AT (The New Era) Journey Across 2016 – 2021 (The Tough Decision) Week 17

-Yellow Springs Campsite to Delaware Water Gap PA –

 

As the birds begin to stir, they wake us up at 530 AM. Stretching, keeping my legs flat on the sleeping pad, I reach down to my toes. This can be felt down the back of the legs and entire back. Digging in the food bag, some oatmeal and granola is going to be for breakfast.

After happily eating and a few energy chews, the walk begins. Hiking 2.7 miles, a man was seen with his son sitting in the middle of the trail. The trekking poles are clacked on rocks to alert them of our proximity.

Once we get close enough, (Rough Bananas) was hiking with his four year old son. He offered to take trash and give some or all of the food bag. It was full of ramen noodles, marshmallows, chocolates, fudge rounds and lots more. Only a few mini chocolates were taken and 1 fudge round each. Saying thanks and goodbye, the journey progressed.

The Stony Creek Beaver Dam Overflow

So many thoughts of crossing a boggy, swampy, stinky, woody water gap came to mind. Did we have to ride a log through the mucky water? Were there water moccasins in it? Walk across goopy mud? Balance precariously on random sinking wood and logs? The nerves were running extremely high thinking about what was to come.

Walking another 2 miles, a sign read, “beaver dam overflow area ahead.” Looking at the app, there was a 1.6 mile bypass. Which one should be taken? A few hundred nasty feet straight through or bypass? It was decided to chance the beaver overflow.

Moving approximately .7 miles, the overflow came into view. The air was heavy with the smell of decayed wood, rotting grass, stagnant water and horrible odors. Looking around, a few 100 foot tall trees had fallen across the path.

Changing into camp shoes and securing boots to the back of the packs, the slow process began. The poles were used to prod muck areas where a foot needed to step. Wobbling across sinking limbs was carefully done. A few trees were straddled. After 20 scary minutes, the other side was reached. A mini towel was dug out to dry our feet and put hiking footwear back on. The final 6.5 miles was travelled to camp.

Robert and Rita

Waking at dawn, oatmeal, freeze dried coffee and water was for breakfast. The path was brutally rocky. They were the thickness of a finger, jutting 2-5 inches straight or angled differently upwards. The top of the right foot and the backside balls of my feet were already in alot of pain since the beginning of Pennsylvania.

This left zero options not to step on them. The least painful steps were chosen. My feet were sharply rocked to extreme side angles while balancing on the knife edges. This hurt so much. TSquared got a message from Rita. They were hiking and meeting us at William Penn Shelter. 2.1 miles of easy road for them, 2.7 miles of rockiness for us.

After an hour, the shelter was reached where Robert and Rita were waiting. A few conversations began that entailed Robert’s hiking exploits and ours. After a 20 minute break, everyone headed towards the truck 2.1 miles away.

Buddys Log Cabin Family Restaurant was on the trip plans. Burgers, fries, iced tea and scrapple was ordered. Scrapple is pork scraps and trimmings cooked in corn meal. It is deep fried resembling thickly sliced toast on a plate. When you bite into it, the center is mushy with a crunchy outside and a bacon like taste. Now for some new gear.

Cabelas and Walmart runs

Driving around a half hour, we arrived at Cabelas. Time was spent walking through the incredibly large still life deer mounts. There were around 30 or more. The boots section was walked to and after heavy debate, some Keen boots were selected. Shortly after, the camping section was visited upstairs.

An Atmos 65 womens backpack and a Kestrel 68 were chosen. The items were purchased and off to walmart we went.

In the store, some thick work gel insoles were found and some small quantity Chondroitin pills. After leaving, they dropped us off at the Comfort Inn. Many gracious thank yous were said and goodbyes were done. No hugs, because we hadn’t showered in days. Waving, we were so happy they helped us out so incredibly much. The next morning.

1200 Mile Marker

Getting a ride to PA 501, the day starts. Hiking 3.1 miles in, Showers Steps Overlook was stopped at for a break.

A few peanut butter and caramel protein bars were enjoyed. Moving on, Mermaid and Jet were met briefly near the 1200 mile marker.

Mermaid was finishing her triple crown with the AT as the final of the three trails totaling over 8000 miles. The heat was rising fast. Another 6.8 miles was travelled.

The Fort Dietrich Snyder Outpost Marker looked like a good shady spot to get out of the 90 degree humid heat. This was used as a warning area during the French and Indian War.

The Eagles Nest Shelter was next. After hiking the final miles, the turn to the shelter is seen. A few hundred feet on the left side of the trail is a huge timber rattler. It is sunning itself. It blended in very well. Phone was at max zoom for this picture.

We went off trail about 6 feet to go around the snake and continued to the shelter. Warnings were showed to others on the way out. This was tonights tenting home.

The Difficult Decision

Starting early, the path was walked carefully checking for yesterdays snake. It seemed to have moved on, thank goodness. Clumsily wobbling over the 80 percent covered rock trail, it kept sharply snapping both my ankles to severe painful angles. A tentsite was used as a break site. My mental state was at the screw this point. I tossed my poles in the forest angrily (got them again). We moved on 20 minutes later.

A hundred feet up the trail, TSquared falls forward (tripped on a rock) and plows full weight into me and starts crying. I calm her down and its decided (instead of quitting on the spot) (have to meet my daughter Jessie) to skip ahead. We have huge desires to finish, but our feet and emotions can’t tolerate the sharp rocky abuse. With over two thirds of Pennsylvania complete, we went to the Port Clinton Hotel to enjoy some wings, beer, water, iced tea and wait for a ride to Pottsville.

The Excitable Shuttle Driver

A driver named Steve (80 years old) shows up. He is from New York and extremely excitable. Driving for about 20 minutes, he starts digging in the middle console for cigarettes. He takes his head below the steering wheel and drifts sharply off the freeway. I yell, “look out!!!” He looks up and misses a steel marker pole by inches. Steve also new exactly where he was going as the driver, but because we didn’t have our maps open, it was our fault when a wrong turn was made. Wanting off this ride as soon as possible, we had him drop us off near the hotel.

The next morning, our niece Brittany drove two and a half hours to pick us up and a further hour and a half to Delaware Water Gap to the hotel. We needed a few zero days to recover physically and emotionally. We watched A Quiet Place 2 in the movie theater. The shuttle prices would have been a few hundred dollars to do this drive.