Branchville, NJ (USA)

[I didn't have far to drive this morning - just from Milford (PA) to Branchville (NJ) - and arrived at the trailhead on US-206 at 0800. I started NOBO, up the Jersey version of a "mountain" (+/- 500 elevation all day). After all the Blue Ridge climbing, this seemed downright flat! I could see for miles from the little ridge line, though. The many lake houses below looked ready to host many a vacation, now that the weather has improved. Just like during my last weekend on AT, I didn't see any people at all while I was on the trail. However, the Sunrise Mountain Pavilion (accessible by car) attracted visitors from all over the region and I couldn't avoid them. But dealing with the crowds was actually worth it - the views were tremendous! Other than the silence on the trail today, the only prevalent noise was the sound of thousands of chirping frogs (in every pond I passed) - Spring is definitely here... When I turned around at the Deckertown Turnpike (where I had stopped, in the snow, almost exactly one year ago today), I decided I'd seen enough rocks and mud. So I used the road (paralleling the trail all day) to get back to my car after I passed the pavilion again. I did encounter several cars on the way down but I still felt like I had the mountain to myself. Made good time too: finished nearly 18 miles in just over seven hours (at 1515). Found a room at the Forest Motel (at 1615) nd then located a good place to eat (Jumboland Diner - finished at 1700). I'm going to hang around here and get some more miles in during the next few days... AT Today = 9.00 miles / Grand Total AT = 632.50 miles]