Date: 2007-06-12
From: Lehigh gap, PA (Palmerton)

To: Delaware Water gap
Miles today: 37.0
Weather: clear sky

last leg of the trip - Palmerton to Delaware Water GapDay 43 Leory A. Smith Shelter 15.7 milesCraker and I had a nice stay in Palmerton. My only complaint was the bunks at the jailhouse shelter were boxed in, like they were ment to have a mattress in them. For some reason, this made it difficult to get comfertable in the bunks. I suppose the large Chineese dinner I ate shortly before going to bed - which seemed to give me gas - had something to do with it. We contacted a guy who had his phone number posted at the hostel for a ride back to the trail head from town. Otherwise, it would have been a 2.5 mile walk. He arrived promply at 7 am and drove us out of town. For free, nice guy. The climb out of Lehigh gap is very different than any other section of trail in PA. The trail goes up a steep, rocky, barren ridge. Almost looks like some of the climbs in NH or Maine, but a lot shorter. Once on top of the ridge, it stays devoid of trees and what ones which are there are dead. Lunar lanscapeish. This is thanks in part to the very rocky nature of the ridge, but mostly because of the metal smeltery plant at the bottom of the ridge. The plant smelts zinc and other metals and fumes from the plant killed all the plant life. They have since cleaned up thier act, but the effects still linger. The bright side of this is the great views from the ridge, since there are no trees in the way. It was good we got the first part of this days hike out of the way in the morning, as it was all exposed. In the heat of the mid day, it would have been a bear to do. Eventually, the shade came back and for the most part, the rest of the trail was old dirt/woods road walking. They did detour us over some rocky sections just to make us work a little here and there. The Leroy Smith shelter turned out to be an older one and tick infested. We found and disposed of at least half a dozen ticks shortly after arrival. Think we cleared them all out and none bit me. Water was a good long walk away, but not too steep a climb up or down. Day 44 Delaware Water Gap 20 miles.I listened to the weather radio last night and they said today would be a scorcher. 90+ degrees with high humitity. Strenous outdoor active was not recommened. Oh boy. We were thinking of doing just a 14 mile day, but the gap and real food was only 6 miles farther along. Thats incentive. So, we got up at dawn, about 5 am. By 5:30 we were on the trail. By 7:30, we had done 5 miles and at Wind gap. Town was only about a mile away, so we went down the road to closest convenience store and got a breakfist sandwich and drinks. By the time we got back up to the trail, it was 8:30 am and starting to warm up. The climb up out of wind gap wasn't as bad as Lehigh, but was a good climb nevertheless. Again, the rest of the way was mixed. Sometimes easy woods road walking, sometimes difficult loose rock. Mostly loose rock though, they wanted to make sure we remebered what an ankle twisting state PA is! We did get a repieve from the rocks on the last couple of miles to the end of the ridge. There was one section with a good sized mud puddle with large bear paw prints in it. Apperntly, a very big bear likes to waddle in the mud there. We didn't see him, but some of the hikers the next day did and said it was huge! Finally, durring the hottest part of the day, we decended into the water gap. If the trail had been any longer, or had longer rocky sections, don't know if I could have made it. The Chirch of the Mountain Hostel is a really nice place and a great way to end to ordeal of hiking through PA. Arriving on a Friday, I had to spend three days there because I could not get bus connections back home until Monday. Even though the stay is suppost to be limited to one or two days max, the Paster was kind enough to let me stay the three. I had been entertaining thoughts of continuing through NJ and NY, it would have only added about 10 days or less to the trip. However, I went down to the bakery and had a hot dog and slice of apple pie special. I bit into the hot dog and lost part of a tooth! It must have been a weak tooth and the bread was sticky enough to pull it out. No pain yet, but that was a sign I had to go home and have it taken care of. Craker left for NJ early in the morning on Sunday. We were a good hiking team. But I'm sure he will pick up another hiking buddy soon. We were somewhat out in front of the main hiking pack, but they were catching up quick. Hopefully, Craker will make it up here to NH and we can connect for a few days or a week in this area. Day 47 back home at Berlin, NHGot back to Berlin at 9:30 pm and walked the last mile of the trip home. Place looks just like I left it, a mess. A few things in town have changed, bridge over the river closed for repairs, making going into down town a pain. New super Wal-Mart is finally open. The paper mill is mostly torn down. Its been a busy day here at the shop as people discover I'm finally back. I had 20 pounds of mail at the post office that I picked up this morning and slowly going through that pile. Got my eye glasses fixed today too, its amazing the fix I did at the picnic table held out for the rest of the trip. Got an appointment at a dentist to fix my tooth tomorrow. Life slowly goes back to "normal". Will keep this journal open, as more hiking is expected later in the summer.