Got up before dawn for a 530 pickup to slack pack. Luscious wanted an early start, and I was riding along to reduce trips. Tried out the Injinji toe socks for the first time today. They didn't seem to do any damage.
Slack packing is when you hike without your pack or with a very reduced pack. This can be done by getting a ride ahead and hiking back to where you are staying, or by having someone drive your pack forward.
I chose the former and rode ahead about 20 miles of trail to hike back to the hostel. The trail was interesting with trees and plants differing from other sections so far.
The hiking went through some nice pine forest, some grassy ridges, and some exposed rocky areas.
Great views looking over farms, forest, and mines.
Saw a porcupine waddling down the trail in front of me and got buzzed by a sailplane glider. Click the image to see the porcupine in action.
Hiking into and out of Lehigh Gap was steep and, you guessed it, rocky. The northern side was particularly tricky requiring a bit of a scramble. The following picture is looking up at the trail and blaze above me.
When I got back to the hostel I found Avalanche and Smiley there planning on spending the night! Pretty cool to see them again.
No Name, Splash, and Fish Head (a through hiker) also staying. No Name and Splash were mere miles from completing the northern half of the AT.
Had another meal at the Thunderhead Lodge which was delicious. Spent the remaining daylight hanging out with the fellow hostel folk and the owners.
Luscious wants to get to the next town tomorrow before the post office closes, so we have another 530 pickup scheduled. Hard to sleep early indoors but worth a shot.