Day 23: The mind doesn’t work when it’s tired

Summary
May 18th

Eckville Shelter to Stealth site 

NOBO mile #1247.3 

Tolmann’s daily miles 14.7 

Tolmann’s total miles 223.6

Woke up today feeling inadequate to the day. The plan was to to hike ~13 miles to a campsite called New Tripoli. The main challenges were that there was a significant ascent out of the valley to the top of the ridge, and It was also supposed to be another 90 degree day.
In addition, the day before I broke a trekking pole, and it was a guarantee that there would be rock scrambles.

We were all up before 6am, packing and getting ready for the day. Somebody suggested that I replace my pole either a walking stick, which was a great idea and helped me be less anxious. 

As usual, I was the last person out.

I found a stick, which became clear was too heavy as I began the ascent. But a second stick was the right weight, even if it was slightly bowed, which made it vibrate on impact. But it seemed the best I could do without spending more time. 

The climb up up out of the valley was indeed relentless. But I could see that each step was bringing me higher, so I felt like I was progressing in real-time.

 I met Lesley and Lorraine as the the trail began leveling out. We leapfrogged our way to Dan’s Pulpit (Not to be confused with THE Pulpit which we visited yesterday), then I found Tilley and Hops resting at a small campsite .1 mile before a lookout called “Balance Rocks”. Our first milestone was Allentown Shelter and the spring there. That turned out to be our lunch destination. 

Then it was 6 miles of mostly woodland road to New Tripoli Campsite. That took about 3 hours, crossing paths with Tilley and Hops, then Lesley and Lorraine a few times. 

 I arrived at the power lines and the trail leading down to the campsite first. It was a long steep path down, and it occurred to me that folks wouldn’t want to expend the effort to go down and stay there, even though there was water. I waited a little while to see if anyone would show up, then saddled up and climbed back out. 

But now I was confused and tired, which was messing with my decision-making. I thought that folks had gone on ahead to a campsite on the ridge, so I started walking north. Immediately, I came upon rock scrambles, and when I reached the first campsite, which was empty, I pushed on for the second one. Empty. I didn’t want to go back, and I still believed they were out in front of me, so I continued.

That’s when I hit the Knife’s Edge. I had assumed that it would just be another overlook, but it turned out to be a terrifying scramble over ledge with steep drops, and challenging maneuvers to cross and descend. With my already addled brain, I was feeling overwhelmed. It didn’t help that I had taken a tumble 5 minutes before reaching it. I’m not sure how long it took me to get down off of the Knife’s Edge, but it seemed like forever. The next tent site in the guide was listed as .6 miles further along, but I came upon a cleared area that obviously been used as a campsite before, so I decided to call it a day. I don’t know if I’ll run into the others tomorrow, but I plan on packing up and getting to the next shelter to get breakfast and more water. I may try to get to Palmerton tomorrow, as well.