Adventure on the Appalachian Trail

After all the rain we have had 

for what seems like FOREVER... 

We woke up to a beautiful Saturday morning. 

(For the nutshell version of the adventure

skip to the section in italics below.)

The sun was shining 

the leaves were burning brightly.

We (my husband and I) decided to take a hike 

with our friend, 

and expert on local trials, Marty.

We drove about 1 1/2hours to 

Dunnfield, New Jersey 

with plans to hike the 

Appalachian Trail (AT) to Sunfish Pond. 

Arriving at the Visitor Center 

the first omen for the day was that 

all the restrooms were closed 

due to budget cuts. 

:(

Oh well...

Instead of hiking the same path in and out,

we added a little blue blazed side loop 

which hugs the picturesque Dunnfield Creek waterfalls 

a little longer than the white blazed AT. 

After hiking awhile

we found a portion of the blue blazed trail had 

seriously washed away. 

(Did I mention all the rain we've had?)

While Marty and my husband 

consulted the trail map I slipped behind a tree.

I am not ashamed to admit it...

I peed in the woods.

Chalk it up to the budget cuts. 

:)

Marty and my husband decided the 

nearby green blazed trail 

would take us back to the AT and on to Sunfish Pond.

But enroute to the pond, 

a fellow hiker 

advised us against the path he just came from.

The unusually high water levels 

forced finding new creek crossings and lots or rough terrain. 

Consulting the map again, 

we saw that if we could get across the rushing stream and falls, 

we could get back up a steep hill to the AT. 

We ventured down to the creek 

to find a place to cross.

My husband managed to jump 

to a stoney island.

Marty walked across a fallen tree about 10' 

over the water,

but advised me against doing the same.

So I found a narrow crossing upstream.  

(Narrow = more water force.)

My sweet husband came back across to help me.

He jumped over. 

I passed my camera backpack to him.

He started moving out of my way, 

but the rock face he was on 

was smooth, steep, covered with leaves and slippery.

He slipped...

and slipped some more 

down the rock face and

into the flume of the waterfall. 

He rode the water flume down to 

a pool at the bottom of this section of falls.

He was SOAKED! 

His backpack was soaked.

My camera backpack was soaked. 

And his phone is now somewhere at the bottom of the falls. 

FORTUNATELY....

since we planned to hike uphill 

for 5 miles, I had packed lightly.

One camera and one lens 

which were still around my neck! 

Only my cell phone, 

a bottle of water, 

and a few misc items were in my camera backpack. 

Everything inside of it was completely wet. 

(My phone is now in rice hoping for a recovery.)

But everything in my husband's $29 JanSport backpack was dry! 

Doesn't that seem backwards?

Being a former boy scout, 

my husband had dressed appropriately.

His clothing dried out quickly 

and we continued hiking for hours!

Finally, arriving at Sunfish Pond 

I was a little disappointed 

because at that elevation 

we were about a week past peak 

for leaf color. 

Although we did meet some really nice people up there 

 who were also interested in photography.

After having lunch, 

which was carried in the JanSport backpack 

and therefore still dry,

 we returned home. 

Marty said the vision of my husband 

falling into the waterfall 

is forever burned into his memory.

And no, I did not get photos.

When your husband's life swooshes in front of you,

believe me, you are NOT thinking of photos. 

Fortunately, we can laugh about it now.

Just don't try and call him on his cell.

If you go this fall....

If you plan to hike to the Pond from Dunnfield parking lot off Route 80, 

The blue blazed trail is washed out, 

we were told the green blazed trail has 6 difficult switchbacks 

and you need to find your own creek crossings,

and the upper AT section before Sunfish Pond 

you'll experience really loose rock.

It is hard to find a level place to put your foot.  

I wore hiking shoes but would recommend boots for the ankle support. 

Oh... and the bathrooms are CLOSED!