New Jersey is...beautiful?

We just crossed another state line and are (finally) done with Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is known primarily for its rocks. The last hundred miles have been hellish. Imagine walking over 3 mile stretches of rubix cubes or playing the lava game for hours on end, but instead of furniture to step on: it's pointed and jagged rocks. 

We had been told (multiple times) that as soon as we cross the Delaware River into New Jersey the terrain would change radically and suddenly: we were promises no rocks. We were lied to. The rocks persist but New Jersey is shockingly gorgeous. I associate New Jersey with vaguely dangerous urban sprawl, Jersey Shore, and Atlantic City.

So far it's been a sparsely vegetated ridge with views to the Delaware, glacial ponds, and fast flowing streams. Pennsylvania by comparison was ridge after ridge of the same trees, oceans of ferns, and miles of rocks. All the locals out hiking told us to tell our friends in a vain attempt to change New Jerseys image. 

Since our last update we've already met with and pushes through a new hiking bubble. Rain a week or so ago pushed 19 hikers into the 501 shelter (where pizza can be delivered). We spent the next few days hiking with Z, Sconnie, Pack Rat, Biscuits and Gravy, Sweat, Sandman, and Gummi Bear. 

I also encountered and overcame the greatest challenge on the AT to date: a half gallon of ice cream. Usually hikers attempt the half gallon challenge at Pine Grove Furnace State Park located just after the halfway point, except when we passes through it was closed. We did our challenge in Palmerton, in front of the grocery store to the delight and disgust of the locals, and I will never eat ice cream again. That much dairy is near impossible, even when you're eating 5-6 000 calories a day. 

We've also hiked around a superfund site after a near vertical rock uphill and seen a rattlesnake in the flesh. We are currently at the Mohican Outdoor Center to avoid a thunderstorm rolling through. We're headed for Greenwood Lake New York to catch a bus back to Pittsburgh so Garfunkel can be at his brothers wedding, so our next post will probably just be a notice of our 5 day ( much needed) hiking hiatus.

The trail went across the bridge and the up.

The thick black thing is a rattlesnack.