This is the last post from the past! The next post will come out around 7/3 as I hit the trail again. This time with my father in tow. Stay tuned to see if it’s an adorable father son bonding experience or if I shove him off a cliff!

I didn’t even have to open my eyes to know the difference when I woke up this morning. There was no rain falling on my tarp. It wasn’t even dripping from the tree tops. As I peered out, I saw that not only was it not raining. But the sun was shining. Hallelujah!

I left camp knowing that I only had 12 miles to go to Palmerton. When I got there, it would be a short hitch into town and then a wait for John to come get me. So I didn’t have to rush. But if I wanted to rush, I’m not sure I could have. 

I left camp today and walked straight into the heart of rocksylvania. Boulders were everywhere. Some flat and easy to hop onto and others sharp making the walk painstakingly slow. And as the sun covered the rocks, the snakes crawled out from their holes and sunned themselves. I moved slowly. Partly because the rocks were hard to maneuver. Partly because it was hot. And partly because I’m still scared of snakes. 

As I cross knife edge (a notoriously rocky section of trail with steep drops on either side), I heard babytalk call back from ahead. “I’d go left here. There are two massive copper heads off to the right.” As I got up to where she had been, I looked around and didn’t see a single snake. It was terrifying. The only thing worse than seeing a snake in that scenario is not seeing one. 

I walked on and on. Sometimes moving quickly over dirt paths and other times, laboring over fallen boulders. I felt good but grew weaker as the day grew hotter. 

I passed through the last boulder field of the day and came out on top of an exposed ridge line. It was gorgeous, but with no trees, there was no shade. And it was immediately hot. The sun beat down on me as I walked, looking down on the Lehigh valley below me. 

I looked at my phone and saw the temperature register at 89degrees with a “feels like” temperature of almost 95. It was all downhill to palmerton but in the heat, even that was a struggle. I pushed myself on and on. 

Rocket had texted that there was a cache of cold sodas and fresh fruit at mile 1261. And so all I thought about was the ice cold sprite that was waiting for me. 

I finally came out to the road and crossed a bridge half a mile ahead of the cache. There were construction workers on the bridge who asked where I started and told me to keep it up. They asked how I was doing and I told them I hated Pennsylvania. They laughed. In the moment, with the heat beating down on me, I wasn’t joking. 

When I got to the cache, babytalk was there and about to head out. We chatted for a second before she said “so this is it?” And it was. After my ice cold sprite, it was time for me to head to town and wait for John to pick me up. We said goodbyes. It was weird, I know I really don’t know her or rocket, but I also know I miss them both already. Coming back without them already sounds sad. So lonely. It’ll be such a different hike.

But I had to go home. So I walked back to the road and stuck out my thumb. 

I got a ride within a minute or two. After we chatted about the trail for a minute, he asked where in town I wanted to be dropped off. I shrugged but then I saw an ice cream store. “There.” I said. “I want to go to there.”

I hopped out of the truck just as it started to drizzle. I jogged (ok, hobbled) over to the ice cream shop and by the time I walked inside, the heavens opened up and the streets were almost instantly flooded. I took it as a sign to get a sickening amount of ice cream – just to make sure I was in the store long enough for the rains to pass. 

The rest of the day was spent eating, shopping for non hiking clothes at the local thrift store, showering at the local gym and eating some more. By the time John came to pick me up, I was well fed, exhausted and ready to fall asleep indoors tonight on his couch. 

Key stats:

Miles 12

Elevation gained: 1100 ft

Mile marker: 1261 

Ice cream order: mint moose tracks with hot fudge, malted milk powder, marshmallow fluff, whipped cream and a cherry on top