Yesterday we did a "slack pack" (did not take our full packs) hike from where we left the trail. We crossed the Lehigh River and climbed Lehigh Gap and hiked a few more miles to Little Gap. Ira gave us a ride to the trail and later picked us up at Little Gap. Today we took a zero day in Slatington.
This climb north up Lehigh Gap is one of the most feared on the AT. Wendy did not want to do it. The blue blaze Winter Trail allows you to bypass it. However, she agreed to try it on the AT if we did it without the packs. She did fine...
It is good to have the climb over. It was not too bad. There was one spot that I was particularly glad that I did not have a 40 lb. pack on my back. Here is a picture looking back at Lehigh Gap...
Tomorrow we will continue the hike northeast through the last of the "PA Rocks" and by Friday, we will be in Delaware Water Gap. Not looking forward to the rocks but the worst is over and the rest will be soon.
We have met Jaybird, Scout and Bo, and Duane (all fellow hikers) at Fine Lodging. Jaybird is a section hiker who started in Georgia a few years ago (8?) and has made it this far. He was planning on finishing across the New York state line but injured himself in a fall. We are all planning on leaving tomorrow. Jaybird is still limping so I think he will have a hard time.
Ira took us as well as Scout and Bo to K-Mart today for some supplies. They are thru-hiking similar to us - starting in Harper's Ferry and going to Maine, then Harper's Ferry south to Georgia.
My pack waist belt is almost too big now. I am inserting items in it to take up belt space. It also has other problems so it looks like I will need a new one soon.
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