Hawk Mtn. Rd to Bake Oven Knob Road

Day 19

Saturday, April 16
Hawk Mountain Road to Bake Oven Knob Road
16.4 miles

We had arranged with another AT Women’s Group volunteer to shuttle us today.  Joann Pilston picked us up at Bake Oven Knob and took us to Hawk Mountain Road. 

North of Hawk Mountain Road proved to be rockier than ever.  After Allentown shelter trail became forestry road and less rocky for rest of the way.  The views from Dan’s Pulpit, Knife's Edge and Bear Rocks were memorable.  Especially Knife’s Edge.  We had heard about it from the hiker in 501 Shelter who had come through here on a very windy day. He told us how he could have very easily been blown off the edge.  It did prove to be quite an experience making our way across the boulders on such a then edge, but we passed a family with 3 small little girls and small dog who seemed to be having no trouble at all.   One of the girls said to us, “I’m doing this all by myself and I’m only five.”  So much for making me feel better about being nervous. 

When we reached our vehicle, we drove into Palmerton and found Bert's Steakhouse for dinner. It’s a cute little diner on the main street.  The food was good. 

We drove to the home of John Stempa, Mechanical Man, planning to stay in his garage.  When we got there, guess who we found?  King Bob and GW from James Fry Shelter way back at the beginning of PA.  They had stayed there the night before and were still out on the trail when we arrived.  We set up our tent in his yard.

 

 

 

 

 

Going up to Knife's Edge

 

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On Knife's Edge

 

 

Knife's Edge

 

Knife's Edge

 

Knife's Edge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pt. Clinton to Hawk Mountain Road

Day 18
Friday, April 15
Port Clinton to Black Hawk Road
15.2 miles

We left our vehicle parked along the road just west of Eckville Shelter.  Jason picked us up and took us to Port Clinton. We dreaded the uphill climb. If the trail on the north side of the city is as steep as the south side, we are in for a world of hurt going up it.

It wasn't as steep—it had more switchbacks. We had two beautiful vistas today from Pulpit Rock then the Pinnacle.   The Pinnacle is said to be the best view on the AT in the state, a panoramic view of farmland from an elevation of 1635 feet.  Right before the Pinnacle there was a huge pile of large rocks.  We wondered why they were there.

On a narrow normal trail between Pulpit Rock and The Pinnacle, I somehow stumbled over one of the few rocks at that point and got my feet tangled up with my trekking poles and found myself face down.  I landed really hard with a pointed rock hitting me in the upper thigh.  I knew I had hurt myself really badly.  Wait-up helped me up and I sat beside the trail for the longest time before I could get up and continue.  Fortunately, nothing was broken but I knew my thigh would be terribly bruised and my arm as scratched and bruised as well.  Indeed, the indentation in my thigh from where the rock hit me would be there for months following this incident.

The last 5 miles was forestry road until right before Black Hawk Road it became rocky again. 

We had been in touch with another Appalachian Trail Women’s Group member about shuttling us in this area and she had recommended that we search out Heislers Dairy Bar if we had time.  We did.  The hamburgers were nothing extra special, but they are famous locally for the ice cream.  We did enjoy that. 

Although it was quite a drive to Allentown, we had made up our mind that we couldn’t stay at Eckville Shelter again, so we drove there for a free night at the Quality Inn. 

 

Pulpit Rock

Pulpit Rock

Pulpit Rock

at The Pinnacle

the Pinnacle

the Pinnacle

View from the Pinnacle

The Pinnacle

 

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View from the Pinnacled

A totem at Heisler's Dairy Bar

Zero Day

Day 17
Thursday, April 14
Zero day

Left Comfort Inn in Bethel after a leisurely morning. Ate lunch at Cracker Barrel, went to Cabelas and Walmart in Hamburg.

The logistics in this area are pretty hard to figure out, since there are no hotels very close to the trail.  We were in a quandary as to where to stay without having a long drive before starting our hike tomorrow morning.  Then we had the bright idea that we could stay at Eckville Shelter for the night since it is right on the road and we could hike into it from our dropoff point of the shelter.  So we drove there. 

Eckville shelter is a small cottage with three bunk beds behind the caretaker’s house.  It’s one of the few that has four sides and a flush toilet and shower in an adjacent building. Although when our friend back at 501 Shelter came through the shower had not been opened  for the season yet and he had not had a shower for nine days. 

No one was at the shelter when we arrived, but soon we were approached by the caretaker as we were unloading our stuff from the truck.  He asked us questions and didn’t seem to be so pleased that we drove in.  He indicated that this was not the usual procedure and if thru-hikers came in we would not be allowed to stay.  In short, we did not feel welcome at all even though we remained the only hikers there.  Our intent was to hike into the shelter from the south, then stay here another night and hike a day’s hike north.  We quickly decided that we would have to make other arrangements for the second night. 

Eckville Shelter caretaker's house

Eckville Shelter

 

Highway 183 to Pt. Clinton

Day 16
Wednesday, April 13
Highway 183 to Pt. Clinton
14.4 miles

We met Jason at the parking lot beside the railroad tracks in Port Clinton and he drove us back to Highway 183 to hike north.  There was one steep little climb in the middle and very, very steep going downhill into town. Other than that, pretty level, some rocky path areas lots of just plain trail.

I must say more about the decline into Port Clinton.  30 minutes of pure torture on the feet, it was SO steep!  I don’t know if I would have rather climbed it.  The trail came down right on the railroad tracks.  Crossing the tracks, we were back at our vehicle by 3:00. 

We drove across the bridge and into Port Clinton to find the famed Port Clinton Hotel for food.  Our hiking buddy back at 501 Shelter had told us about getting a hamburger and a large basket of french fries for $9 here.  We were the only customers in the dining area at this time of day.  We ordered a hamburger each and a basket of fries.  We had no idea the basket of fries alone would cost us $6!!  It was obviously not the special of the day. 

 

 

 

Port Clinton Hotel

 

$6 Basket of Fries at Port Clinton Hotel

 

 

 

501 shelter to Highway 183

Day 15
Tuesday, April 12
501 shelter to Highway 183
9.3 mile

Rock-filled trail leaving the shelter for awhile then sporadically throughout the morning we ran across more rocky areas.  Pretty level throughout.  We went through some beautiful forest areas. The sun peeked through today for the first time in a long time. The last few miles were very pleasant, level ground, no rocks because the trail had been diverted to avoid going down the well-worn path which was more like a stream.

So nice to see our truck!

We drove up to Pt. Clinton to find the parking area then back down to Comfort Inn in Bethel.