Date: 2015-06-22
From: Hamburg, PA

To: SouthField, NY
Miles today: 166.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 39 - Hamburg PA Hotel to Eckville Shelter - 15 milesReally wanted another day of rest but got up ate breakfast and headed to the trail around 10am. Not really a bad day other than the rocks (PA - I know). The first part of the day flew by, but it seemed the later it got the longer it was taking. Maybe it was the new shoes. The views were nice today also.One bad note was that the way to this shelter was not marked and several of the hikers today went right passed by the road leading to the shelter. Me included. Ugh!!!! There is no sign or anything pointing this way. I got to a footbridge and was like, this wasn't on the book before the shelter. Opened book and I bypassed the shelter a little bit. "Myles" did the same thing. She was glad she wasn't the only one. Three others missed it after U.S. And turned around on the trail and backtracked. They really need to fix this!"Wall-ee" must have passed the shelter also cause he never showed up. Several moved on to the next one, but my feet were not allowing it. The caretaker for this shelter is not really friendly, but hey could be worse, maybe it's the years of dealing with unruly hikers? Not mean just not personable. I will say I was happy when he gave us all ice pops. That was the most I'd seen him interacts. Well thunder storms may happen tonight. I'm tenting soooo happy!!! Thanks to Taren and Cody for sending it!!! :-) besides that a guy in the shelter totally said he snores loud. Glad I'm at the tent site. Well guess that's about it for today.WORD UP!!!! Day 40 - Eckville Shelter to Bake Oven Knob Shelter - 17.4 milesLeft camp around 7:15 this morning wanting to do a 24.6 mile day to GW Outerbridge Shelter, but the rocks were killer again today. There are some decent places along this section but the rock sure out weight the good. Did stop at the restaurant on the trail for soda and a burger....much needed boost. Knifes Edge was really cool, but didn't hike up Bears Rocks. Bake oven parking lot until you get over the knob is a complete mess with all the day hikers leaving crap and spay paints everything. The shelter is very old and lots of trash from what seems day hikers is left everywhere in this area including a sleeping bag. O well can't always be a high mile day, great easy trails, and no trash. :-) WORD UP!!! Day 41 - Bake Oven Knob Shelter to Leroy E Smith Shelter - 23.4 milesStarted early! Great morning to Outerbridge Shelter. Took a quick break then headed on. Fun up out of Palmerton which is an awesome climb up boulders on the side of a mountain, then a nice walk to the Gap where I got trail magic to the restaurant from a guy waiting on his wife doing a section hike. He helped out several hikers besides me. This is always a great thing. After that it was 10.8 miles left first part went ok but the last 2 were slow and hard.Here with Yankee, Mouse, and Vulture. WORD UP!!Day 42 - Leroy E Smith Shelter to Delaware Water Gap - 20.2 milesMore rocks and tired/exhausted this am! Felt like a slow day but got lots easier later! Made it to the shelter by 1 and town by 4:00. Had ice cream and sodas and hot dogs at this very cool vintage parlor near the hostel. The service was the best I've had here in the north. Hostel was packed and so was tenting site. So I'm at this cheap sketchy hotel!! Also there was a concert going on next to the Hostel and I knew I'd not be getting sleep. WORD UP!!! Day 43 - Delaware Water Gap to Brink Shelter - 24.8 milesHiked from hotel where I got really good sleep, which added 1.3 miles to my day. Good easy morning until I got to the first lake where a snake tried to attacked me and in the process I broke my hiking pole. Not a good thing at all!!! Made it to Hostel to eat around 1 stopped an hour to rest and duck tape my hiking pole before the remaining miles. Got some rain to cool off a hot day. Ran into lots of new hikers heading north. Afternoon was a little harder but made it to camp by 7:15. No one at the shelter I know? But some cool peeps. Tenting tonight. Lots of bugs here near a swamp.WORD UP! Day 44 - Brink Shelter to Gren Anderson Shelter - 6.6 milesShort day, was rather tired today and it was raining bad. Decided this was enough. Been a long week of high miles. Relaxed the feet today and ate pizza and had sodas. Hawkeye showed up!! Ugh he's one of those hikers who drinks like crazy on the trail and no one wants to be around him. He was drunk when he showed up. Went to bed early due to this. I was the only one tenting. WORD UP! Day 45 - Gren Anderson Shelter to Pochunk Mtn Shelter - 25.4 milesGood morning, hit the first shelter in no time. Next miles were rocky but not as bad as PA. Got to the food stand Giggle Mouse was there along with Furk. Had ice cream, burger, fries, soda and Gatorade. Did the next 11 miles into town and had a sandwich, Yahoo and slush there. Picked up some snacks cause I was low. Did the last 5.9 miles to this shelter. Went around a swamp with bugs and up a steep hill. Bunch of folks here. Shelter is packed and one guy can't get in who has no tent or tarp. Furk let him sleep under his tarp due to pending weather. I love how when able hikers go out of their way to help each other. WORD UP!! Day 46 - Pochunk Mtn Shelter to Wild Cat Shelter - 23.6 milesHard ups, but felt like hiking again. More rock/bolder tops. Rattle snake on trail after a nice hiker left note of warning. Good thing cause it was literally over the rock with the note. Pretty color. Ate ice cream twice today at Heaven Hill and a Creamery. Made the day better even tho it was a little cool. Volture, Giggle mouse, Mighty Mouse, Salty Dog, and Old Timer are chillin here along with others. WORD UP! Day 47 - Wild Cat Shelter to SouthField NY - 9.9 milesHike was slow and hard today. Really was feeling like a zero was needed. I was pretty exhausted. Passed Volute and Mouse even tho they left way before me. They are good about taking breaks. I'm the worse. Made it to NY 17 and decided to hike to SouthField 2 miles away from the trail (hitching a ride is illegal in NY they say so I didn't). Made it to gas station and when I was waiting on my chicken salad sandwich to be made before I headed up to hotel I almost passed out. My body felt so weird I'm not sure what happened. Maybe fatigue or lack of food or something? It really scared me, and I had to sit on the floor for a bit to get myself together. Got to hotel and was so glad zero tomorrow most def.WORD UP!!!!Day 48 - SouthField NY - 0 milesDay off just trying to feel better. Fatigue was slightly better but still not great. May have to take off another day. Will see how I feel in the AM. WORD UP!!! Day 49 - SouthField NY - 0 milesAnother zero feeling much better but not great. Want to feel better before getting back on the trail. Think food helped a lot. Rained all day yesterday and most of the morning so I'm glad I didn't hike. By tomorrow the trails should be dry and I should be 100% feeling better. Hate I missed "Hike Naked Day" tho!!! Lol WORD UP!!! Day 50 - SouthField NY - 0 milesSo I woke up in the middle of the night feeling awful and sick to my stomach. I think I ate a bad tuna sandwich that just went right through me all night. Ugh!!! This messed up my plan to hike out today. Luckily I'm feeling better at this time and will be back on the trail tomorrow. Not sure I'll do a whole day, maybe just a half day to the next shelter or two, I want to make sure I don't pass out from whatever has been bothering me. We will see!!! WORD UP!!!!