Date: 2003-06-04
From: Lehigh Gap, PA 

To: Leroy Smith Shelter 
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Aloha! Whewie and Jiminy Cricket combined! What a day, what a day! Not a terribly exciting day; just a physically challenging one. For me anyway. I've climbed the mountain and lived to tell about it! So let me tell you.   Much to everyone's chagrin we awoke to pouring rain. (That's okay, I have my pack cover!) By the time breakfast at Bert's was complete though the rain had stopped. A clear indicator that it was time for at least three of us to pack up and go. ChuckLuck chose to sit out the rain and rest his tootsies for the day. The remaining three (Quasi, Tubs and me) packed our gear and headed out to find a hitch. For whatever reason it seemed to take us forever to pack and go. (Fog on the mountain and the calling for major rains maybe?)    Once again we lucked out on catching a hitch back to the start point. It must have been Quasi's legs since he was the only one with his thumb out. The gentleman who picked us up stated that he does this to find out where everyone is coming from. Sounds like a wannabe vagabond to me! Sounds good! Anyway, he delivered us to our destination safe and sound. Okay, I was safe and sound since I got to ride up front. The guys on the other hand were wet and cold but that's beside the point.   Okay, this is where the Whewie and Jiminy Cricket come in. Our starting point was something like 385' and going to 1500' in a mile. The first half was almost straight UP via large boulders. This was going to be fun! Hard work for this gal but also fun!   The guys took off leaving me to eat their trail dust in no time. They fairly flew UP and over these rocks. I on the other hand, being older and wiser, took my sweet time looking for the perfect step or handhold. There's something about breaking a leg three times that makes me a wee bit more safety conscious. (That's a nice way of saying scared! @#$%^and.) Anyway, 2/3rds of the way to the top of the first third I look UP for my next step to find the boys merrily taking pictures of facial expressions. Not nice! Action women shots they say. Phooey I say. They just wanted to see if I'd make it! And I did!   It was a blast. Remembering back to what Miles to Go said a week or so ago, I had fun with the rocks. It wasn't easy for me but it wasn't unbearable either. Would I do it again? Sure. As long as I could go UP. Being southbound on that would not be fun. I can now see why Beast of Burden waited at the top for a north bounder to come through to give him an idea of where to go. Could be scary.   Anyway, we did it. With the pictures taken we all continued on our way. They once again made me eat their trail dust. While I took pictures, they flew out of sight until the end of the day.   After the "vertical" climb, the trail traverses large rocks in a gentler pattern until it gets to the open ridgeline. I understand that on clear days there are continuous views to the valleys below. That wasn't to be in my case. Instead of to die for views I got the Alfred Hitchcock version - eerie fog. For many miles across a burned out (uncontrollable 20 day fire two years ago) ridge I walked. I love this kind of day! No rain, no bugs, no snakes; just cool temperatures and heavy fog to keep it that way. I realize that there are many that have been out for many months and would love to see the sun but this is my type of hiking weather. I was happy and having a blast.   After the open ridge it was hiking as normal. A long and rocky day. I had played so long on the rocks and ridgeline it was after 6:30p before I made it to the turn off for the shelter. Just as I did so here come the boys. Quasi and Tubs had heard from the kid staying at the shelter that the movie Matrix 2 was playing in the next town and were off to see if they could make it in time. Another five miles making a 21-mile day for them. The invitation to join them was extended but I opted to forego for another day. My feet and I were tired! Off they went to their next adventure and off I went to find a good stream to soak my bruised toes in. Age!   My shelter mate this evening is a nice young college man named Eric. It seems that Eric has a friend going to school in DC and he thought he'd go visit him. Being low on cash he has chosen to walk there. By the looks of his pack and feet a bus may have been a better option.   Ahhhhh...there it is... the rain I've missed it all day. Not! Perfect for sleeping though. With that said, it's time for me to snuggle down and try to read a couple of pages in the book I've been carrying since Duncannon. It seems some things never change even on the trail. I read three pages only to find the next night that I slept through the last two. It takes forever getting through a book this way.   You go read a good book too. You'll sleep better.BS&Ts: there was blood! Scrapped the scab off a too-scratched mosquito bite while climbing Lehigh Gap. Looked like a bear had gotten me. Don't even know what's up with that!A&Ps: feet - swollen - tired - need I say more?M&Gs: stumped toes ... WAAH!Critter count: 4 x chipmunks; that's it. Bummer.