Journey Day 269 | AT Day 92

Bill Jakinovich and his friend near High Point.

6/21/86

Another crazy day starts late. I’ve got a short hike, so I’m slow from the shelter. Quickly lost several times. I come upon trail maintainer Bill Jakinovich lounging with his Asian girlfriend. We lunch together at the High Point on the ridge. Then I hike on. The trail is still confusing. I begin a roadwalk after emerging from the trail through an open field up into a landowner’s yard. A guy across the street is apparently used to fielding questions from lost hikers. He points the way and I walk the road. I take a break at the Wallkill River Bridge, then down to Liberty Corners Road. I meet Matthew Szmidt, who tells me Charles Darwin laid out the trail. He also gives me water. I hike up Pochuck Mountain on more poor trail. I eat dinner, decide to push on. Down to another roadwalk. Through the development, back near the ridge when guys in a truck hand me a beer from their moving vehicle. I push up the ridge after losing the trail again. Darkness hits, I keep going, finding blazes. It’s steep and rocky. I finally give up. Drink beer, look in vain for a flat spot. When you’re tired everything seems flat until you get a closer look. Still awake after a live Dylan and Tom Petty concert on my solar radio. I climb some more to a flat rock. Crash about midnight.t

Matthew Szmidt near the Walkill River Bridge in 1986.