In preparation for my upcoming climbing trip to Russia, I decided to hike a section of the Appalachian Trail. This would hopefully help me get in better shape for the climbing trip, as backpacking all day for weeks is practically what I would be doing on the mountains in Russia. My plan was to hike around 300 miles from Bear Mt. NY to the VA/PA state line grab a bus and be back home in time to leave for Russia on July 14th.
At 8PM on June 14th, 1987 I got on a bus for New York City. Bear Mt. State Park is just a few hours north of NYC and that would be where I would begin. After missing my connecting bus in NYC I finally arrived the next afternoon. I got a ride to Bear Mt. State Park, hiked in a few miles and camped. The next day from the top of Bear Mt you could see the Hudson River and the NY City skyline in the far distance.
New York was very hilly, rocky and that time of year very hot and dry. Springs and creeks were low or non-existent, forcing me to carry a gallon of water at a time, and having to knock on doors for water. I passed through the Lemon Squeezer in NY and the highest point in New Jersey call High Point at 1,803 feet tall. Before I knew it, I was in Delaware Water Gap and entering Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania or Rocksylvania as hikers call it, is full of rocks you either climb, crawl or walk over. It's said that people file them to a sharp point to make it harder to walk on. A section near Wind Gap (PA 33) was definitly not fun. Every step was on a rock, you could not take your eye off on the next step or you might trip or missing your step. The next day was 16 miles on a dry ridge with no water at all. At the end of the day I had to walk 1.5 miles off trail to a store and get water. The following day I hiked down the cliffs above Palmerton PA. This was more like rock climbing down instead of a trail. Definitely one of the more steeper sections of trail in PA. Later that day I spent time picking and eating some huckleberries beside the trail.
I crossed the Susquehanna river at Duncannon PA. I stayed at the famous Doyle Hotel built in 1905. The trail runs down the main street.
Later I was lucky to meet Cindy Ross, a former AT hiker who wrote "A Women's Journey". She had a hostel on the trail, so I stayed there overnight. I remember the solar shower built. Next day made it into Port Clinton beside the Schuylkill river and stayed at a bar/motel for $12.50 a night. I remember pigging out for supper.
On Saturday the 4th of July, I passed by Pine Grove State Park and got a hotdog, french fries, Coke and ice cream. Everyone was out and having a picnic and swimming in the lake. That night I remember lying in my tent up on a ridge and hearing the fireworks going off down in the valley below.
The next day, July 5th, Sandra (my future wife) surprised me by driving up to PA and picking me up at Caledonia State Park. The next week was spend at the beach with my family and packing and preparing for the trip to Russia.
In summary, I was able to hike 321 miles in 20 days for a average of 16 miles per day. This helped me lose 15 pounds and get my trail legs in shape for the Russia climbing trip.