Archive for the ‘Hiking’ Category

And so it begins

Brian and I have been planning this trip for months… Section 1 of the Long Trail – a 270 mile long trip through the Vermont woods.

From the Green Mountain Club website:

Built by the Green Mountain Club between 1910 and 1930, the Long Trail is the oldest long-distance trail in the United States. The Long Trail follows the main ridge of the Green Mountains from the Massachusetts-Vermont line to the Canadian border as it crosses Vermont’s highest peaks.

We intend to hike it in sections from South to North. This weekend’s hike is a bit under 20 miles, and will take us about 2 and a half days. I hope we can ramp up the distance and duration in the months/years to come… I’d like to finish before I’m 60.

Here’s another view of the trip:

My packweight is 35lbs, and last I heard, Brian is running in the low 40′s. I’m sure we’re overpacking dramatically for a weekender, but that’s the way of it for first timers.

The weather report this weekend looks interesting

Rain on Friday, and night time lows in the mid 30′s. Nice!

Check out this website for a great recount of one hiker’s journey. He finished
in 26 days.

I have fond memories of the Long Trail from having hiked 70 or so miles in the north with my father and the Boy Scouts. I’m so excited to be doing it again.

Shark River Hiking

Hiked 4.16 Miles
Rated:
Bill: 7
Diane: 6.5
Lauren: 10

Impressions: Skunk cabbage, snake holes, and 1 snake. Nice trails along a stream, wood steps and walkways. Lauren removed 3 chiggers and 1 tick (none of which embedded.) We found a deer carcass which had been there for quite some time. Only bones left. Tried to find a geocache along the path of our hike, but we couldn’ locate it. We liked the “Beware of Coyotes” sign…perhaps that’s what killed the deer.

Nice park for kids with playground and rock climbing wall.

Cons: Could mark trails better, with more postings and clearer markers at trail divides.

New Jersey Forest Education Center

Lauren and I visited the NJ Forest Education Center today. A nice short 3-4 mile hike, with lots of interesting exhibits.

Hiking Batsto Lake

Diane, Lauren, and I hiked a 4 mile loop around Batsto Lake, a historic location in the NJ Pinelands.