Greg's 2022 AT Journey

Right leg ITB was just starting to feel better yesterday, then I awoke at 2am with a terrible pain in my upper left leg. It feels like a torn quad muscle. No bruising, but all the other symptoms. I can't even walk on it. Thank God it didn't happen on the trail or I'd need to be rescued... AGAIN! Cindy is driving down to get me. Thanks for all your prayers and support. It's been a great ride and I have a LOT of positive memories. I plan to make a Shutterfly book from my blog posts. I mostly enjoyed all the interviews with day and section hikers... people I call normal. I think I'll go back to being one now!

Stupid me tried to keep up on the PA rocks with a younger couple a few days ago and realized after 6 miles I had pulled something in my right hip. I thought it was the hip flexor but now suspect the ITB which is the MOST common overuse injury. I'm taking 2 days off in DWG at the church hostel and have lightened my pack to 25lbs. I'll test my leg with 3-5 miles on Tue. If it's still a problem... I'll come back to the church and have Cindy drive 7hrs to get me. I really don't want to be a victim of the PA rocks... or my stupidity, but God has a reason for everything. Pray I remain joyful regardless of the outcome 🙏

Pastor Sherry and Denali Dave (summited it in '95) have run a Hostel at their church in DWG since 1976. Thru hikers I stayed with agree they have the BEST shower pressure on the AT. Plus, it's the first time we've had people bring Trail Magic to a Hostel... 3 times yesterday! Thankfully they had a couple couches I could sleep on for the two days I was convalescing due to my ITB injury. Thanks again Sherry and Dave for all you and the other church volunteers do to give us a temporary home 😊

Revised post: now includes Knife's Edge and Lehigh Gap Overlook (LGO) climb fm D88 This is the hardest vertical section of climb on LGO to summit overlooking Palmerton. If I'd know how dangerous it was, I'd have taken the alternate route around. I'm supposed to be hiking... NOT risking my life! Earlier that day, I did Knife's Edge (KE) which I thought was terrifying... little did I know what awaited me! KE was like teetering on rocks that teeter... NOT a good combination. Took me an hour to go a half mile!

Destination: Delaware Water Gap Date: Sat, 11 Jun I couldn't get the bride to come out early, but the groom let me capture a pic of their gorgeous, panoramic overview.  You can see the AT passes just behind the alter. Too bad they didn't have any food out yet 😢 Jim and Brian both computer engineers fm NJ are "normal" hikers off the best kind ... they have NO plan. Nice view fm top of Wolf's Rocks... but hard traverse! Rich carried my pack down fm Wolf's Rocks. He, Tricia, Ross and dog Copper are fm nearby Harleysville PA  After hiking to Wolf's Rock, Steve and daughter Shannon fm Easton PA offered to donate my extra fuel to Boy Scouts  Looking across to Mt Minsi in NJ w/ Trail Angels Asaf fm Boston (a software engineer and competitor of Oracle) and his Dad, King David visiting from Israel. David shared his homemade fruitcup... ... and these unique lychee fm S. China Arrived at DWG Presbyterian Church, a free hostel were I'll take a Zero to rest my ITB

Destination: Wind Gap, PA Date: Fri, 10 Jun Jenn (Y Director) held my supply box since 26 Feb and let me use the facilities for FREE . Spent 3hrs in the pool, hot tub, stream room and shower. Best of all , I met Paul and Kim there, a local couple who invited me to spend the night at their house and took me shopping for supplies! Next morning, I went to Detzi's Tavern across the street where owners John, Jeff and Jimmie (all brothers) made free coffee and drove us to the trail. They also let hikers sleep in a field behind the restaurant. Unfortunately, the trail to Wind Gap was not as kind... 15 miles of VERY difficult rocks. I ended up with an ITB overuse injury in my right leg trying to keep up with youngsters Omen and Maybe fm Michigan. They're flip-flopping VA to ME I'll take 1 or 2 Zeros in DWG to let my ITB recover. Then maybe I'll learn to"hike my own hike"

