Beginner

“Hi Everyone...or anyone who stumbled across this note. My friend and I were looking to do some hiking along the AT through Jersey. I have been to the website and of course it makes it all sound good. We are beginners and were wondering if anyone had a suggestion as a good place for our first foray.
I would appreciate any helpful comments.

Thanks a bunch

Jennifer”

“I can't watch....”

“hi jenven welcome to the board. don't worry about Tilt...hes troll paranoid. lol. long story...so have you hiked b4?”

“Tilt's not troll paranoid. He's merely wise to the ways of Trail Talk.”

“Well not only am I new to the "ways of the trail board"...but relatively new to hiking also. I have gone on some small trails, but from what I read about the Appalachian T I feel like I am definitely a baby. That is why I am looking for advice...I do not want take on more than I might be able to handle.”

“What? No fire & brimstone yet?”

“"Here there be dragons"


<grin>”

“Actually this is a swingers site and Tilt is the main man, so watch out! ;) J/K Tilt you know we all love to "hike" with you. ;)”

“Dragons huh? Are there some of you out there I should worry about??”

“Are you looking to day hike, or back pack?

If you are dayhiking in the summer in the NJ AT, it should be pretty easy and safe.

Check out the "beginners" link on this site and take a look at the this link, too: http://www.outdoors.org/activities/hiking/index.shtml " target="_blank"> AMC info on hiking and backpacking ”

“Oh... you'll see soon enough.

Any links that Pedxing posts are probably safe, but I can't say that for everyone here.”

“they do have great info on the AT website. Check out your local hiking clubs too. I am a member of the Allentown hiking club. Its only 5 bucks a year to pay for publication but they have atleast three to four scedualed hikes per week and teach you alot about the trails in your area:)”

“Day hike. I will check out both sides. I probably should have search around for one of those before posting.

Thanks”

“I take it you are one of those anyones to be wary of?”

“How did you find your hiking club? Did you actively search one out or did you run across someone on a trail one day?”

“......don't worry about some around here, we're all perty harmless. Don't let the trolls get to ya, you'll find out who they are indo time. I have found Trail Talk to be a very god resouce of info, by just talkng to people here. Also, here is a good site I like to bum around about the AT:

http://www.trailjournals.com/index.cfm

The journals prove to be very informative. There are some poor souls out there, that's for sure.

I hope you find what you're looking fer, make sure the trolls roll off yer back, and you'll do just fine.

Good luck and happy trails...”

“Day hiking should be no problem. Make sure you have the essentials (they are described on the AMC list). Pick a relatively easy hike to start with and then you will have a yard stick to measure other hikes with.

The "exploring the appalachian trail" series is pretty useful and you will find great info on day hikes on the AT. You might want to check out the one for the mid-Atlantic states: http://www.lattaoutdoors.com/cgi-bin/latta/hgn129.html" target="_blank">

The "50 hikes" series is also pretty useful and they have one for New Jersey.”

“thanks everyone for the advice and suggested readings. I really appreciate it.”

“Dragons huh? Are there some of you out there I should worry about??"
jenven
05:26:26 PM
07/08/03


That's putting it mildly. LMAO!!!!


Anyway.........
Welcome to the nut house jenven!”

“Welcome!

There's lots of nice hiking along the 75 miles of the NJ AT. A nice day hike with options would be from the Delaware Water Gap where the AT crosses rte 80.

I'd recommend stopping by the Information Center and pick up the Kittatinny map set. The info center is on the east side of 80 just before the toll bridge. From there, drive under 80 and park at the picnic area / AT Parking area.

From there, it's a 4 mile gradual uphill hike to Sunfish Pond, where you'll find nice spots for a picnic lunch. It's 1.9 miles if you hike around the Pond. Rather than go back the same way, take the Dunnfield Trail (Green markers) back to the parking area. It's one of my favorite trails.

