Thunderswamp Trail Trip

“Yahoo...weather report looks good!!
Saturday, mostly clear, high around 60.

Saturday night:Mostly clear, lows mid-30's.

Sunday: Partly cloudy, hihg around 60.

I thought this might help with gear and clothing selection.

We'll meet at the northern trailhead parking lot @ 8:30AM on Saturday morning and take the vehicles to the cabin where they'll be safer for the weekend. See yall' there!!”

“See ya there.”

“YAY! It looks like my 40 bag will get a good test Sat night. I sure hope I don't have to cuddle with any of you lugs. ;o)”

“: (

have a few drinks for me”

“The weather looks great and I'm looking forward to the trip since I haven't been on one in a long time.”

“Rich, it will be great to see you on the trail again. Welcome back!

Scorchy - no one's gonna drink FOR you. You'll just have to get yer behind up there and drink for yerself. ;o)”

“Have fun NJ, I'm with Scorchy ...how could you go anywhere without the Tom Jones Crew???? Enjoy and send pics

Jack.Canine”

“Thanks Pennsy, it will be great to see you and everyone else again.”

“Pennsy, can't make it this weekend, too much stuff going on with school and also no money. I'd absolutely LOVE to make it but just can't right now.”

“No money? Dang, is NJPacker charging a fee again? ;o)”

“Jackcanine...give that big guy a hug for me. Sorry you guys won't be along.

Pennsy..bite your tongue fella'...I actually offered..Oh never mind. Scorchie understands me !”

“By the way...no wise cracks from the peanut gallery! Pumba is Jackcanine's German Shepherd.”

“LOL!!”

“Good cover NJ....lol”

“See you all in the AM.

Hey jack too bad you're not going. I'll have my GoLite colostomy bag for hooch. Now all I need to do is find a boulder.”

“bring the one from TJ mt. it was lightweight.”

“I'm tellin' you guys I was }this{ close to sneaking up on you Turkeys this weekend, when my wife actually agreed to do a dayhike to the Pinnacle with me tommorrow!

It has just started to rain and thunder wildly here!

This will be Giselle's first time to set foot on the Appalachian Trail and I've only been trying to get her to get out for the last, uhmmm, eight years!

Gotta run out and play the lottery, whadda day!!!”

“that's flippin awesome!”

“Pennsy I hope that's a warm 40* bag. It's supposed to drop down to 29* Saturday night.”

“Hope you guys are having fun! I've been thinking about yous.”

“have fun you lucky somethinorothersthatshallremainunsaid

don't forget your pantyhose Missy E! xoxo”

“I'm sure he's got them, it's supposed to be slightly cold!”

“Taveling back home from the midwest for a loooong weekend. Too bad I'll be too busy to join you guys. Reading this post makes me homesick.”

“Let us all know how the trrip was and if MH found a comfortable boulder. A little windy and cold but I'm sure you all survived with all the anti-freeze!!

JC (thats Jack.Canine, not the other JC)”

“trip report? pics? let's go slackers! (they're prob not even off the trail yet, LOL)”

“I'm really tired after a great weekend but just because Some people can't wait, here goes:

