Date: 2015-06-29
From: Superfund Trailhead, Palmerton PA

To: Smith Gap Road
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was the day. No excuses. I was going up the rock face. John dropped me off just where he had picked Rockin Robin, Emma, and I up for the first time just a few days ago. At that time I saw the rock face. So I already knew what I was in for. Up the side of the mountain is nothing but rocks, and the AT goes straight up the mountain over those rocks.The weather was perfect - cool, with a slight breeze and zero percent chance of rain. I was feeling fine and had a good night's sleep. I had absolutely excuses.I started at 7:45 a.m. and literally climbed over rocks, up and up and up, for over 1 hour and 20 minutes. John gave me zip ties so I could temporarilly attach my hiking poles to my waist pack (which is actually the lid or brain of my backpack) when I reached the really difficult rocks, which occurred almost immediately.For a while the white blazes seemed to go straight up, and it was up to me to figure out how to get my short legs with tight hamstrings up and over the rocks, which seemed to grow in size the higher I climbed. I think I previously mentioned that I am extremely afraid of heights.   (I do not like to go above the 3rd rung or step on a ladder.) But here I was, clinging to rocks for dear life as I tried to plan my next move upward while always keeping an eye on the white blazes.I did not dare look down while I was climbing. But whenever I reached a spot where I could stop and safely turn around I took in the view and took pictures. Instead of going all the way up and over, about 1/3 of the way up the white blazes turned to the left and gradually made their way to the top upward and diagonally. It was as if the blazes just wanted to mess with me and prolong my agony.I have to admit, the rock face was not as scary as the Knife's Edge but only because you could fall off just in one direction. (The Knife's Edge is on top of a ridgeline, so you can fall off there on either side.)I have already climbed Mount Katahdin and Mount Washington.   I have to also admit that the rock face was not as hard or as scary as either of those mountains. But I still did not like it.p>After an hour and 20 minutes I was suddenly back in the trees on a rocky dirt trail. But I was also in the Superfund area. The AT took a detour around most of the Superfund area by way of a trail overlooking Pulmerton.   The view of the valley below was beautiful, almost like a reward for surviving climbing the rock face. Along the edge of the trail were pretty little flowers, bushes full of ripe black raspberries, and little bushes full of ripe blueberries. I was so tempted to start picking and eatting the berries, but I knew I was still in or near the Superfund site. Then I realized I had not seen any critters or heard any birds, and the bushes were so loaded with berries it was clear no one and nothing was eatting those berries. I DEFINITELY was not going to pick and eat any of those berries!!p>Eventually the great view was lost as the trail went into the woods and down to Little Gap Road. The climb back out of the gap was straight up a rock jumble. However, I now have my rock hopping technique down, and it was nothing compared to the rock face climb. So it was (almost) no problem.The rest of the trail was rocky but relatively easy as far as rocky PA AT trails go. As we arranged, John picked me up at Smith Gap Road. We stopped at the Kunkletown General Store, where I picked up something for dinner (Kunkletown Pub is closed on Mondays) along with ice cream and a cold Diet Coke to celebrate my conquering the rock face. Then we went to John's house so I could spend one last night in his garage before moving on north. As I relaxed I had a lovely conversation with John's wife Linda, who shared some of her delicious guacamole with me. I have really enjoyed spending time with John, Linda, and their son.The AT is calling. I just hope there are no more treacherous rock face climbs in my immediate future - at least until New Hampshire.