Date: 2005-07-04
From: Jail House Hostel, Palmerton, PA

To: Wind Gap / Blue Mtn Dome
Miles today: 20.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Hopeful's report:   We slept well in the "jail" and a man named Duane gave us a ride to the trail head in the morning with Leviathan. The climb out of Lehigh Gap is well known. The rocks are much like a wall and several times we had to use our hands to crawl up and over. The area is exposed, with no tree protection. We were happy to be climbing in the morning and not the heat of the day. We were also happy to be climbing with Leviathan, since talking always makes the hiking time fly by. At the top, we came across an American flag painted on the rock which seemed rather appropriate for a 4th of July (pics in photo journal). At the top, the terrain flattens white out, but the effects of a zinc smelting factory in the area more than 10 years ago, the area looks like a barren wasteland. Leviathan said that he felt like he was on the Planet of the Apes. We made good time, because our goal was to get to Wind Gap to meet with my friend from high school, Cheryl Brattley, and her family for dinner at 6:30 PM. We enjoyed getting to know Leviathan, but we lost him at Smith Gap where there was a sign inviting hikers to the home of John & Linda for a 4th of July cook out, about a mile off the trail. Patch had left a note to say that he was one his way there (he had left earlier than us that day), and Leviathan added his name so the others coming behind would know that that was now his plan too. We said good bye and kept moving. There were lots of rocks, once again. We were very happy to finally arrive at Wind Gap, but sad when no one seemed to want to give us a ride to town. We had walked more than half way, when Cheryl and Dave pulled up in their mini van. It was so good to see them! They moved to this area of PA just last fall. Despite the fact that the night before they got home from vacation at 1 AM, they still drove 45 minutes to meet up with us, with their little girls named Allison and Megan (age 3 & 1). We had dinner at McDonalds (so the girls could play) and visited for awhile... we wish is could have been longer, but that just means we'll have to do it again. Although now it's our turn to make the drive! They brought us some very good chocolate butterscotch treats (after sharing some with other hikers, the report is that they are the best that they've had on the trail!), and some cherries, which seems perfect since Cheryl is originally from Elk Rapids area.       Our dilemna now was that it was getting dark, and we didn't want to pay for a hotel so late (we'd rather do hotels when we have time to enjoy them). We also didn't want to have to hike any more to a place where we could camp. We knew that the other hikers we had been with earlier were staying off Smith Gap road, but had no idea where to get to this not-so-main road. We borrowed the phone book at McDonalds and located it, so we thought, on a small map. Then we set off the find the place. We knew that John & Linda would let us camp in their yard when we got there, and we hoped that they would give us a ride back to Wind Gap in the morning so that we could pick up the hike where we left off. It was almost a hopeless wild goose chase. We felt bad because we knew it would make Cheryl and Dave get home so late, and we had almost given up when we pulled over and asked someone if they knew where these people lived. It turns out that we were very close. We still had to turn around a couple times before we found it, but we did. Thanks SO much, Cheryl, Dave, Allison and Megan, for encouraging us with your visit. We are sleeping "cowboy" style (out in the open, no tent) tonight on the lawn and the stars are beautiful with the sound of fireworks in the distance.