Date: 2010-04-30
From: Allentown Shelter

To: Geo Outerbridge Shelter
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: clear sky

Day 7 Fri Apr 30thMy watch says its 7am & I dont wanna get outta this warm sleeping bag.was by myself again last nite in the shelter & again, another good nites sleep on the trail...Sun is up...& i need to get moving...abt the time I sit up & get stirring in my bag...an Allentown Hiking Club member comes strolling up the trail...out for a little trail maintenace on an early morning...Mike Benyo (PA)& I talked for abt a half hour as i made coffee & ate my PopTarts...we talked abt the A.T., the trail legends, DVDs abt the A.T.,etc.9am   As he went on his way...i packed up & headed out...another 16+ mile day planned today...up & out of the Allentown Shelter...feeling pretty good...the knee feels a bit tender & the right ankle has a slight ache to it (guess who forgot the knee & ankle braces???)I bandaged the right ankle with my ACE bandage & just hjope for the best with the knee...lets HIKE!After 2 miles i hike across Fort Franklin Rd...& a couple more miles...a very busy Hwy PA-309/Blue Mountain Summit (1360 ft elevation)...i looked for water here...but, none to be found ( i found out later...it was located @ a store abt a 1/4 mile away)...i hike on...Up!...Up!...Up!...i hike...here we go...the first four miles were some decent hiking...minimal rocks...then....(Fanfare goes here...)"...the Return of the PA ROCKS!"Started out with the small ones again...but quickly got into the "ankle-busters" & boulders...I saw a few DAY-HIKERS out today...with the weather being real nice...70s & Sunny,...i expect to see a few more...probably loads by the weekend.I was down to a half bottle of water when I got to the New Tripoli campsite...(on top of a ridge)...so, i dropped my backpack & headed down the BLUE BLAZES to the water source...(3/4 mile down hill)refilling both water bottles & "cameling up" before i headed back up to the trail.Got back to my pack & decided to eat a couple energy bars & while & had my pack off decided to enjoy some time with MOTHER NATURE...After abt 15 mins rest...i decided it weas time to HIT IT...but, not before converting my hiking pants (REI "convertibles")into shorts...weeeeeeeeeeee!I hope i dont blind any other hikers out here with my lilly-white legs!Let's Hike!...Abt a mile or so...i started up & over KNIFE EDGE...(very treacherous rock/bluder field sitting in the middle of the top of the ridge)...it took me awhile to clear KNIFE EDGE...very slow going...but, wait...we're not done, yet!MORE BOULDERS!....& then...BEAR ROCKS!...(didnt see any BEARS!)after a few more miles...it was over BAKE OVEN RD...then up BAKE OVEN KNOB(1560 ft elevation)...this was nothing but medium sized rocks & boulders...& in the heat of the day...it was MISERABLE...on the descent...after another mile or so...BAKE OVEN KNOB Shelter...an old shelter...(& in very bad shape)..i signed the shelter register & then back @ it...I had some more major boulder-hopping going down from the ridge...it probably took me double the normal time...& it wears me out...I cross over Lehigh Furnace Gap (1370 ft elevation) zipped by George Outerbridge Shelter & decided to head into the next town: Slatingdon,PA/PA-873.I got to the road crossing & called Ira Fine of Fine Lodgings who has a "hiker friendly" hostel/motel & provdies shuttles to & from the A.T.So, its gonna be a bed & shower for me tonite...wooooo-hooooo & maybe pizza & ice cream too!I'm Tarrrrred!                                                            16.8 miles today!