Date: 2010-07-01
From: Port Clinton, PA

To: Allentown Hiking Club Shelter
Miles today: 22.6
Weather: overcast clouds

"Life is a journey, not a destination...enjoy the moments." ~ unknownJuly 1, 2010 - Day 88 - ThursdayThe headache and upset stomach from last night's soiree didn't help the climb out of Port Clinton. After a couple hours on the ridge the sweat began to purge all the toxins in my body. The trail leveled out and the trail's tread was fairly soft with only a few rocks. Word from sobo's indicated that a lot of the springs drying up. I'm now carrying 2 liters of water. Extra weight but worth it when you thirsty.The weather has changed for the good towards hiking. The day temperatures are in the low to mid 70's and the overnight lows in the 40's in the mountains. Even better, the humidity Is low and my clothes are dry by night fall.I came upon a beautiful section in surrounding the remains of Windsor Furnace from the late 1700's. At one particular old reservoir I sat on the edge and listened to the bullfrogs call out to one another for a good twenty minutes. I sat in the shade of the trees and thought of how the baritone calls seemed like a symphonic composition, compliments of Mother Nature.The afternoon was a completely different day. The rocks increased in numbers and hiking over them really became arduous especially going up Pulpit Rock and the Pinnacle. Bag of Tricks at Duncannon asked if at all possible I could make it to the Pinnacle around noon on this date. He was bringing a group of 12-14 kids from summer camp to learn about hiking and LNT (leave no trace). I told him I would try. I was late when I got there, it was 12:01. The kids were ecstatic to meet a thru hiker and asked many good questions. Tricks had them bring trail magic and learned firsthand what it was all about. Tricks and I then took the kids to a campfire ring to pick up the litter and talk about LNT. The Pinnacle is a rock overview with outrageous panoramic views of the farmlands below. To the left you can see the ridge I would soon be walking with places such as Baked Oven Knob, Lehigh Gap, Little Gap and Wind Gap visible. The distance to Wind Gap looked like you could reach it by throwing a rock but was actually over 50 miles away. Started unknown years ago, a pyramid was started by hikers at the front of the Pinnacle by placing a rock on the mound when they come to visit. Now over 20 feet high, I have two rocks of my own dedicated to my visits.Just as I thought it could not get any worse, it did. The rocks got bigger and further apart with smaller rocks in between. The easiest way to navigate over the rocks was to leap frog. My eyes were constantly looking down, if I looked up when moving it was asking for disaster. Not only were the rocks bad but they were a haven for rattlesnakes. I found this out the scary way. I was leapfrogging one especially large rock on the edge of the trail. I hear that undeniable warning sound of a rattle. I look down to my left and there underneath a shrub was the largest rattlesnake I¢d seen yet coiled, the tail going a mile a minute. It was huge in girth and length. I truly hate that sound. I would rather see bears. Rocks on a hot sunny day is not one of my favorite terrains to hike in.If not now then when? KrispyKritter 2010 GaMe