| July 19, 2005 |
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I left about 8:00am. I did find out
that it was Buffalo they came up to check on. He does have
problems with his feet. Bad blisters and get infected.
They've been that way ever since he's been on the trails.
Everybody knew it except for the bicyclists. Eve dentally they
came through and reported that he needed attention. I saw
Buffalo this morning and he's fine. He said that he just
have to take care of his feet and would know when it was serious. |
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I went through what was once the Rausch
mining camp area at Rausch Gap. There was also an old cemetery
in the1800's. I did not go back and visit. Today has
been a pretty good trail. Here again its rocky, everyplace you
look it's just rocks, rocks and rocks in the lane, but we haven't
has the water to contend with today so far. |
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For a while I was walking on road bed that
sw9tched back into the woodland. This is not a clear forest,
there's a lot underbrush, 16 to 18 inch trees, oaks, maples, striped
maples, poplars, cherries, sassafras's and dogwoods. |
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At this point the trail is open and there
doesn't seem to be a lot of bushes along the side of the trail to
hit your legs. I've just met a new couple, their names were
Bear Bag and PCB 'Better Take of Business'. I'm going down a
steep grade more down into a open woods area. Probably water
down in the valley, Simon is running ahead and that's probably what
he's going to. The last couple of days, I've been hiking in a
hunting wild life preserve area. |
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Also I received a post card from Chill
Coot, Paul Hootchins who lives in the Vermont area telling me
congratulations because I reached the half way mark and not to get
discouraged with the rocks in PA and NJ, that there was cooler
weather that was to come. So thanks Paul for the
encouragement. I feel better about that situation. I've
just been more concerned about the drought in northern part of PA.
But with the recent rains from Emily and Dennis that may not be a
problem. |
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I was wrong about the stream in the valley.
I just had to climb down and back up a big boulder of rocks, but
still going down in elevation. The trail seems to be in
the low lands now and I very smooth compared to what has it has
been. I'm not knocking it, I'll take it. Trail broke out
into an open area to a place the used to be a farm field. Good
view of the mountains here. Lot of pretty purple asters
blooming in the field and orange butterfly weed. Cedar trees
growing in this area. The first I've seen for a while. |
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I'll soon becoming into Rt. 443 at Green
Point. Just crossed the road and getting into a real grassy
area. Weeds are very close to the side of the trail, but the
trail is smooth. This is one of those areas that would be good
for bird game. Turkeys etc. Going across a foot bridge
that goes through swamp land. A lot of pretty black-eyed
Susan's in this area, and some other yellow flowers that look like
snap dragons. |
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I made the first creek crossing where I had
to take my shoes off. I just wades across and broke out into a
field of encaenia, look like purple cone flowers. Now hiking
through an area that looks like its been mowed with a lawn mower, a
nice wide path. Going straight through a pine tree hemlock
forest, straight up the hill, I hope it soon levels off. Short
lived area, of soft, soft smooth dirt back into ankle busters again!
It has been washed out by water which makes it twice as bad.
The humidity is beginning to pick up. The sun is breaking
through the tree canopy making it a lot warmer. The ferns are
just gorgeous through here, just like a big blanket of green. |
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I just now saw the name of this State Park
it's 'Swatara State Park' Getting to cross I81. Going
across the Berlin Iron Bridge built in 1890. Beautiful bridge
and at the end of a bike trail. This bridge is arched in the
middle and has a wooden planked floor. Came of the bridge and
now hiking on the AT partial gravel road and partial asphalt road,
an old country road. This is a way for us to get under I81.
The road workers are construction a new bridge just above my head
where I'm hiking. |
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Hiking into the woods on a rocky trail
going straight up the hill. I saw 'Buffalo' just as soon as I
turned back into the woods. He was sitting and resting.
I thought I sit and have lunch with him. |
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I finally arrive at the ridge line where
there's big ankle busters in the trail, with no views. I can
understand why they don't have any view points from this mountain as
well as some of the others in this area, because you're so bust
looking at your feet trying to keep from falling that you don't have
a chance to look up and look at any views. This ridge top
hiking certainly has been miserable, weed all around you, very rocky
and the hot temperature doesn't help anything. I don't think I
have a dry stitch of clothes on me. The rocks are terrible
trying to hike through here! |
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For the past quarter of mile the trail has
gotten easier hiking, more leaf covered, still rocks, but a whole
lot less rocks. Starting down off the mountain and I'm hiking
in big ankle buster again, very difficult hiking now. I see
some larger boulders here in front of me and I have to go over the
top of them. These rocks are awful, there's no place to put
your feet. Simon is out of Water, I'm out of water. I
didn't completely fill up my water bottle because I didn't want to
carry it up the mountain and to lighten Simon's load I lessened his
water supply. There's nothing here and we're out of water
until we get to the shelter. I see a lot of coal and slate in
the trails. |
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Just passed the William Penn shelter and I
did go down to the water supply and got water. It was a great
source of water coming out of the pipe. I have a little over 4
miles to go to the 501 shelter. It's treating rain and the
skies are dark, so I don't know if I'll make it without getting
soaking wet. |
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I did hear a deer snort a few minutes ago
and that's the firs sign of any animal I have seen in the last 3
days. Still going down to what appears to be an old road.
The hiking has been fairly easy thank heavens! I'll can cover
the 4 miles pretty fast if the terrain stays good. The thunder
is off to my right, it look like it is getting close. |
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There is a yellow triangle gate at the end
of this road, so it must be a park road. Probably used as a
fire breaker. I just came across PA 645 a very busy road.
Going back into the woods where the trail is 5 or 6 feet wide.
A big change from all the grasses and briars that scratch your legs.
The PA takes over the steepest boulders and mountains before you
come to a shelter or the end of your day. They want to make
sure they make mincemeat out of your feet. I can hear the
traffic on 510, but I don't know how close I'm to it yet. |
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Coming into a clearing with the nicest view
I've seen today. Large farms, town and a lot silos in the
area. I can see about 20 miles into the distance. |
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This is the end to a very long day! I
think the only good about it was being able to pick some black and
red raspberries. |
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Swing'n Jane and
Simon |
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