If you feel energenic when you return to the parking area, you can take the Red Trail up to Mt Tammany. It's a steep 1.5 mile climb but the views are fantastic. Return the same way or make a loop out of it by taking the Blue Trail. The Blue Trail joins the Green Trail .5 mile north of the parking area.

If you get the maps, you'll clearly see these trails with the options. Go early though to beat the crouds if you go on a weekend.

Have fun!”

“In order for me to answer your question, I need a little more information. So please answer the following, and I'll be able to help you.

1. Are you hot?
2. Are you single?
3. Is your friend a female?
4. If the answers to questions 1-3 are no, do you have a sister?

Please respond asap so I can unleash all my Jersy AT knowledge on you.

Welcome!

Buddha S. Bear”

“smooth”

“Regardless of where you hike, please remember this most helpful comment: dogs do not belong in the backcountry.

LNT = LDH.”

“At least Micah is consistent.


Yet I wonder...

What if Micah was to return in his next incarnation as a Laborador Retriever... but his owner had read years ago (on some Internet backpacking site) that dogs shouldn't be allowed in the backcountry... so Micah was always left at home?”

“Micah would end chasing his tail and licking his balls.”

“A good way to condition yourself for the rigors of backpacking is to pack your backpack full, make it weigh 30-40 pounds at least. Go to your local mall or shopping center and just walk, walk, walk. Every 30 minutes or so, stop next to the fountains or other central area where you have a wide space, and set up camp as if you were setting it up for the night. Tent, stove, everything. Then pack it all back up and start walking again. This is great practice! It helps to go when it's real crowded, that way you can practice weaving around all the people like they were trees in the forest or something. Ignore the stares and laughter. You'll get used to it, secure in the knowledge that when you do actually hit the trail, you'll be physically fit and prepared. It's great fun!”

“Hi, I'm a troll. Unrated as of yet.....
I like to touch things......You can call be itchy fingers if you want

Don't listen to stickman. If you're going to set foot on the AT, you should have at least 150 pounds in your pack.”

“you guys are too funny. yeah sure I'll take all my gear...especially the goofy winter hat that flaps over my ears...and go hiking the mall...I'll increase my stamina and thicken my skin (to all the verbal abuse I'll get).


OK guys...I'm going to go and show my ignorance here...what is a Troll? And I cannot tell by all the conversations if the people here find it a good or bad thing.


Bear -

Yes
Yes
Yes - but married
Yes - but with a really nasty disposition...she'd send all your trolls running”

“Thanks for being so upfront an honest, us hot single people really need to stick together.

Good luck with your hike, but if I were you, I'd go to Dolly Sods in West Virginia.


A troll is someone who regularly posts on trail talk but under an assumed name. For example, if walkindude, who is real, created another account with the name of jenvenstalker, then jenven stalker would be a troll.

Hope that helped!”

“Pennsy Hiker suggested probably the two best day hikes on the AT in NJ.

Don't forget plenty of water in this heat.

You'll find some good info and a vague map here. For more, check the 'trips' section on my home page.”

“Whoops.

Sorry, I'm not so good at HTML. The link to my web site is here.

Hope it helps.”

“Funny!”

“DO NOT go to Violin's site as you will down load a virus!!!!”

“Even funnier!”

“That's a good one karo!”

“Virus!

What a kidder.”

“...now....feel welcome...jens


clickin' on that site is your right of passage to TT.”

“I always kinda liked the clock thingy.”

“I can honestly say that I've never trolled on "Trail Talk". walkindude in my only user name on "This site".

Of course it's possible I've started trouble at "the other site".
hehehe”

“You are right Karo! My firewalls won't let me in. LOL.”

“Don't listen to Karo. Karo's secretly jealous because Violin's site is so helpful. Violin's website is awesome for beginning hikers and those new to computers as well. Everyone here (besides Karo) would recommend the site.
Taboo I'm sure it's just a glitch in the firewall. Turn it off and then try it.”