Date: 2017-07-30
From: Lehigh Gap

To: Leroy Smith Shelter
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: clear sky

1. Date: Treesday, Wedmath 8 (7-30) 2. Day 96 3. Morning temp: 61 4. Weather: Calm, warm, breeze 5. Time start: 0930 6. Time stop and miles: 1940/15.7 7. End point: Leroy Smith Shelter Log: After another 16 zeros filled with car travel, beach, family visits, a lake and a concert, I headed back to the trail, skipping another 2.5 Pushes of miles I have hiked in the past. This would be Push 17b, The Push to Delaware Water Gap. We got home from the concert after midnight and I had my usual prehike restlessness. I was up around 0630 and we were on the road at 0745. We arrived at Lehigh Gap where I had completed a section a couple of years ago.I said goodbye to LoGear and headed up the trail. I had just started up and was reading a interpretive sign when I saw two hikers. They recognized me. It was Scrambles and Grouch who we last seen around the Smokys. It was cool as we caught up while we picked our way up the rock face. The climb out of Lehigh Gap is fun and challenging. I had to stow my poles for the ascent.I moved ahead of them near the summit and didn't see them the rest of the day.Once we were up the trail was pretty good. Not too rocky at first. As soon as I mentioned that, it started to get more rocky. It is an anoying kind of rocky that is a lot of sharp, small rocks piled on the trail with a little dirt mixed in. That's just the way the land is here.As I walked along, I would stop at the views of Palmerton and I guess the old zinc plant that killed all the nearby hillsides. This side had received some reclaiming work and had some good young trees growing. Across the valley, those hillsides still looked pretty dead.I would also stop for the wine berries that still had a few ripe berries left. I met Bonnie along the way. She is out for a few days solo. When I was heading for a lunch spot, I was passed by a guy that I recognized from Push 14 in Shenandoah. He was also at the lunch spot and we ate together.I learned his name is Lazy Boy because he carries a chair to sit in when he takes a break.After lunch I saw Bonnie again and let her use my nail clippers on one of her toes.I made my way to a campsite where I decided to take a long break and consider stopping early for the day or trying to get the whole 15.7 done.I set up my hammock and took off my shoes. After resting for awhile, I decided to eat dinner then try for the shelter. I fugured that I could always just stop along the way if I got tired, but I was able to make the last six miles at a good pace.When I got in, I was rather low on water, but the source here is flowing very good.At the shelter were Bonnie and Tortoise. There is another guy whose name I haven't asked yet. After I set up and got my water, there was another hiker who had come in and was cooking dinner.She looked familiar, but it was getting dark and I didn't have my glasses on. Tortoise was asking her about her hike and other stuff and when she said she had started in late April, I knew I knew her. I asked her her name and she said Camp. She is part of the duo from Canada of Dragin and Camp. We had last seen them in the Smokys too. It was so cool seeing Tramily from our earlier hike. She didn't recognize me at first, and had remembered me as Half-Crocked.We caught up some as darkness deepend and I eventually said goodnight and headed to my hammock.I feel ok after a decent length day over some rocky terrain. My body feels fine and my feet only hurt the normal amount.Tomorrow will be another 13 something. I didn't put my tarp up after confirming there is no rain heading out way. Fingers crossed.Flora: Waning wine berries Fauna: Toad, fawn VOD: Lehigh Gap Smell: wood smoke Sound: Violin musicHigh: Seeing old Tramily Low: The rocky partsHope: That I didn't overdo it today