Date: 2005-06-28
From: Ecville Shelter (tent)

To: Parkside Inn, Palmerton PA 
Miles today: 24.9

Day #104 I was breaking camp at 5:30am. After breakfast and 2 icecream sandwiches i start up the trail. It's really hot & humid and only 6am. I'm dripping wet when i reach the top of the ridge. The climb wasn't the worse i've had, but seemed to drag. I don't know whether it was the heat or what, but it was taking next to forever to reach Allentown hiking club shelter. About a 1/2 mile before i reach the shelter, i see my third bear of the trip. In Pennsylvania you spend most of your time looking at your feet so that one doesn't break something on the rocks. Yes, my prayers have been answered the rocks have arrived. When i heard a noise in front of me i assumed it was just a hiker ahead of me. Much too my surprise when i glance up i'm lookong at the ass end of a bear. He didn't seem to care about me and rambled down the trail of rocks like they weren't even there. I scuried, leaped, and cralwed after him with camera in hand. The bear hopped off the trail and apperantly became a tree as he was no where to be seen. I finally crawled into the shelter for a break with rabbit and rocket. I set out my tent that dried in minutes under the hot sun. Today the trail was a combination of old woodsey roads with rocks and huge boulder fields. I stopped at bear rocks view point. The blue blaze trail went right up a huge pile of boulders. It offered great views and a rare breeze. I don't think many thru-hikers crawl up it. i climbed down and it's a short walk down the trail to bake-knob. There are alway people there and i don't know why. You hobble over many rocks the trail confusing at times to the bake oven shelter. It looks like it's been there since 1936. Hats off too anyone that spends the night there. Rabbit's pack is there, but no rabbit. I follow the water trail down to the first spring and it is dry. I proceed down to the second spring which is also dry. I figure since i'm 3/4's the way down the mountain, might as well keep going. I run into rabbit who says there is water and company while you pump it at the 3rd spring. As promised there is water and richard from texas. He was the army until he broke his back. He had a small pack with canned food. Why anyone from texas would pick pennsylvania in the middle of the heat to hike is anybodies guess. He was pretty heavyset and claimed to have done 30 miles yesterday without water. This would be quite the accomplishment for a thru hiker that's been on the trail for 3 months. I'm not saying that he didn't do it....No wait that is what i'm saying. After a chat, i start the long walk up the mountain back to my pack. I think it's getting warmer. I decide to move on to the next shelter 7 miles away. No longer is water dictating my schedule, it's the crazy people i meet.    So 7 miles it is. Rabbit & rocket are ahead of me. Most of the trail runs along an open ridge. It was during this time i realize i seem to be getting really warm. Like one could cook eggs on my chest or perhap's boil a quart of water. I start my decent, passing multiple campsites along the way, meaning only that there would be none at the shelter. When i reach George W Outerbridge shelter rabbit is there. I look briefly for a camping spot. I realize i'm still really warm after a liter of water. I tell rabbit i'm going the 1/2 mile into town. I didn't say anything about being ready to self combust, so not to worry anyone. It took a bit to hitch. town was only a couple miles, but to walk would involve a very busy road with no shoulder. I stay at the parkside inn. Another bar with rooms above it. They do have murphy's on tap and the cajun chicken was delicous. I cranked up the air and took a cool bath/shower. I started to worry around 10pm after dinner that i was still crazy hot. I could put a cold wash cloth on my head and it would be boiling in seconds. Naturally, my cell doesn't work. I know not what to do. If it get worse i'll have to have someone call for help. It's now 1am and i think i'm cooling down. Tonight has really spooked me. I think one of my blood pressure pills played a roll in it as they have dire warnings not to hang out in prolonged sunlight. Going to try to sleep.