Day 22: George W Outbridge

Start: Unnamed Campsite (AT mi 1248.6). Stop: George W Outbridge Shelter (AT mi 1259.2) Today’s miles: 10.6 miles Total AT mileage: 234.5 miles

The storm definitely hit last night around 9:45pm. It was like a light show throughout my tent.. a lightning show that is. It was quite beautiful, and every time I’d see everything light up, I’d start counting my Mississippi’s to figure out how far away the strike was. I never made it past 2 Mississippi before I felt the thunder. I only stayed awake for the show for 5-10 minutes until I was out cold. My “sound machine” app on my phone plays a thunderstorm when I use it at home to help me sleep.. so now, when I hear a storm, I fall asleep. Pavlov and all that.

We all woke up early-ish, but our tents and tarps were soaked from the downpour, so we all waited around and ate breakfast, took our time. We camped right before the Knife’s Edge, like less than a mile away. While we were all eating breakfast an older gentleman, way more awake than any of us, came by our camp to tell us to be safe because of the wet rocks. We were STILL at camp when he came back by to tell us that he fell twice and we should turn back. Uhhh.. Mr. Man, that’s not an option.

Lizard and Talley headed out first, followed by me. I never caught them, of course. The Knife’s Edge was all dry by the time I got to it, and honestly was better than the rocks I dealt with yesterday. I took it slow and cautiously. One wrong move and you’d easily break a bone. It was gorgeous though.

I listened to my audiobook and then finished it completely before reaching camp. For it to have only been 10 something miles, they inched by today. I didn’t get into camp until after four. Like what in the hell was I doing? Lol it felt like I walked all day, with very little and very short breaks. Whatever. I still made it.

Lizard, Towely, FarOut, and HotSauce all hiked into town. Curmudgeon, Cholula, and I all hiked to the shelter right before the road into the town of Palmerton. Derby caught up with our group while we were eating lunch, so he’s at the shelter tonight too. There’s no flat ground in sight, only a sea of rocks, so all 4 of us are sleeping in the shelter.

We ate dinner and we’re all hanging out and talking and stretching. A guy doing a day hike is chatting us up.. Derby is currently in the process of talking him into picking him up in the morning and taking him to a breakfast place before he goes to work. I think he’s got him keen on the idea.. and the more they talk, the more I want breakfast in the morning in town, too. But we’d have to hitchhike back to the trail afterwards, and I have a 16.9 mile day of rain ahead of me. Things to consider. So many things to consider.