Date: 2015-07-13
From: Bake Oven Knob Shelter

To: stealth sit above little gap
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Ah, Pennsylvania. I was expecting so much worse based on what I have been reading. Rocks, snakes, bugs. For 40 miles.We broke camp and were hiking by 7:30 today. Again last night, I could not sleep. Insomnia has been plaguing me for the last few weeks. I decided to call my doctor back home and she called in a prescription. I had to get to Palmerton. This was not a town we planned to stop in, but I need to get some sleep. Hike started out very pleasant. I was really expecting rocks the whole way since we are in that last 40 mile area, and we did cross over a few challenging boulder fields, but most of the hike was easy and smooth. Not a lot to see, but very pleasant.When we got to the road, we called a guy who hiked the trail in '13. He had a sign posted for shuttles into town. Fireman, a guy from Germany, shared the car with us. While he drove us to town, Soul Flute described the section ahead that we would hike after town. It sounded very challenging and a little dangerous!We were told that the jailhouse hostel was closed because of the amount of partying last season. Soul Flute told us that hikers are not coming in to town as much now. While we were in Port Clinton the other day, we were told that the neighbors around the pavilion area that offers free tenting and shelter for hikers are asking the city to close that area- again because of excessive and loud partying. It's really sad. A small number of hikers are poisoning the well of good will towards our group. We ate while waited for my prescription then D.No and C.Shell went off to the dollars general. When I finally met them there, they had met a guy who was going to Cary our packs 5 miles forward, past the worst part of the climb today. Ok! I went to in the the store to look for a light day pack and to get some water and use the bathroom. The manager told me they didn't have bathrooms. I just saw someone get a key for it I told her. Busted, she led me to the back, grumbling the whole way about theft and messy poop situations she had to deal with because of hikers. I actually find that hard to believe. Who are these phantom hikers creating a trail of angry locals? I have not met anyone like that out here.Kevin gave is a ride to the trailhead and we stared with amazement at the gigantic rock faces mountain. We had to go up and over. The trail started in the woods and went up steeply for half a mile or so. The we hit the rocky face. The climb was hand over hand, difficult and really fun. I was expecting a cranky sun bathing rattler on each plateau but never saw one. C.Shell ha a slight aversion to heights, so this was a real challenge for her. The rocks went on an on, covering half a mile of more. It was so great to not have packs on for this. The views of Palmerton was brilliant and clear. After the rocks, the remaining miles were on a smooth path on a grassy ridge. Gorgeous views to the left, wildflowers everywhere, and as many raspberries, black raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries as we could stuff into our mouths. We were pretty happy! Then we realized we were eating berries from a superfund site- highly polluted - so if we are glowing tomorrow, we will know why.The trail got steeper and more rocky toward the bottom where Kevin would be waiting with our bags. We retrieved them and hiked on- up another steep and rocky Boulder field. This one was like a ridiculous Stairmaster. Big steps up and I was wearing my lead filled pack again.We found a very nice campsite at the top. Enjoyed a Katwalk Sesame Noodle- awesome!Will tomorrow bring the continuous rocks we have been hearing about? We'll see! Other than the rock fields today- it was much easier than expected.