Destination: near Danielsville, PA Date: Thu, 9 Jun Today I had to get across the Knife's Edge AND scale a horrific rock cliff overlooking Palmerton (see Climbing NOT Hiking post).  I'm too old for this insanity!   View of Palmerston, PA and Lehigh River  Not saying I'm slow, but it took all day to catch up with this little fella Rocks yes, but PA also has a lot of EASY service roads... we call them "free miles" ... and tons of fern! John and Eagle fm Boyertown PA doing 50 mile section hike  Marissa and husband, Turbo (both Coast Guard fm TX) with friends Demin and Josh fm NC doing 100 miles in 12 days.  (black "Sherpa" is Oliver, white is Harley) Got last Twinkle in a Trail Magic cooler... haven't had one in forever!

The other 4 hikers who spent the night with me all agreed... BEST feature was total privacy since owner lives off-site. It felt like we had rented the entire house to ourselves! This is Yardsale's first year running a hostel and she's off to a GREAT start 😊 The other outstanding feature that sets it apart is the view from the outdoor lounge area. And I'm not forget a spacious living room that really encouraged socializing with other hikers.

Destination: Lookout Hostel Date: Wed, 8 Jun Starbucks and I enjoying foot soaks in Lookout Hostel living room. BIG UPDATE - I met up w/ Starbucks and Pacha fm Michigan who are the hikers that Christine and Alissa drove 10hrs to help (see 3 Special Trail Angels post) Earlier during my short 7mi hike to Lookout Hostel, I met Geezer 1 and Geezer 2 fm CT. Both are brothers in Christ and rocket engineers section hiking from High Point NJ to Port Clinton. 

Destination: Dan's Spring  Date: Tue, 7 Jun Long blog... lots of pix. But first, a special thanks to Dave fm Kempton, PA for a ride from Walmart back to the Port Clinton trailhead yesterday. I fell hard and sprained my left ankle when a large rock rolled under my foot. Started to cry cause I thought it was broken but was able to walk on it wrapped. Baywatch's Mom (Marmot, on right) and friend Susan joined him to section hiked fm Pine Grove to Palmerton plus a day at Hershey Park... poor guy! Doesn't Marmot looks like she could be his big Sis? Yannick fm Haig, Netherlands hiking NY to GA. Has to finish before his 90 day visa expires! Pottsville locals Angela and Ty (Mom & Dad) w/ kids Athena, Gabriel and dog Lelu on 5mi hike to Dan's Pulpit. Way to go kids! Tough guy Nate fm Rutland VT rode his bike up to Pulpit Rock... But me and Warehouse are hiking 2200 miles. You be the judge! Stupid AT made us hike 10 miles out of the way for this pile of rocks called The Pinna...

Destination:  Pocahontas Springs Date: Mon, 6 Jun Have really been enjoying the sun and cool breeze under a canopy of green since leaving Duncannon. Rain in next weeks forecast 😢 Hati and Skoll are taking a little 5 month Father and Son outing to Katahdin! Alex fm DE is doing 2nd section hiked to finish PA... because he LOVES rocks View of Port Clinton... only 4 away A weird mini totem pole 2mi from town? Last mile of descent  into Post Clinton was steepest to date... and with scree! Slid 2 times. VERY scary!

Destination:  near Eagle Nest Shelter Date: Sun, 5 Jun Malcolm and his brother in law, Inny fm Stanford, CT doing a 3 day section from Port Clinton to Duncannon. So... do I like hopping the BIG rocks or dancing around the small JAGGED ones! Fewer views but still breath-taking Got to my stealth campsite early and had time to practice a few new tricks 😁

Destination: William Penn Shelter Date: Sat, 4 Jun You learn a lot of new skills on the AT... Like hiking in miles of mud And swamp crossing... I let Name Game go first Don't forget "log balancing" But there are rewards like... This cool rock bridge... must way half a ton! Would like to know how they put that in place? And all the gorgeous panoramics P.S. I had to hike an extra mile cause I dropped my phone 😳