Mile 1247.5! Both exciting and depressing. Thats a long way to walk. Pennsylvania is proving to be a hot, buggy, rocky, viewless, dry (very few water sources), poison ivy-filled state. I didn't mind southern PA too much, but lately its been hard going. Spirits waivering, right foot really hurting (and the rocks don't help), sweating every day. Hiking the A.T. is much tougher mentally than I could have ever imagined. Really, really looking forward to the Northeast, but that is still a ways off. We still have lots more hot, buggy, rocky, viewless, waterless, poison ivy-filled terrain to cover before its gets better. What have I gotten myself into?
Staying at the "Jailhouse Hostel" in Palmerton, PA tonight. An old police station that the city allows hikers to stay in for free. Palmerton is a weird and kind of wonderful town. I'm glad we stopped here. We are back amongst a group of other thru-hikers which is fun since we seemed to be all by ourselves for a while.
If I had known there would be this much poison ivy on the AT I very likely would not have chosen to hike it. Its ridiculous sometimes, actually nearly all the time. I have no idea how I have avoided contracting it but I hope my luck holds. Did I mention that I hate bugs and heat?
We saw 6 Timber Rattlers on the trail the other day (Sunday). We've seen probably over a dozen now (never more than one a day until now though) and often times they scare the living shit out of me when I walk up on them. Like the first one we saw yesterday which was hidden between some rocks, that I nearly walked over not 30 seconds after I think we saw another copperhead slither by. Then a really, really big one was pointed out to us just off the trail while we were on a break not 2 miles later. Then, on the same break, we went up to look at a viewpoint where we heard some rattlers had been sunning earlier and we saw 4 more rattlers in 2 sets - one set intertwined - not 5 feet from each other. It felt like the snake den out of Raiders of the Lost Arc. Got some good photos and videos. They are amazing creatures. Sure wish all poisonous snakes had rattles to warn you. Good stuff.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, we'll hike out of Palmerton towards Delaware Water Gap, PA where we'll hopefully spend the night on Thursday. I hope I make it. I sure wasn't expecting my body to be in this much pain, this late in the hike. I've lost all hope that my body will heal while I'm on the trail. Now its just a game of mental toughness. I hope I win.
Day 84, 15 July: Duncannon, PA - Peters Mtn Shelter [1148.6], 11.3 mi / 2000ft gain
Day 85, 16 July: Peters Mtn Shelter - camping near Swatara Gap [1172.1], 23.5 mi / 2900ft gain (saw a really fat Timber Rattler on the trail this day)
Day 86, 17 July: Swatara Gap - 501 Shelter [1183.5], 11.4 mi / 1900ft gain (rain cut our day short again. Sweet, fully enclosed shelter with outside shower)
Day 87, 18 July: 501 Shelter - Port Clinton, PA [1207.2], 23.7 mi / 2000ft gain (ole foot really hurtin lately)
Day 88, 19 July: Port Clinton, PA - Eckville Shelter [1222.4], 15.2 mi / 2500ft gain (this shelter was like a hostel bunkhouse really. also saw possibly our first copperhead)
Day 89, 20 July: Eckville Shelter - Bake Oven Knob Shelter [1239.8], 17.4 mi / 2600ft gain (saw 6, yes 6, rattlers on the trail this day)
Day 90, 21 July: Bake Oven Knob Shelter - Palmerton, PA [1247.5], 7.7 mi / ??ft gain (spirits were waivering lately and foot really sore, so called it a short day)
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Hang in there Iceman. This is about the point on the PCT when I just had to start pounding the protein. Would you like us to send you some Jay Rob with your cookies? It is worth it, hang in there. Ironically, i heard on the radio today that people can no longer say," I am off to hike the AT" without conntating actually leaving town on a jet to go have an affair with a woman in Brazil (Gov. Mark Sanford style in case you hadn't heard the news). And you might ask a doc in a town for some steroids to carry with you for the ivy. Good job on staying away from it though! I'll never forget those scars you had, they looked so painful!
ReplyDeleteAbout feet: rub those babies, and ice them when you are in town. Ice is probably one of the best things you can do for them. And rest. But ice really helps. Do you have superfeet? Be careful though, you certainly don't want a stress fracture.
You rock D, wish we were there hiking with you, and I promise later you will actually forget about the pain :)
Much Love, TR