Date: 2010-06-28
From: Wind Gap PA

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Hello Folks,Well, things have improved significantly since my last email. After staying in the Doyle Hotel in Duncannon PA for two nights and walking the streets during the day my back seem to improve. My cousin Sue from Chalfont PA outside of Phili gallantly offered to drive the two hours to pick me up but on the fourth day I felt my back seemed to be easing and I decided to take a chance and go back on the trail. A shuttle driver took me back to the trail head and I started heading north not really sure how the day was going to go. It might have been all the Ibuprofen that I took but ended up walking almost 25 miles my longest day mileage so far and my back was back. There are having an extreme hot spell and dry weather here in PA. The water sources on the trail are drying up and you have to plan carefully so that you don't run short. The heat really drains the energy and increases the need for water. The folks here in PA have been really good about leaving water jugs and other trail magic at trail heads for the hikers to pick up. I will have to say that I think PA may be the most hiker friendly state that I have been in so far. I camped out one night where there was a husband and wife also camping. They had a watermelon and shared with a group of other hikers. I can only say that was the best watermelon I ever had, even considering the fact that it was not chilled. It was juicy and sweet, I took it right down to the white rind. As it turned out they lived not very far from Greenville SC in Pumpkintown. They even were members of our same day hiking group,GNHA, Gutsy (Gail) and Odometer (Dan) Johnson. We really appreciated their generosity.PA is also known notoriously for the rocky trails which seem to get worse the further north one goes. The worst I have seen was climbing out of Lehigh Gap right after crossing the Lehigh River. The mountain was the scene of copper mining operations from the 1890s to 1980 and the entire area is the Palmerton Superfund Site. The top of the mountain range is denuded of all trees and vegetation due to the mining operation and it makes for very depressing hiking conditions especially when added to the heat and boulder hopping.I arrived at Wind Gap PA on Wednesday 7/7 at 2:30 pm just as my cousin Sue arrived in her car to take me back to her home. All I could think about for the last few miles of hiking was stopping at Wendys and getting an all you could drink orange soda and a frosty. Sue lives with her mother, my 95 year old Aunt who is my mother's twin sister. It is a little like seeing Mom again. After taking two zero days to resupply and also do some equipment upgrades I will be back on the trail tomorrow morning. I purchased a new pair of boots which concerns me some as it is difficult to know just how they will fit, hopefully no more blisters. Sue has been great, providing me with all the hospitality possible plus some great meals; she wants to fatten me up before putting me back on the trail. I should be at the Delaware Water Gap and into NJ tomorrow at 16 miles, mile point 1285 on the trail. They say that the rocks diminish after you get past High Point NJ, so I am anxious to get past there. Just as a point of interest the following are the AT milages for the next few states: NJ 71.7, NY 95.7, CT 44.3, MA 90.2 mi.At my last correspondence with Lance, he was up in Marblehead MA with his wife and feeling well, getting ready to enjoy a big Fourth of July and probably eating plenty of lobster. Still no news on what might have caused his high temperature spikes.As always, thanks for your notes and messages and hope you all are doing well.Regards, Shagman aka Keith