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- May 18, 2015
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My Brother in Law and I decided that we wanted a practice climb/hike. We are training for a 25 mile 7 Peak Devils Path hike in June. We settled on the Stairway to Heaven climb up Wawayanda Mountain to Pinwheels Vista in New Jersey. That trail is part of the Appalachian trail so we decided that we would hike the AP trail to 17A in New York about 18 miles. That section of the AP trail took us over Iron Mountain, Wawayanda Hemlock Ravine Swamp, up Bellvale Mountain then run the ridge to Peter Mountain and down to a pick up area known as the Creamery on 17A.
The forecast was rain, rain, rain and 50 degrees with 10-15 mph winds The forecaster got it right this time.
We had worked our way up and over Wawayanda Mountain, Iron Mountain and down thru the Hemlock Swamp and started to ascend Bellvale Mountain. The rain had been coming down in buckets and the trail was flowing like a river.
We came across a marker that said shelter with an arrow pointing down a branch trail. We were wet, cold, and hungry so we decided to take a calorie and morale break. Down the trail about a 100 yrds was a 20x15 well built leanto with a sign that read Wawayanda Hilton.
We climbed up into the hilton which was about 2 feet off the ground and dark inside. My glasses were fogged over pretty good and I heard my BIL say shhhh somebody is sleeping in here. I could make out a orange sleeping bag and some gear laying next to it and a pack. From inside the bag in the dark corner I heard a older womans voice say Who Are You!!!! My BIL said I'm Craig and this is Mike and I said hello. She didnt give her name but said dont mind me and make yourselves comfortable. I still couldnt see her in the dark corner. We asked how long have you been here and she said since yesterday when the rain came in and she would hit the trail again when it stops.We told her we are just doing a day hike over to Peter Mountain. She told us that she started the Trail in Georgia and made it to Pennsylvania in 84 days but she fell and got injured and had to take a couple months off. She had started the trail again in Pennsylvania were she got hurt and has been on the trail for 33 days and was heading to Maine 820 miles north. I told her thats impressive for sure. She said that her and her Father always went camping and hiking in her youth and it was something they always wanted to do but time slipped by and he died in 1966. I said 1966!!!! Excuse me for asking but how old are you? She turned on her little reading light and there was a silver haired tiny old looking woman and she said I'm 71!!! Wow!!!! I was knocked back Mame I am beyond impressed. I'm 54 and I question myself sometimes. You have really truly inspired me!!! What drives you I asked? She said when her Father came back from fighting in his second war Korea. The only thing that gave his mind peace was nature so they spent a lot if time in the woods. She said my husband died 10 years ago, my kids are grown and I want to do this for my Father and myself. I said arent you worried about being alone on the trail and protecting yourself from some crazy person you meet? She said not really I carry a small air horn, some pepper spray, and my Fathers Knife but I haven't had any real trouble people are generally good.
My ears perked at the mention of her Fathers knife so I asked if I may look at it because I have a fondness.
She said I dont mind and pulled it out of her sleeping bag. She said my Father carried this thru the South Pacific in WW2 and Korea with the Marines. She handed me a Kabar Mk2 the blade had a dark silver patina that can only come from years of use and care, the leather handle was dark from use but perfectly intact, the tip was rounded a bit and the edge was sharp. I'm 54 years old and I am not ashamed to say that my eyes welted up with tears holding that knife. Mame this knife will see Maine. And she said as a matter of fact!!!! I know because im taking it there. Wow what a in counter!!!! We told her what a honor it was to meet her,and left her with a can of jetboil fuel, protien bars, and a banana. She said Thank you for the conversation and the supplies and wished us a safe hike. I'm going back to sleep now untill the rain stops. Direct and to the point. This is Sunday night and that was Saturday morning I haven't stopped wondering and worrying about that Young Lady who never gave her name.
The forecast was rain, rain, rain and 50 degrees with 10-15 mph winds The forecaster got it right this time.
We had worked our way up and over Wawayanda Mountain, Iron Mountain and down thru the Hemlock Swamp and started to ascend Bellvale Mountain. The rain had been coming down in buckets and the trail was flowing like a river.
We came across a marker that said shelter with an arrow pointing down a branch trail. We were wet, cold, and hungry so we decided to take a calorie and morale break. Down the trail about a 100 yrds was a 20x15 well built leanto with a sign that read Wawayanda Hilton.
We climbed up into the hilton which was about 2 feet off the ground and dark inside. My glasses were fogged over pretty good and I heard my BIL say shhhh somebody is sleeping in here. I could make out a orange sleeping bag and some gear laying next to it and a pack. From inside the bag in the dark corner I heard a older womans voice say Who Are You!!!! My BIL said I'm Craig and this is Mike and I said hello. She didnt give her name but said dont mind me and make yourselves comfortable. I still couldnt see her in the dark corner. We asked how long have you been here and she said since yesterday when the rain came in and she would hit the trail again when it stops.We told her we are just doing a day hike over to Peter Mountain. She told us that she started the Trail in Georgia and made it to Pennsylvania in 84 days but she fell and got injured and had to take a couple months off. She had started the trail again in Pennsylvania were she got hurt and has been on the trail for 33 days and was heading to Maine 820 miles north. I told her thats impressive for sure. She said that her and her Father always went camping and hiking in her youth and it was something they always wanted to do but time slipped by and he died in 1966. I said 1966!!!! Excuse me for asking but how old are you? She turned on her little reading light and there was a silver haired tiny old looking woman and she said I'm 71!!! Wow!!!! I was knocked back Mame I am beyond impressed. I'm 54 and I question myself sometimes. You have really truly inspired me!!! What drives you I asked? She said when her Father came back from fighting in his second war Korea. The only thing that gave his mind peace was nature so they spent a lot if time in the woods. She said my husband died 10 years ago, my kids are grown and I want to do this for my Father and myself. I said arent you worried about being alone on the trail and protecting yourself from some crazy person you meet? She said not really I carry a small air horn, some pepper spray, and my Fathers Knife but I haven't had any real trouble people are generally good.
My ears perked at the mention of her Fathers knife so I asked if I may look at it because I have a fondness.
She said I dont mind and pulled it out of her sleeping bag. She said my Father carried this thru the South Pacific in WW2 and Korea with the Marines. She handed me a Kabar Mk2 the blade had a dark silver patina that can only come from years of use and care, the leather handle was dark from use but perfectly intact, the tip was rounded a bit and the edge was sharp. I'm 54 years old and I am not ashamed to say that my eyes welted up with tears holding that knife. Mame this knife will see Maine. And she said as a matter of fact!!!! I know because im taking it there. Wow what a in counter!!!! We told her what a honor it was to meet her,and left her with a can of jetboil fuel, protien bars, and a banana. She said Thank you for the conversation and the supplies and wished us a safe hike. I'm going back to sleep now untill the rain stops. Direct and to the point. This is Sunday night and that was Saturday morning I haven't stopped wondering and worrying about that Young Lady who never gave her name.
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You are quite the trooper yourself for going on such a hike in those conditions 
