Date: 2016-06-26
From: Bake Oven Knob Shelter

To: Leroy Smith Shelter
Miles today: 23.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I would like to talk about trail hygiene since I have had some questions from my friends about that. There are many things to worry about on the trail like Lyme Disease from ticks, Staph infections, Noro Virus, and intestinal problems due to bad water. Yesterday, when I got trail magic, one of the trail angels shared that he had walked the AT last year but had to quit in NY when he got a staph infection. He got blisters and was scratching them and admitted that his hygiene was not what it should have been. Crock and Verge who are hiking the trail now both had to seek medical attention a week or so ago due to illness but they are both back on the trail. They were tested for Lyme disease but the blood tests take a while to get back. We must always be on the lookout for ticks. When caught early and treated, recovery is quick. We must also always filter and/or treat the water we drink to make sure to eliminate bacteria. Washing up and keeping clean is important. Most hikers will wash in the stream like I do. I have written that I bathe in the creeks but it is really cupping your hands and washing your face and neck. Some will rinse their hair and legs. Most water sources aren't even big enough to soak your feet. So it is tough to do but you do it when you can. Yard Sale also got sick because of something bad that he ate. The weather is getting warmer so food will not keep as long in our backpacks. There are a lot of things to think about. If you have any questions or are curious about our life out on the trail, please send me a note via the blog. Remember, kids also read my blog so be mindful of the subject and language. I got going this morning around 6:30am and thought I was the first to leave until I ran into Yardsale. He snuck out this morning! It was rocky but we got through ok. Yardsale and I met up again when we stopped for a break and water at George Outbridge Shelter. It would be 12 miles before the next water source so I carried 2 1/2 liters. We came to a very steep trail heading down to the Lehigh River. I walked over the bridge then came to the uphill climb. Michael(Denmark) and Napster(Germany) were resting before the climb up so we chatted for a little while. The climb was a challenge because it is very steep and full of boulders. This was definitely a place to use your hands and scoot on you butt to get from rock to rock. It was challenging but the reward was a great view of Lehigh River Valley. The area from the top on about 3/4 miles is called the Palmerton Superfund Site. It was deforested due to Zinc smelting between 1898 and 1980. The Government has spent millions of dollars off and on since then to get it cleaned up. Fortunately the vegetation is starting to come back but there is not much shade. Much of the trail was on a ridge line and had nice views of Palmerton and the valley beyond. It was a nice clear but hot day. I was not happy carrying the extra water up the boulders but now I'm glad I did. There were not many ups or downs the rest of the way but a long hike on rocky trails. My feet were paining me so much that I took 3 ibuprofen after lunch for the first time. It helped to carry me into camp. I arrived at Leroy Smith Shelter to find that I was the only one there. It took me a while to start getting my gear out and prepare my sleeping area. My pain and exhaustion were getting the better of me. When I finally got set up I hiked down to get water and to wash up. I felt better when I did that. I fixed my gourmet dinner...2 tuna sandwiches and a few other snacks. Soon after I started dinner I was happy to get a companion. A hiker named Mercury came in. She is an accountant from north Florida who asked for a leave of absence and got it. She got her name from the wings she put on her shoes...very clever. It was nice to have someone to talk to and share the shelter with. I worked on my blog and went fast asleep soon after I lay my head down.