Date: 2006-10-19
From: DWG - Church of the Mountain Hostel

To: Wind Gap
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

So I had the hostel all to myself last night. I had dinner at the Water Gap Diner and then looked at maps and read a little on the history of the trail in PA and then fell asleep on the couch.So this morning, I woke up, took another wonderful hot shower, packed up my stuff to mail out, went to the PO, stopped in the Trails End Cafe for breakfast, then picked up my pack and headed out to the trail.A short road walk and then back to the woods. A nice view of the Delaware River and I-80, so I took a self portrait for my state line picture. Actually, I crossed the state line when I walked the bridge spanning the river, but in the rain and cold, there was no way I was taking a picture then.The trail has a few more view points of the river and it crosses a few creeks and I am noticing differences in the plant life. For instance, there are rhododendrons along the trail now. This must mean I am getting closer to the south, because rhodos are along the trail in GA and in NC where I have done most of my prior hiking. I stop and wait for a large group of 7th grade students to pass. Its a life science field trip. They are curious as to how long I have been hiking, where did I start and where am I going; all the standard questions I have been asked a million times before. They are cute kids and it makes me smile to look at them and know I could be one of their teachers. But, it doesn't make me want to get off the trail and go back to teaching. Not yet.Then the trail follows an old road along the ridge. It crosses a pipeline right-of-way before going back into the woods and I get a glimpse of some of the PA rocks everyone talks so much about. I stop at the Kirkridge shelter for a rest and snack and talk with another sobo, Irish. He is a Mountain Ranger Major for the Irish Military, speaks seven languages and has been deployed in Iraq and Africa and is about to go on tour in Lebanon. He showed me some pictures of his troops in battle. Scary stuff, but interesting. He is very chatty even though he told me right off the bat that he never has much to say (referring to the register.) I enjoyed talking to him, but moved on as there was still daylight and still miles to cover.A mile or two later, I get to Wolf Rocks, big rocks and boulders. Not sure why it is named Wolf Rocks though, but I adeptly make my way over and across them. Before the rocks though, I met a man out hunting squirrels. He said he couldn't find any. I don't know how that could be because I saw plenty. Fat ones too. Not sure what he was gonna do with them. He did tell me the forecast calls for rain. Why is it that it always rains on me on the parts of the trail I definitely don't want to do in the rain? Like the Mahoosic Notch and now Lehigh Gap - a steep rock descent with no vegetation due to a century's worth of zinc smelting. I may be taking a zero in my hammock to avoid making that pass in the rain!I find a nice little camp site and hang my hammock, cook dinner, hang my food bag and settle in to read a bit before going to sleep. As I am climbing in my hammock though, I can feel my throat starting to tingle and ache. I guess I did catch some kind of bug hiking in the freezing rain the other day and then also being around Molaases and John who both had colds. Yuk! I hate being sick!Okay, cue the swirling spot lights and the announcer voice microphone."Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to day one of the Battle of the A.T. Its hiker vs. trail. In the left corner, we have the PA rocks with centuries of experience in tripping hikers and drawing blood. In the right corner, we have first time thru-hiker, Superstar, whose been practicing her rock balancing skills and perfecting the non-ankle roll walk for 900 miles, through seven states. Who will win today's round?""PA has put out some sharp edged rocks along with some rocks that teetertotter, but Superstar is slow and consistant and meticulously analyzes each step she makes. She doesn't even lose her cool when PA fights dirty and sends gnats to fly in her eyes, momentarily blinding her. Yes, Superstar has won the first round, with no falls or ankle rolls today."Happy Hiking,Superstarwww.trailjournals.com/happyhiker------------------------------Sent via PocketMailEmail Anywherewww.pocketmail.com