The AT runs right through PA,

All hikers would cry “Happy Day,

They have farms, forests and rivers, 

It’s a state that delivers!”

If they could just take the damn rocks away.

… thank you, thank you  very much.

The Challenge and Adventure

These are what I wanted when I signed up to hike the Appalachian Trail –  challenge and adventure. A rather precipitous climb out of the Lehigh Valley gave me more than I bargained for. Much of the terrain was challenging, but it was the scramble across a naked rockface that provided more risk than I wanted any part of. Fortunately, I’m still here to write about it.

Day 29 – Stealth site to Stealth site (16 miles)

Day 30 – Stealth site to Countryside Hostel (14 miles)

Day 31 – Countryside Hostel to Wind Gap (15 miles)

Day 32 – Wind Gap to Delaware Water Gap (16 miles)

The Trail Up

The Appalachian Trail obviously runs along the Appalachian Mountains. Anytime you come to a river or a nearby town, the trail has a long descent down followed by along ascent up. The trail up from the Lehigh River was especially long and rocky.

I wish I had a picture of the rockface that scared the crap out of me, but my hands were busy hanging on.

To the Delaware River

The final leg out of Pennsylvania involves a hike down to the Delaware river. It’s a beautiful piece of forest which includes a hike through a rhododendron jungle.

The Close-ups

…ladyslipper orchids, bleeding hearts and… a vulture.

Still no bears, but I saw the backside of a small copperhead as it crawled under a rock. Also, one porcupine sighting.

Thanks for listening.