Day 19 - 6.3 miles - St. John's Hostel - Vernon, NJ

Another sunny day.  High 80's and 60% humidity.  Woke to the calls of the birds.  What a great alarm clock.  Heard my first coyote calling last night.  Met a hiker who started last year, like me, and is back to finish the 400+ miles he has to go.  His name is Country Gold.  Nice fella but very talkative.  Also met one of the "greyhounds" (young hikers) by the name of "Yikes".  She started from south of Harpers Ferry on May 11th.

Out early to beat the heat.  The bugs are terrible.  After 2 miles, I had to put on my bug net just to keep them out of my eyes, ears , nose and mouth.  We reached a great overlook that showed the NJ Highpoint tower in the far distance and made us appreciate how far we had come in one day.

NJ High Point Tower in middle on far horizon

Lots of bogs today.  We walked over one that is kind of famous in AT lore.  It is a very nice wooden walkway that goes a half mile over marsh land.  Two years ago they had a fire that almost burned the walk way.  They used helicopters to keep dropping water on it to save the walkway.

When we got to the road it was a 2.4 mile walk to town.  Hot walk, but we lucked out and found a trail angel a half mile down who offered to run us to the St. John's church hostel.  By 11 am I was starting to feel human again.  Nothing beats clean clothes and clean skin.

St. John's Hostel & Church

Resupplying in town for four days on the trail and eating everything we see.  Have already arranged a ride to the trail head at 8 am.  Just need this heat to break.  The climb out of town is a 1,000 foot climb over bolders.  Guress it could be worse.

Today we lose Leadfoot from our hiking group.  He has taken on some bad water and needs to go home and get better.  Mr. Sunshine will be hiking for awhile.

No update on Shakin.  Last I heard he left the Water Gap on Saturday.