I met must hike, Pennsy, M Silver, Richb, and Phantom Soul (first time TT'er) at the Trailhead lot at 8:30 and took the cars to the cabin on Lake Minisink. Shortly thereafter,we headed out onto the trail. The temperature was in the high 40's, making for a great hiking temp. We headed SE, toward Red Rock Run and immediately started to realize that although there would be minimal elevation gain, we'd be in for a fun time with the rocks. This trail rocks.(Literally!!) We stopped for lunch at a grassy clearing along the run and soon as we sat, we were all picking ticks from our gear, clothing and bodies.
After a quick lunch, we hit the trail once again and continued along Red Rock Run, stopping for a few photo ops. JMitch had described this water flow as very nice and his description was on the money. There were several small water falls and it made for a very scenic hike all the way to Saw Creek.
We crossed Rt.402 and headed toward the Bushkill Creek. The sun had managed an appearance and the temperature ahd risen to about 60, so the hiking was very comfortable, although we still had to contend with a very rocky terrain. When we arrived at the Bushkill, we started to scout for a nice camping area. Richb said he saw a side trail to our left when we first arrived, so Pennsy and I went to check it out. Capn' Bobo would have been proud!! We found a real-type Loyalsock secret campsite, complete with Flintstone furniture! What a great site. We were next to the creek, on soft, flat ground, with fine furniture, just right for enjoying great company, good conversation, and a variety a spirits. H_ll, our first time TT'er paid his dues bigtime. He packed in a six pack of Yuengling!! Wahoo! We need to elect Phantom Soul as the training coodinator for newbie TT'ers. He even packed out all the empties!
We set up camp, ate our meals, said our good byes to M Silver, who only came for the day, then settled in for some serious spirits. We drank Pennsy's wine, my Amaretta, Phantom Soul's Yuengling, and must hike's TNT. We talked until after mid-night and finally decided it was time to hit the bag. Although I did in fact, have my camp crocs and silk longjohns, I wasn't ravaged into bondage and forced to dance the Pee Wee Herman as I was last week at the Tom Jones/Harriman Trip. You see, we had no sexually abusive ladies on this trip!! WOW...did I miss you ladies !!LMAO!!
We awoke this AM, ate braekfast, broke camp and headed on the trail at 9:00AM. It was much chillier than yesterday morning (temp in the mid 40's and cloudy). Shortly after leaving camp and heading north, we began to understand why they called this the Thunderswamp Trail. Between carefullk stepping around all the rocks, you really needed to be alert in the swampy areas, as the mossy rocks, and tree roots were very slippery. We hiked until mid afternoon, when we started to get hit with intermittent showers. Everyone appeared to have had a good time and I'm sure everyone is anticipating a great night sleep tonight. (If they're not all asleep already.) lol...
Check out some of the pics...hope they came out!

http://community.webshots.com/scripts/editPhotos.fcgi?action=viewall&albumID=137472749”

“you link did not work

que pasa?”

“Hey pal - it looks like you linked your Webshots user page instead of the public page there.

Thunderswamp is a great trail system. Mostly a forest hike, but lots of great streams, cascades and some real nice waterfalls. Our campsite was as perfect as it gets.

The only downside was the bugs on Saturday. I was expecting bugs, like skeeters and such, but I didn't expect the blood sucking black flies to be out this early. I literally had blood dripping down my forehead from 1 nasty bite. The ticks were out in force as well, but it's all part of the adventure.

The new kid on the block, beer b|tch Phantom Soul, earned his wings by packing in 8 (not 6) BOTTLES of Yuengling. He's my new hero!

Must Hike had a severe blister problem Sun and the rocks beat up on PS's knee so I hope all is well with them.

Thanks to NJ for organizing such a fun weekend. It was also great to see RichB back on the trail again as this was his first backpack in quite some time. My pics should be up tomorrow night.”

“Link to NJPacker's trip pics.

I guess I gotta do everything around here. ;o)
Great pics! Shoot, I won't need to post mine, cuz I think we both kept shooting from the same places.”

“Although I did in fact, have my camp crocs and silk longjohns, I wasn't ravaged into bondage and forced to dance the Pee Wee Herman as I was last week at the Tom Jones/Harriman Trip. You see, we had no sexually abusive ladies on this trip!! WOW...did I miss you ladies !!LMAO!!


You know you missed us, LMAO!!!

Sounds like an awesome adventure and I'm upset that I missed it, but I DID get a lot of work done over the weekend.

It's too bad you guys aren't coming next weekend to Hawk Mt!

Going to check out your pictures now....”

“Great pictures, NJ.

richb glad to see u back on the trail. You and your homemade gear,.. whatta genius!

Pennsy, it's just a little flesh wound!

Phantom Soul, hope to hike with you on a TT trip sometime.

must hike, you shoulda brought some dancing tape for those blisters! Glad to see you found a pseudo-boulder to lean up against on. I bet TJ Mt. boulder was extremely jealous. Don't worry, I won't tell.

Oh, and you all look like a bunch of hoodlums at the bushkill creek sign!”

“Saturday was an excellent day hiking with some fine people. The weather was outstanding and although it rock-ed in places, the trail was in great condition. Hiking along the streamside sections was especially enjoyable for me. Black flies were out and swarming in a lot of places, but only a few bites here and there (re: Pennsy). It was hep to hike with some of the usual suspects again (RichB, musthike, Pennsy, NJpacker), and it was nice meeting newcomer, PhantomSoul. Hope youans stayed warm Saturday night-Sunday morning, and had another good hike on Sunday. Thanks NJpacker, for organizing another great trip.

