START LOCATION: New Tripoli Campsite
FINISH LOCATION: Lehigh Gap/Palmerton, PA
TODAY'S MILEAGE: 11.8
TRIP MILEAGE: 1,248.3
MILES TO GO: 930.8
We broke camp around 9AM. It was oppressively hot over night and into
the morning. Long Shanks, Smoke and I hauled to the first shelter
about 4 miles in. When we got there we learned that our water source
there was dry. Not good news, but not surprising. PA is like this.
Mimi had been there and got water from a some shelter maintenance
crew. She shared a bit with all of us. I figured I had enough for the
7 mile push to George Outerbridge Shelter, where sobo's were telling
us the spring there was fantastic.
The rocks, heat, humidity and sun exposure were rough, but I did ok. I
had enough water in the morning to float me to George Outerbridge. We
made it and I was parched. The spring was everything I'd hoped. I
drank almost a gallon.
We were hearing some bad news about water on the other side of the
Lehigh Gap. We decided the best thing to do was lay up in Palmerton,
resupply, get a good nights rest and attack the Lehigh Gap rock field
in the AM.
It was a good choice. We had dinner at a fantastic restaurant... 110
Tavern. Reasonably priced yet a CiA chef was making our food. I had 2
entrees, it was so good. A nice couple bought us our dinner! We found
out later after they left... Thank you Dennis and Donna! Unbelieveable
generosity.
Our bartender/waitress gave us all a ride to a dumpy yet perfect place
to stay... It was a 3 bed apartment for Long shanks, Mimi, Smoke and
I... For $75 total! Resupply, showers and a little television was a
nice relaxing evening to psyche us up for what many thru-hikers
consider the toughest mile of the AT... Rocks like axe blades.
No AC tonght, but I'll sleep like a champ anyway. Big day tomorrow.
-natedog
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