Date: 2006-01-29
To: Prep Hike #10
Miles today: 0.0

01-29-06 Sunday, Little Gap to Lehigh Furnace Gap 10.4 miles   Had an Eagle Scout Court of Honor on Saturday afternoon, so no weekend hike this weekend, but a day hike was doable. I have been taking care of my blisters from last weekend, and hope they are the last of them.   Woke up at 04:00 AM to get ready, but not much to get ready. Pack stays packed for the most part. Filled up on water, put in a few snacks and then had breakfast. Today will have company along on the hike. My younger brother, (Red Rocket) and one of his fiends, Robert Cunningham will be coming to hike with me.   Mr. Cunningham will be going along to keep DeJaVue company.   The Cunninghams have hiked with me before, while hiking the Batona Trail. Mr. Cunningham developed foot problems, so not sure how much hiking he will be doing.   We left just after 5:00 AM and had to stop for gas before the drive. We got onto the Atlantic City Expressway just before 5:30 AM.   Don't remember too much about the ride, as all in the backseat seemed to be catching up on their sleep, me included. I woke up just as we were approaching Blue Mountain Ski Area. Not many skiers out on the slope at 07:40 AM.   The temperature was 33 degrees as we were being dropped off at Little Gap. A bit cool, but knew we would all would warm up as we started to hike. DeJaVue and Mr. Cunningham were going to meet us as they hiked north from Lehigh Gap.   The lack of vegetation in this stretch was a bit odd, I took one picture, but then switched it to black & white as that is the way I felt for this area.   I was told that there was a big Zinc Factory in this area and that due to past pollution, that is why there was still no vegetation in the area. We all agreed to keep a good pace thru this area, the less time here the better. Red Rocket had been hiking with DeJaVue & SONGBIRD thru here in late June of 2003, he said he picked a lot of blueberries up here. He referred to area as looking like the pictures you see of the moons surface. When we got to the top overlooking the Lehigh Gap, I took another picture. It was a nice view looking down onto the Lehigh River. I remember going white water rafting down the Lehigh River, ending just north of here near Jim Thorpe PA.   As we started down, we saw DeJaVue coming up to us. I had wondered were they had gotten to? We had covered just over 4 miles at this point. Someone had spray painted an American Flag on one of the large rocks and we got our picture taken here and on the ledge overlooking the river. Red Rocket had to keep stopping for us to catch up to him. He enjoys playing on the rocks, the more difficult the better for him.   We reached the west end of the Lehigh Gap Bridge at 9:40 AM.   DeJaVue drove us up to the Lehigh Furnace Gap and dropped us off here just before 10:00 AM and said that they would hike up and meet us from Lehigh Gap. Sky was getting very cloudy as we started off. Was an incline for first mile or so, then hit a very rocky and open area as we were on the ridge. The trail passes over the tunnel for the PA Turnpike (N E ext.)   Just after 11:00 AM it started to rain, so we stopped to put on our rain gear. I made the comment that DeJaVue must be close, and as I turned to start hiking, there he was, the rainman. Mr. Cunningham was right behind him this time. We could smell smoke from a fire, and something sweet. As we got to the George Outerbridge Shelter, there was a group who had spent the night there, and had a campfire going and had just finished lunch. Did not look like they had any leftovers so could not YOGI any goodies from them. Rain stopped so we took off our rain gear. Hiked down to the west end of the Lehigh Gap Bridge, and had to wait for Mr. Cunningham. It appeared that his feet were bothering him again.    We loaded up into the vehicle as it started to rain again. It was now coming up on Noon so we found a Pizza Hut a few towns away.   The rain picked up as we were in Pizza Hut, and was glad we had only planned on a 10 mile hike today. There is a place that is billed as the Largest General Store in the world, so we checked it out, did not spend too much time there. Robert had never seen Cabela's so we took a ride over to show him what the store was like. He enjoyed the displays of the different animals. Just wish they would expand on their camping-hiking gear a bit more.   On the way home, I was again hiking the last 5.2 miles from the Birches to the top of Katahdin. Funny how I often dream about this, but never the hike back down. I have to remember I can not stay up there forever, even in my dreams.