Date: 2007-07-01
From: Ashfield road, Lehigh Furnance Gap

To: Leroy A. Smith Shelter
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We packed up our tents and got another early start on the Trail around 6:15 am. As we descended the mountain, picking lots of blueberries, we saw the bridge over the Lehigh River that we would soon cross. Then, on the other side,there was a very pointed rocky mountain. Spirit suggested that would be where we could be heading. I told her,"No way!" In fact, that was exactly where we went. The hardest rock climb was today. We needed to collapse our hiking poles and place them in our packs so both hands would be available to grasp hold. In our group of 6, there were two women who were queezy with heights. This was not pleasant for them, so we tried to stay focused, move quickly yet cautiously, and get to the ridge. I was hiking in front of Spirit, and I was afraid a loose rock would fall and hit her. Anyways, we made it and are glad it's over with, though we hear NJ has rocks,too! Richard and Skiman met us for our mid hike break and enjoyed hearing the variety of rock climbing reports, from the men who loved it to us women who, well you know.... We saw a group of paragliders carry their 50 lb packs southbound on the AT. We think it ws too windy for them to use them. We watched for them in the sky and never saw them. Ziplock and Nitro shared a big bag of blueberries. During the day, Richard and Skiman asked a man who lived next to a blue blaze trail if he would be willing to allow 3 tents with 4 adults to camp on his lawn tonight and he was happy to have them. Richard and Skiman walked .9 mi up the blue blaze trail to where it met the AT at the Leroy A. Smith shelter. We arrived at 4 pm and hiked down the trail together. We were introduced to the landowner, Harold. After this group set up camp, they joined the 4 of us staying at a motel for dinner in a restaurant. We had the waiter take one final group picture. As the campers were settling into their sleeping bags, I had boxes of food and clothes spead out in the motel room, preparing for next week. I am sending home my sleeping bag liner and going back to my 40' bag. I have new LLBean adjustable hiking poles to replace the same model which wouldn't stay locked. Richard used super glue to reattach my Gregory Jade 50 brain's zipper which was coming unglued. I didn't want to send the pack back to Gregory again, so the home repair seemed to work. I have my hat and gloves again, as well as my 9 patch quilting project. I change hiking shoes every 500 miles. This change has been to a hightop hiking sneaker, due to the PA rocks. My low shoes are going home. When Skiman returns to the AT next weekend, he is bringing me new sock liners to replace my pair that have holes and my heavy collared fleece top. The weather at night varies so much, and I want to be comfortable the coldest nights. Tomorrow we look forward to our last day in PA but are sorry Richard and Skimans return to NH because tomorrow ends our slackpacking. They will drop off our garbage bags of gear at the hostel in Delaware Water Gap on their way home. The good news is Skiman's ankle is feeling good and I look forward to his return in a week or less.