rain Man** · 10-21-2013, 21:20

Back home from my hike, safe and sound! What GREAT weather we had all week. Rained part of one night at the "Secret Shelter," after we were snugly bedded down for the night. Here's a link to the photo album I posted of the hike. The captions are my "trip report."

I hung every night Sunday-Thursday. We finished Friday evening.

Photo Album of the hike.

My family re-arranged my shuttle plans on me, so I finished a day early, in Vernon, NJ and did not hike on Saturday (as previously planned) at all.

Rain Man

**Rockdawg69** · 10-22-2013, 20:03

Great hike Rain Man. Reminds me of all the colors I saw. Beautiful weather. Love all the pics.

My bear was a much closer encounter, in daylight and with her cub in tow. She burst out of the trail and down the mountain, one little black ball on her rear end. About one heart beat in time. I may have skipped a few beats after that, not sure.

**fishbait** · 11-01-2013, 12:14

Man Rain Man I'm jealous. Silent Bob and I hiked the entire NJ Trail and not once did I see a bear. That's just not right

I've come to the conclusion that NJ has some of the better looking and better equipped shelter sites. So far New York has been a disappointment. Connecticut wasn't to bad for shelters but was definitely some great hiking.