MSilver's Thunder Swamp Trail Pix - Saturday”

“Great photos guys. Loved those shots of the cascades.

It's nice to see all those smiles. You guys had a great time. You can tell.

Peace- \o/”

“Sounds like a great trip guys.

Enjoyed the pics.”

“Pennsy...don't even think about Not posting your pics. With that awesome camera you have, your pics always turn out best. Sooooooo, when you get time, please post for us to see. I know that black fly didn't take that much blood!! LOL.”

“great pics, glad you all had a good time”

“...The PhantomSoul crawls out of the woodwork; sorry I didn't post sooner, but I was so tired I just passed out and didn't wake up until it was time to go to work this morning.

Anyway, my innaugural TT trip was a blast with a great group of people, with whom I'd hike again anytime. Amazing campsite as described by NJpacker.

I tweaked my knee on one of the many rocks in the trail on Sunday and literally had to limp the last mile back to NJpacker's cabin, using my poles as crutches -- and this was after a little help from good ol' Vitamin I. I'm happy to report that by now I can walk level surfaces without a limp or pain killers, although going down stairs is still a little sore. It's kinda funny; something happens to me every time I hike in PA -- last time it was my right hip, this time my left knee. I tell you, those PA rocks are just plain evil. Yet something compels me to keep coming back...

Injury aside, I think a good time was had by all. I can't wait until my next TT trip to the Catskills in 2 weeks.

PS - ScorchFire - I've heard a lot about you and we should definitely hike together sometime. This might have been my first TT trip, but it's definitely nowhere near being my last.”

“PhantomSoul remember what's said at the camp fire stays at the camp fire.


Oh, and how have you been ScorchFire?”

“By the way, has anyone heard from must hike? I hope his foot condition has improved...”

“My foot is ok just sore. No blisters I just beat up my heel somehow. I guess that’s what PA rocks will do to a person.”

“The TNT sounded reaaal good, but then I got to the Pee-Wee dance thing and I was kind'a glad I missed yous! Weather was awesome on Saturday and the bugs were out on the Pinnacle, so I know you guys must have been doing some serious swatting.

ThunderSwamp -- Cool Name!”

“PhantomSoul...glad you're knee is OK. Next time, we'll settle for a six pack. The less weight factor will save the knees! LOL. Thanks kid...you can hike with us anytime. I was kinda' tired last night also but had enough energy to post and get my pics posted.
Just remember what must hike said about the campfire conversation. You listenin' Scorchie.(ears burn a little Saturday night!) Boohaahaa
Don't worry..we all missed ya'.

must hike...what fire? We weren't allowed to have a fire! You know, Pennsy's lantern did look like a fire! By the way, explain to PhantomSoul there's no need to be concerned about the foot...only brain matter!!LMAO..Take it easy guy. Hope we can get out after my section hike. It was a good time. Gotta' luv that TNT!”

“Wow, I didn't realize that would come out so bad; sorry if I offended you, ScorchFire. I just simply meant to answer your earlier post about wanting to hike with me on a TT trip.”

“Whatever you heard, I deny it all! must hike lies, his boulder affects his way of thinking.

LOL, just kidding. These are a great group of guys and I'm sorry I missed the hike...

Where in Jersey are you from? I wanna get a backpacking trip scheduled for the Pine Barrens.... flat but I wanna sleep on that fuzzy land.”

“SF - I'm in Plainsboro (near Princeton). We have the Batona (BAck TO NAture) trail that goes about 50 miles through the pines. Perhaps we can start a thread about a South Jersey hike sometime in the summer to see if any other TT'ers would be interested?”

“Yeah, what fire? We packed in one of those fake apartment fire thingys for ambiance.

btw - I uploaded my pics to Webshots a few hours ago and the album still hasn't appeared. :o(
None of mine are any better than the others but the macro shot of the wolf spider carrying the egg came out pretty cool. I post the album as soon as it shows.

Offend Scorchy?? Now THAT is funny! ;o)”

“PS, I've been on parts of the Batona and Bastso trails in the Barrens, but only for a day hike. I'd be willing to go on a weekend trek this summer! You name the dates and I'll see if I can do it.”

“Did I say campfire? That's just a figure of speech.
PhantomSoul we have to be careful, if people find out we sit around saying nice things about them it will ruin our bad boy reps.”

“Thug!”

“Nice things? Who was saying nice things? Did I miss something here?”