Date: 2010-07-06
From: Palmerton, PA (PA 248)

To: Leroy A. Smith Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Man o man! I'm so glad that "Dante's Inferno" is behind me! Today was a very hot, hard day, but I made it. =After getting up at 5 AM and getting a breakfast bagel sandwich from Burt's, I met trail angel Duane at 6:45. He took me back up to the trail and I was ready to take on the mountain. Thanks, Duane! I sat at the bottom in the shade finishing my breakfast and checked my email on my phone. There I found a beautiful, encouraging email from Braids. What would I do without her???First, I must explain why I have held so much dread of today's hike. The climb out of Lehigh Gap is a tough, exposed rock scramble/climb to the top of Blue Mountain. This mountain and surrounding areas comprise and EPA Superfund site, vegetation and soil simply destroyed due to zinc smelting. For the hiker, this leaves several miles of completely exposed trail. The initial climb has been described as one of the most challenging on the AT south of New Hampshire's White Mountains. Also, this stretch of trail is infamously dry. This brings us to water issues...Second only to the rocks, scarcity of water has been one fo the most difficult things about Pennsylvania. Much of the trail in the state stays along ridgelines. During the summer, any source listed as "intermittent" is almost certainly going to be dry. Even some listed as "reliable" are dry, as well. It's often a given that to find water, we must hike half a mile or more downhill. Combine this with rocks and 100 degree temperatures we've been having, and it just plain sucks.From Lehigh Gap to Wind Gap, 20 miles later, there was no water source closer that 0.6 miles. This definitely contributed to my dread of the day. I was also hitting it on the hottest day in a serious heatwave.Well, I made it through just fine! The climb was, indeed, very difficult, but almost fun in a strange way. There were many places where I was literally bouldering with my 30-pound pack. I had left this morning with 3.5 liters of water, but was sucking it down at such a rate in the heat that I knew I would have to make a long trek to water or run out. Instead, I got to Little Gap and decided to hitch in for water, air conditioning, and a break. Almost immediately, a truck stopped heading the wrong direction. The driver was so fascinated with my hike, however, that he turned around and drove back the way he came, taking me a couple of miles to Blue Mountain Drive-In. I loved this little diner, and enjoyed the AC and giant homemade strawberry italian ice I had. After about an hour and a half, I headed back up the mountain, again getting a pretty easy hitch. A big thanks to both of my drivers today!!!Armed with lots more water, I hiked on. When I arrived at the shelter and met Biscuits, Gray, and Rafi, I quickly decided that my feet had had enough. I had enough time to make it 4.5 more miles to Wind Gap, but just didn't want to! As it turned out, the hike to water wasn't that bad (though long!), and it was lovely just to listen to and look at the gurgling stream. Thirst has been a constant state for days, and it was wonderful this evening just to guzzle as much as I wanted! Yay for water!!!