Date: 2018-09-18
From: Bake Oven Knob Shelter

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: light rain

Rain, heavy at times, overnight and into this morning. Windy every now and then. But overall Tropical Storm Florence was just a typical storm. After 7 a.m. the storm seem to be ending. Perhaps just a lull before another round of rain. I decided to pack and head out. I expected to hike all day in the rain anyway. On the trail at 7:40. Right away it was a wet slippery climb up Bake Oven Knob. The rocks were indeed wet and I had to be careful. Being close to a road many of the rocks were graffiti covered. About 8:30 the rain was heavy. I had my poncho over my pack and myself. I was relieved I did not have to go over Bear Rocks. I could see them exposed to my right in the rain but access was via a side trail. However, Knife Edge or "The Cliffs" was next. What a dangerous excursion up and over heaved up rock. Going through was difficult in the wind and rain. The rain made it slippery and the wind blew the poncho around sometimes not allowing me to see where to place my feet. This was purposeless and insanely dangerous. I was afraid more than any place on the trail this year. But I made it through. Not long afterwards I met two Nobo section hikers separately. I warned them both and told them to be safe. The rain slowed about 11 a.m. At 11:30 I crossed RT 309 and walked to the Blue Mountain Summit Restaurant and B & B but it was closed. The summit was covered in fog but the rain had stopped. Not long into the woods I could see blue sky to the west. One of the hikers I saw earlier said the storm was to be over later this afternoon, hopefully earlier. Around 1 p.m. the sun did come out. When I arrived at the Allentown Shelter around 1:20 I was able to put my gear out in the sun to dry. After a long drop to the spring and back I was able to pack up my dry rain gear and head out. It was just after 2 p.m. Though the sun was out the trail was still wet and water still running down the trail or pooling. My feet were soaked. The trail today had some brutal areas but also some great woods roads to follow. I always described the Pennsylvania section of the AT that, about the time you get frustrated, then you get on a good section. Then back and forth. I saw one more Nobo section hiker before Dan's Pulpit. I didn't see any hikers yesterday and I saw no thru hikers since I saw Habib at Wawayanda Shelter eight days ago. I did see in a shelter's registrar that eight Sobos are two days ahead of me. After the side trail to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary the trail went down to the valley on a long old road and I came to the Eckville Road at 6:14. I followed the road downhill .2 to the Eckville Shelter. The shelter is behind the caretaker's house. Its a big old shed with bunks inside. It was kind of dirty and musty. Fortunately the wide front door was to remain open all night. In another shed is the restroom. I got a cool shower then went back to the shelter. I also could charge my phone there. I spoke to the caretaker whose trail name is Lazy. I told him I hiked in '98 and '08 and stopped here. After a few minutes he came back out into the dark wearing a headlamp as I was. He handed me two registers from 1998. I went through it for half an hour but could not locate any entry by me. Lots of familiar names but no Lake. Later I handed the books back to Lazy and thanked him. It had been dark for quite a while and I was beat. Besides a wet rocky day I was short on food. The prior four day stretch I had a surplus. Now I'm short, very short. I was hoping a hiker box would be here with food in it but only a pack of Endurance energy gels were found. So, earlier, I heated water and dumped it into my empty peanut butter jar. I made peanut butter soup. For tomorrow I have that Endurance gel pack and a single packet of Spam.