In retrospect, today was maybe a bad day to try a 20 anyway.
The plan was to wake up really early and that way we would theoretically get to wind gap around 6, just in time for dinner and beers at The Beer Stein, a small restaurant with some legendary hiker friendliness. Though the free breakfast kitchen of past was now, well, a thing of the past, our AWOL guide indicated that they still let hikers camp in the back. So we could get dinner and not worry about where our tired asses were going to sleep, a perfect plan for our first 20 mile day.
The first thing that went wrong was that it was really cold last night. We sent home our sleeping bags a long time ago, when the weather was hot and nights got sticky. Well, since that time Summer has decided to hide away, and it feels like spring. Which is awesome for hiking, but bad for sleeping without good bags. So, in the cold of morning, we couldn't bring ourselves to really get up. It's ok, we'll just get there later. It's open till 2AM afterall.
The next thing going against us is that this section is the section of PA we have heard of for a while. The section with a 20 mile water gap. Well, not exactly. The one water that is reasonably close to trail is located inside a superfund site, and is tainted with zinc. The other springs are at least 0.4 miles off trail and down steep hills. So we needed to carry all our water for our first 20, weighing us down considerably.
Finally, our last oversight, the terrain. Most of today has been normal PA rocky, which is hard enough. But the first climb out of Lehigh gap actually required a little hand climbing, which under normal circumstances would have been a playful rock scramble. With several liters of water in your pack, it was awkward at best.
The superfund site was actually the easiest, a nice walk on a grassy path. Until we came upon a rattlesnake sunning itself in the trail. He ran off after I nailed it in the head with a tossed rock. It was kinda hilarious because we were a ways away, trying to scare him without him getting defensive at our presence. The snake was so confused it coiled and struck at the nearby grass and moved off the trail.
At one point, we thought we were absolutely cruising, speedwalking over the rocks and trees. Then, we came out of the woods to cross a road. There was a bulletin board there with maps and mileages. It was already five and we were still 8 away. So despite our supposed speed, we were still only going our normal 2mph.
Then came the killer of our plans. A note on the board notifying hikers that the Beer Stein no longer allows camping. What?! We've been killing ourselves to get in 20 before dark and for nothing! We called the place just to make sure the note was accurate. It was.
So now here we are, at 17 miles for the day, at the shelter before wind gap, reflecting on our terrible decision to try 20 miles in the notoriously worst section of this state for water, a difficult rock climb, poison water, and the normal rocky PA terrain. I guess the note saved us a bit of trouble at least.
We also are reflecting on the trail services that have been discontinued over the last few years. We posit that it is most likely due to self entitled party hikers and also the yellow blazing trail people (not considered real hikers) who take advantage of these places and try to one up previous hiker classes with new antics. Man, I sound old.
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