Next Update - Sept. 17

Day 101
Miles Hiked Today — 15.0
Total Trail Miles — 1188.8

Eagle's Nest Shelter

In theory, tonight is my last night alone on the A.T. Tomorrow I'll meet Scott in Port Clinton. When I return to the Trail a few days after that, he'll be with me for the rest of the hike.

I'm not sure how I feel about this chapter of my hike coming to an end. Of course, I'm ridiculously excited to be joining up with my husband, but part of me feels as if I should have learned something or figured out something.

I worry that I'm not having enough fun or appreciating this experience as much as I should. The longer this hike lasts, the more routine and uninspiring it becomes.

I'm going to try to start this next part of my hike with a better outlook. I need to look around more, take more pictures of the little things I find, and write better accounts of my adventures. Or maybe I just need to relax and let myself enjoy the good stuff, like being with my very best friend - starting tomorrow.

Day 102
Miles Hiked Today — 8.6
Total Trail Miles — 1197.4

Port Clinton

Scott picked me up this evening in Port Clinton. After having a few beers with some friends in the Port Clinton Hotel, we are heading to my in-law's home in Philly. We're going to spend two days here in Philly and have invited Opto and Pop-Pop to join us. We'll pick them up in Port Clinton tomorrow morning.

Day 103
Miles Hiked Today — 0
Total Trail Miles — 1197.4

In-Laws' House in Philadelphia

Today we enjoyed a summer picnic of hamburgers, tofu hot dogs, salad, and baked beans. We also attended an evening concert in the local park. It was a great day and I spent it with great people!

Day 104
Miles Hiked Today — 0
Total Trail Miles — 1197.4

In-Laws' House in Philadelphia

We're continuing to relax and enjoy the great hospitality of Scott's parents. They have been terrific hosts, especially considering the fact that I invited a couple of strangers to their home!

Day 105
Miles Hiked Today — 15.2
Total Trail Miles — 1212.6

Eckville Shelter

When we left Philly this morning, it was the first time in a long time that I really looked forward to getting back on the Trail because I wasn't going alone. Scott is now my official hiking partner! Having Scott here, and knowing that he's not going home in a week, gives me a wonderful feeling.

Day 106
Miles Hiked Today — 11.5
Total Trail Miles — 1224.1

PA 309, Tenting

It's time for me to give up the pretense that I'm a true woodswoman. I'm sitting at a patio table at the Blue Mountain Summit Restaurant after stuffing myself full of great food and drink. Sometimes it's just too easy to stop for a meal because the Trail crosses so many roads and goes through so many towns. This restaurant also has a Bed and Breakfast, but Scott and I are resisting. We're tenting in the backyard.

In Pennsylvania there are some really rocky sections of the Trail, alternated with dirt walks. My ankles don't take kindly to all those rocks.

Early on in my hike, I was so happy to be out in the woods and away from society. The Trail community was so inspiring to me. I loved talking to all the hikers, gaining new perspectives on life.

Lately, the woods seem almost as much of a prison as society did when I lived there. So I'm finding that the grass is always greener. I'd like to be able to appreciate the woods when I'm in them and the city when I'm there. I envy some of the other hikers who are constantly excited and inspired by this journey.

Day 107
Miles Hiked Today — 13.4
Total Trail Miles — 1237.5

Palmerton Jailhouse

Confessions of a town junkie . . . I'm in the "jailhouse hostel" in Palmerton, PA. The folks in Palmerton allow hikers to stay for free in the basement of their town hall. Hot showers are included!

Today's hike included a whole lot of rocks and rock scrambles. We had to strap our hiking poles to our packs so that we could use our hands to hold on to the rocks. Tomorrow we'll climb out of Lehigh Gap - it's supposed to be a very difficult rock scramble. Hopefully it won't rain. Wet rocks are quite slippery!

In Palmerton the Trail goes through an area that is an Epa Superfund site. At one time there was a zinc mine and smelting operation. The region became polluted with the fumes. While most of the ridges in PA are green with trees and other plants, the ridge beyond Palmerton is defoliated. Some trees are starting to grow back, but there is a lot of erosion and rock slides because of the lack of greenery.

We can't drink the water in this area because of the pollution. The plant has been closed for many years, but the effects are still very visible.

Day 108
Miles Hiked Today — 16.0
Total Trail Miles 1253.5

Leroy Smith Shelter

My legs are covered in bug bites and scars from where I've scratched. Must buy Benadryl in the next town.

The climb out of Lehigh Gap was not nearly as bad as people said it was going to be. In fact, I had more fun than I've had in a while, climbing over those big boulders. At the top of the ridge was the EPA Superfund site. It looked as if a fire had wiped out everything, but there was no soot or blackened trees. Just a quiet deadness.

Since 1980 when the plant closed, Palmerton has been trying to restore the area. Scrubby new plants are making their homes amid the fallen trees. It was inspiring to see that after 20+ years, nature is starting to take over.

The water source at this shelter is a half mile away. Opto and I carried about eight gallons of water to our campsite. Note that a gallon of water weighs eight pounds! That's 64 pounds of water!

Day 109
Miles Hiked Today — 13.8
Total Trail Miles — 1267.3

Kirkridge Shelter

Towards the end of the day, we hiked over a neat rock formation called Wolf Rocks. I enjoy scrambling over big rocks and boulders, but I'm not so crazy about the little pointy rocks that tweak ankles and bruise feet.

My guidebook's entry for this shelter consoles us with the words, "Sleep well tonight knowing that the worst of the rocks are now behind you." Music to my ears!

Day 110
Miles Hiked Today — 6.4
Total Trail Miles —1273.7

Delaware Water Gap, PA

I'm hanging around Delaware Water Gap this afternoon. My parents should arrive in the next hour or so.

I'm sitting outside of the Church of the Mountain Hiker Hostel, enjoying a beautiful day. Our sleeping bags, which got wet in last night's storm, are drying on the lawn. When we arrived at the shelter last night, we found a gaggle of young boys with their packs strewn all over the place. Scott and I picked a tenting spot, threw up the tent, and jumped inside just as the rain started.

After lunch today, Opto and Pop-Pop met up with Pop-Pop's brother. I hope to see my hiking buddies again soon.