Date: 2018-06-13
From: PA Route 309 Blue Mountain Summit

To: Lehigh Gap
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: overcast clouds

My tent sight behind the Blue Mountain Summit Restaurant was nice, with one exception. As it turns out, PA Route 309, which was less than a 100 yards from where I was trying to sleep is a very busy highway...at all hours. Needless to say, I didn¢t get much rest. But rain was moving in, so I packed my stuff up, had a Krispy Kreme Honey Bun and Yoo-hoo for breakfast, and started hiking just before 7:00. The rain came just as I crossed the highway to start the hike. It was a light rain and I didn¢t mind it at all as I moseyed along on easy terrain for the first two miles. But, it became a big deal when I hit the rocks. Yes, more rocks, and lots of them today. It started with the typical small sharp rocks protruding from the trail. Folklore has it that the locals come out at night with files, to sharpen the edges of these annoying, and sometimes painful rocks. Then came the mossy beanbag-size rocks strewn randomly along the path. I usually like to walk along the jagged tops of these rocks in an effort not to have to step up and down. But when they are wet, if your foot misses the edge by one inch, you are sliding down the side. Plus, the hiking poles become less useful for keeping balance as the carbon tips skid along the rocks. While the usual suspects worked to hinder my progress, it was the new twist to the rock adventure that brought this progress practically to a stand still. It came in the form of gigantic rock slabs stacked high and precariously. The first encounter was up, along, and over Knife's Edge. I had to put my hiking poles away and use both hands to scramble through the maze of slick jumbled rocks. Coming down the other side I had to employ a fifth point of contact, my derri re. More of the same around Bear Rock and then over Baked Oven Knob. There were plenty of view points along the way, but no views, so I just kept slogging along.The honey bun and Yoo-hoo didn¢t have much staying power, so I stopped for an early lunch at the Baked Oven Knob Shelter. I even heated up some tea with honey and waited around for a few minutes until the rain tapered off. While I was sitting there I noticed a flyer advertising a hostel, Bert¢s Diner, in the town of Palmerton. That was only about 8 rocky miles away. I was so there and called to arrange for a shuttle into town. After a few miles, the hiking actually turned easy again. About two miles from Lehigh Gap (and my ride) I caught up to a father-daughter hiker team named Earthspring (aka Dan Shaffer) and Echo (aka Kim Shaffer). Some of you may be wondering if there is any relation to the legendary AT hiker, Earl Shaffer. The answer is yes! Earl, who was from York, PA was Earthspring¢s Uncle and Echo¢s Great Uncle. Earl Shaffer, a WWII veteran, was the first person to hike the entire A.T. in one season. He accomplished it in 1948 by hiking from Mt. Oglethorpe, GA (the original southern terminus) to Mt. Katahdin, ME. It took him 124 days. ¢The Crazy One¢, as he was referred to, was also the first person to complete an A.T. hike in both directions, completing a SOBO Hike in 1965. In 1998, when Earl was 79, he set the record for being the oldest person to thru hike the trail. That record was broken last year by an 83 year old hiker named Gray Beard. This year a 89 year old hiker named Pappy is trying to set a new record.The trail ran right by the George W. Outerbridge Shelter about one mile above Lehigh Gap. As I stood there talking to Earthspring, Echo, and another hiker who was already at the shelter, a little porcupine came waddling along like we weren¢t even there. We all got up close to the cute little guy snapping pictures and taking videos until he settled under a rock. Earthspring and Echo ended up catching the shuttle to town with me. We ate a late lunch together before they took off to take care of resupply and I settled into the hostel¢shower and laundry.Today the hiking wasn¢t the most pleasant hiking day. I was tired, sluggish and my feet hurt pretty badly. But, it was still a good day to be on the A.T. to meet new people, hear new stories, and experience new things.Peace & Blessings - NSElevation Data:Ascent - 1,440Descent - 2,320Grade - 5.3Weather:Day - 73 / RainNight - 58 / RainOver The Horizon: Delaware Water Gap, PA