Date: 2016-07-14
From: Port Clinton Pavillion

To: Allentown Hiking Club Shelter
Miles today: 22.2
Weather: clear sky

Woke up early at the Pavilion in Port Clinton. Hazel was the first one out and she had slept near me so it motivated me to get up. I got on trail at 6:30 to a cloudy super humid day. The trail went through one more street in town and then followed the river before crossing under PA 61. It then began a very steep climb up and out of Port Clinton. The rocky climb was also made more difficult due to wet rocks from the humidity. I thought to myself what could be worse than Pennsylvania rocks. Well wet ones for sure. I hiked 5 miles with several ups and downs after the first big climb and stopped at Windsor Furnace Shelter for a rest and a snack. I met coach there who was trying to get motivated to get moving. With the prospect of all day hiking in rocks it's hard to get up in the morning. After leaving the shelter the real rocks of the day began and would be with me for the next 17 miles. Another big climb up to Pulpit Rock and then the trail was relatively flat but rocky as hell. I passed the pinnacle which was another view and more rocks. It made it very slow going. The trail finally came out to an old road and followed that for 3 miles. While there were some rocks mostly the terrain was smooth going and have my feet a rest. I descended down to Hawk Mt Road and just east on the road is Eckville Shelter which is manned by a caretaker. The shelter was nice with an separate building which has a flush toilet and shower. C-sharp was there when I arrived and a few others. I ate my lunch rested and jumped in the cold shower just to cool off. Coach, Hazel showed up while I was there and we ended up being a group of about 9. A line of big thunderstorms had passed just to our north but they took the humidity with them so things dried out dramatically. The caretaker for the shelter gave us all ice pops which I hadn't had since I was a kid. After about 45 minutes I got my boots back on and headed back out. Facing another big climb put music on and pushed on. Though it was drier it was still quite humid in the woods. I reached the top of the ridge and the guidebook showed flat terrain and it was just hard packed dirt. In my head I cheered and then I saw the rocks ahead. Ugh. The next 6 miles would be one of the toughest sections for me on the trail. Big rocks, little rocks, rocks with points so sharp you thought you stepped on a nail. Rocks that moved when you step on them, bedrock, moss covered rocks and all wet. To top things off which has been the case for weeks you have small gnats flying around your face and eyes. Which has happened before but makes more difficult in this situation is when those gnats fly into your eye. Sometimes both at the same time so as your rock hoping on went rocks now your eyes have been forced closed by bugs in them. Argh!! It was a slow 6 miles and it was getting dark. Oh please let's had darkness to this hell. When am I out of Pennsylvania? Finally I see the sign for Allentown Hiking Club Shelter. I collapse on the steps to the shelter and take my boots off. I can feel my feet throbbing as my heart is beating. The shelter only has two people at it Bonnie and Clyde. C/sharp arrives shortly thereafter feeling the same way as me both physically and mentally. That makes me feel better that it's not just me. I make a quick dinner after setting up my tent and crash fairly quickly. I hope the worst is over but probably not there is still 42 miles left in this state.