Date: 2015-06-21
From: Bake Oven Knob Shelter

To: Leroy A. Smith Shelter
Miles today: 23.5
Weather: scattered clouds

It rained all night. I was happy to have stopped early and that I was able to remain dry. Everyone started getting up way too early and I wanted to sleep a little. I finally sat up at 6:45 and was on the trail at 7:00, ahead of all the early risers.Early on there were more crazy rocks but the first eight miles down to the Lehigh River came fast. The town of Palmerton lies about a mile and a half from there and the climb out of town is legendary. Coming out of the woods I looked up and assumed the hill to my left was it. It definitely wasn't that monstrous but I could see the rocks all the way up. When I got to the road intersection I could see the netting meant to catch falling rocks and I also took note of the "Watch for falling rocks" road sign. Not a great omen for rocks that I was trusting my life with. The initial climb was steep but not too bad, but once it led to the rocks I knew it was going to be fun. I put my trekking poles away and started pulling myself up the hill. In a way it was fun, in another it was crazy. Without 30 lbs on my back I would have flown up it. But with my pack on I had to focus on my weight and not get pulled backwards.   There were a couple of really iffy spots but eventually I reached the top.The ridge up top is deforested and the area is called the Palmerton Superfund site. Apparently there was a zinc smelting plant in town from 1898-1980 and it trashed the local environment. They're now working to restore it and I have to say that it didn't look as bad as I expected it to. The ridge walk was actually pretty nice with great views into Palmerton and the surrounding area.Eventually I came to Little Gap Road and could see the Blue Mountain Resort from the trail. A local ski area. The guide said if you walked .7 of a mile up the hill you could fetch water from their spigot. I thought I was good at the time and didn't go. Bad idea.I crossed the street and climbed up another rock face to the top of the resort. From there I could hear a band playing and curiosity got the best of me. I bushwacked through the trees and eventually came out at the very top of the ski mountain next to the ski patrol shack. I combed it for water but there was nothing. The music itself was coming from the bottom of the hill and I wasn't going to walk down, then back up their version of the Widowmaker trail. If I had skis it would have been a different story.I went back to the trail and ran out of water about six miles from the shelter. First time that's happened and I wasn't the only one. I hadn't seen a source of water since the morning, 13 miles back. I struggled until Smith Gap Road and when I emerged two guys where there waiting on Scott Jurek (he's trying to break the AT speed record).Luckily they had brought a ton of fruit and I ate as many grapes and strawberries as I could. When I left them and crossed the street someone had left jugs of water. I hate depending on trail magic but it saved the day. The water situation on these ridges is a bit ridiculous.I hit the shelter around 6:30 after assuming Scott Jurek would pass me over the 3.5 miles from the road. He didn't. By then I was beat and insanely thirsty so I just hit the side trail and walked the half mile down to the water. I've heard he's gone by since. Oh well. I hear he's been great to the other hikers and I wish him well. It will be cool to have someone from our year hold the record.Tomorrow should be Delaware Water Gap at a little over twenty miles. I need to resupply and I'm stressing a little over my options. I may have to catch a ride into Stroudsburg on Tuesday. We'll see. Either way, Delaware Water Gap is the end of Pennsylvania. It can't come soon enough. Rocksylvania has lived up to its billing.