Branchville, NJ (USA)

I’d saved the last AT section in New Jersey in case I had a free weekend without much time for a drive - I figured I wouldn’t go back there until Summer. However, wintry weather in Southern Virginia this morning basically chose this as that weekend... Left home at 0700 and drove until the light rain stopped (York, PA). Got a gas fillup at Pilot in Harrisburg (0925). Thinking I might actually have enough time to hike in New York, I used I-81 and I-84 (along with many, many Canadian snowbirds, heading north). Made pretty good time but, after crossing the Delaware, decided I didn’t want to keep driving. So I backtracked (with heavy traffic) into Pennsylvania via Port Jervis. I then used US-209 and US-206 to find the trail-head near Branchville (NJ). Headed SOBO from the Culver’s Gap parking lot at 1230. I had to re-hike a short AT section before crossing the busy road but then I found myself on new trail. The climb up to the Kittatinny ridge wasn’t too bad and I enjoyed a tremendous view in all directions. The sun came out and I felt comfortable in two layers despite temps in the low 40s. It was a bit chilly in the wind but most of the time I was sheltered by trees. Intended to use the Brink Road Shelter as a gauge of my distance but I never saw the sign. Instead, I found myself unsure of the exact location of the turnaround point. Fortunately, my pedometer and the trail guide matched up perfectly - I found a spring and the summit of the mountain right when I expected it. At that point, I got the best panorama yet - I could see the Poconos, the Catskills, the High Point Monument and some pretty lakes with vacation homes. Ate a snack and then began my backtrack. Encountered three buzzards on a scraggly tree, three white tailed deer close to the trail and saw hundreds of frogs in ponds augmented by melting snow (they were croaking away on the outbound leg, silent when I returned). Just after I’d started, I met a guy who was out for a stroll. Later passed 20 people with small backpacks (only one looked serious) who were searching for a missing member of their party. Just before I finished, I saw a solo hiker with a big backpack - not sure what he was doing because he was sitting and barely answered my greeting. Made it back to my car by 1745 (after more AT retread), logging around 12.5 miles for the day. Tired but feeling good about squeezing in a few miles while everybody seems to be getting more snow. Checked into the Forest Motel in Branchville (1800). Ate a HUGE dinner at Jumboland Diner at 2005 - I’d forgotten how massive their portions are... Tomorrow is supposed to be colder but clear - hoping to finish the AT in the Garden State before I head home! AT Today = 5.80 miles / Grand Total AT = 1103.67 miles