7/10/21 Rain had stopped last night and I was coming out my tent to cook dinner and Allen was walking to the tent site. I met him and he set up his tent. Great seeing him. Someone chilly overnight. Walked by several small lakes including Crater Lake. Climbed over Rattlesnake and Sunrise Mountain. Went thru Culver’s Gap and much to our surprise there was the Sandwich Lobby and as it was dinner time we both got cheese burgers. Climbed to Culver fire tower which we decided to camp at rather than going on to next shelter. When I got there their was a couple I previously met and one guy was throwing rocks at two bears which had wandered up. I never saw the bears!! He was experienced with bears due to being a naturalist in the past at Glacier National Park, Beautiful sunset and saw fireworks in the distance.They hung their food off the fire tower which we did as well. Could climb nearly to the top of the fire tower except the last portion was padlocked closed. Bears never returned.

7/11/21 Rained overnight but had stopped when we got up. Climbed on the ridge which was quite nice. Weather was nice not hot brief period of drizzling. Saw a few thru hikers. Reviewed some plant and tree species which he didn’t know. Finally something I knew which he didn’t. He had been to much of this area before. Passed over Sunrise Mountain and went into High Point State Park and reached his car. He drove a short distance in the park and showed me the Veterans Memorial which was on the highest point in NJ. Drove to an excellent Mexican restaurant and he drove me to a supermarket where I resupplied.He gave me a new fuel canister and some food. It was nearly dark and we said our goodbyes as he was going home and I was to continue my journey.It was great spending a few days in the mountains with him. He is a good guy and hard for me to say goodbye. I hiked in the dark about 1.5 miles to the High Point Shelter. Ridge Runner camping there and caught me before I crossed a bridge which had a wasp nest on it so I walked around it. It was difficult in the dark. Surprisingly shelter had lots of people so set up my tent.It then rained overnight.

7/12/21 Left later to start hiking as I didn’t get in until 10:00 PM yesterday. Was raining in AM but stopped. Emailed tech support with Guthook made some adjustments and everything is working. Hiking fairly easy no major rocks and only climb was at the end to the Pochuck Mountain Shelter. Some road walking and walked around Wallkill National Wildlife Refuge. Thunderstorms started around 5:15 PM. Basically has been raining at some point everyday for probably one week. Left NJ briefly went into NY but than came back into NJ. Saw a donkey near surprise shelter. Saw several deer and a cottontail rabbit. Going around wildlife refuge the trail is on long wooden planks. Got to shelter rain briefly stopped so set tent up. Started with thunderstorms again. Trail and shelter quieter than normal. More mosquitoes and biting flies. So far dry in tent but clothes all soaked.