Backpacking from Delaware Water Gap thru New York

Backpacking

As a boy I loved to walk through the woods and marshes of Virginia.  My family had bought a secluded log cabin nestled in a fifteen acre woods along a stream.  It was a small cabin once used as a confederate hospital during the civil war.  Many  times at night I imagined wounded or dying soldiers ascending the stairs to the loft where I slept.  It was rumored that a soldier actually died on those stairs.
Needless to say, I spent a lot of time sleeping in the woods.  Because of these fond memories of the woods I later spent much of my career protecting and conserving the environment.

The New Jersey and New York area along the Appalachian Trail reminded me of that childhood home.  There are many low lying areas with streams bordered by wetlands.  The Delaware and Hudson Rivers flow freely through the land toward the ocean.  The mountains rarely reach three thousand feet in elevation.  I believe that, because of the easy access and less changeling terrain, this area has been heavily mapped.  A very abundant and diverse wildlife population may be found here.  It is not unusual to see black bear and deer feeding beside hordes of Canada Geese.  The marshy areas provide great feeding and nursery areas for fish and birds.  While hiking this section I wanted to stop and put up my hammock in the wetland to observe the swamp as it comes alive during the night.  It is said that this section of the AT has one of the largest black bear populations.
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Hiking and Backpacking through New Jersey and New York.

There are many Appalachian Trail maps available for this section of the trail.  The Appalachian Trail Conservancy produces four maps covering the states of New Jersey and New York.

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 Exploring the Appalachian Trail with hikes in the Mid-Atlantic States by Glenn Scherer and Don Hopey.

The Appalachian Trail Companion is produced each year along with a AAA map of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

This area of the trail has one of the largest population of black bear, so I carried a canister of bear spray.

At night I also placed a bear fence around my hammock.

A closer look at the bear fence

The manufacturer makes a claim that bears will not go through the fence.

After traveling through rocky Pennsylvania it was a joy to walk on New Jersey's soft earth again.

                                                               The trails are clearly marked and maintained on this section of the trail.

                                                If there are no trees to mark, large boulders may be painted with the white blaze.

When there are no trees or boulders on the trail a pile of rocks, called cairns, may be found.

Close to populated areas there may be trails of packed gravel wide enough to be accessed by handicapped hikers.

At the lower elevations during the rainy season the trail can be muddy with standing water.

                                                                     Low-lying bridges are constructed to pass over the marshy areas.

At times, eight to twelve foot long boards are nailed together in an attempt to keep a hiker's feet dry.

Wooden steps are constructed to cross over pasture fences.

Farmers allow the trail to pass through their fields by using wooden steps and boards protecting crops and animals.

This is an example of the simple board walkway.

In the lower areas there are lots of wetlands.

Canada Geese like to forage for food next to the trail.

,Wetlands are nationally protected breading grounds for fishes and birds, and it is against the law to disturb them.

Wetland vegetation is a buffer for development.

Where the trail crosses large wetlands more elaborate walkways are constructed to protect them.

Large, high foot bridges are constructed in areas where there are large stream crossings and flooding possibility.

More elaborate bridges are also constructed over hazardous areas.

                                                        The state of New York is proud to host a portion of the Appalachian Trail.

Bear Mountain and Bear Mountain Inn are located on the banks of the Hudson River.

nThe Appalachian Trail actually passes through Bear Mountain zoo, where you can observe black bears.

A plaque announcing that the Bear Mountain Bridge was the first highway bridge to span 153 feet above the Hudson River south of Albany 

                                                      The trail crosses over the Hudson River by way of the Bear Mountain Bridge.

Bear Mountain Bridge crosses from mountain side to mountain side, high over the Hudson River not many miles from New York City.

A beautiful view over the Hudson River

A downstream view of the Bear Mountain Bridge

At several places along the Appalachian Trail registration boxes help identify hikers on the trail.
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The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall .........." Psalm 37:23-24