Date: 2007-07-26
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: scattered clouds

July 26, Seven States Down and the Emergency RoomWe got up pretty early today, headed to breakfast and started walking shortly thereafter. We were slackpacking today because Melk's aunt, Tomaso, would be coming to pick us up in the evening.I did not really have the motivation in me this morning. My leg was still extremely puffy from the sting and it had gotten much more painful. The thought of walking 17 miles was a bit overwhelming. I was glad to get out of Pennsylvania though.We crossed the Delaware River over I-80 and headed into New Jersey right away. The trail was still rocky and we started heading uphill immediately. The scenery was beautiful but the trail was a bit too rocky for me - I guess I expected the rocks to magically disappear when we left PA. Nope. Every time I stopped walking and started again, my leg would ache. I was really worried about it and was trying to decide how to see a doctor. It was a pretty hike but all I could think about was the pain.The scenery on the trail was beautiful. We took a break at Sunfish Pond - the first glacial pond on the trail - and had many great vistas all day.We met Melk's aunt and cousin for lunch at the Mohican Outdoor Center. Her aunt had brought us meatloaf, fresh vegetables and fruit, and brownies. It was very exciting. While we were there, Melk asked Tomaso if she would take me to the emergency room after our hike today so I could get my leg checked out. Tomaso agreed and I felt much better.We had seven more miles to hike and we pushed them out pretty well. I saw a porcupine along the trail in the evening - exciting!We finished hiking around 6:45 p.m. and Tom and Tomaso greeted us at the road. We headed straight to the hospital in Stroudsburg, Pocono Medical Center, where they dropped me off at the emergency room. I was a bit embarrassed to be there after hiking all day but I also just wanted to get it over with. They took me to triage right away and then I only waited a little while to see a doctor. When the doctor walked in, the first thing he said was, "you have the legs of a twelve-year-old. It looks like you've been playing outside all summer." Yep. He checked out my leg and said I was having an allergic reaction to the sting and a mild infection. He prescribed me a steroid, an antibiotic, and an allergy med. I was glad I had gone to the doctor.We headed to CVS to fill my scripts and to dinner. I didn't get to bed until late but it was a good day. Glad to know what's going on with my leg.- Sound of Young Eagle breathing.Post Trail Thoughts:This was a challenging day for me. From the outside looking in, it was mostly mental. On the trail, small problems can seem like huge obstacles to overcome. Without the luxury of a car to scoot over to a doctor, it seemed impossible. I was also very nervous about taking any hiking time away from the A-Team, I was nervous to ask Melk's aunt for help. My leg was extremely painful and I felt like I couldn't make anyone understand that it might actually be serious. I felt like I could just sit down on a rock and cry. Every time I stopped and then started walking again, my leg felt like it would explode. I am so thankful to Melk's aunt for caring enough to get me to the hospital that night.Other things I remember about that day include Young Eagle making lots of phone calls from Sunfish Pond to try and sort out his medical insurance and his severance package as he had just been laid off from his job. I also remember some sort of camp going on in one of the valleys below a ridge we were hiking - wonderful music was being produced and it was a great change of pace.