Took a shower early, then waited with others for Bert's to open at 7am for breakfast. I had the biscuits and gravy with scrambled eggs, as planned, while chatting with O-Positive, Bobkat and Cosmo.
I ran off to brush my teeth and finish prepping my pack, but still was scrambling when Tracy showed up at 8am to shuttle Bobkat, Wildfire and me back to the AT trailhead. I tossed my gear into the trunk on top of everyone else's, and we took off (after a slight delay looking for Tracy's keys). Tracy took our picture together when she dropped us off, and I led the way up the mountain.
That didn't last long. Wildfire quickly passed me on the steep climb and disappeared ahead. Bobkat came up behind me while I was trying to negotiate some tricky rock climbs (pictured), and I eventually stepped aside so he could get ahead. He also disappeared after awhile, as I was taking it slow, unsure of my balance with the pack.
Eventually, I reached the ridge and the hiking was easy. Fairly level trail with great views of Palmerton below (pictures). That continued for awhile, then the trail entered some rockier areas along the ridge, and a powerline vista (pictures). While I enjoyed the morning hike thoroughly, the sun had come up and made the afternoon too warm for my taste, and the trail got monotonous in the woods with little to see but rocks on the trail (pictured).
I spotted a hiker approaching ahead and recognized Rockdawg, who was finishing his last hike south from Delaware Water Gap before heading home. I was afraid I had missed him while I was in Palmerton, so I was happy for the opportunity to wish him well and give him my contact information. I regret not getting a photo of him then.
Except for meeting Rockdawg, I was hot, tired and grumpy during the afternoon. I finally reached Leroy Smith shelter (pictures) and just sat for awhile, reading entries in the shelter log. I had to go downhill to find water for the next day (passing a few people walking uphill, apparently a community nearby), fixed a quick meal of tuna on a tortilla, then went to bed before sunset.
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