6/15/06 Thursday: Lehigh Gap to Hahns Lookout Campsite (19.7mi)

PICTURES:
1. Kind of a precarious climb up from Lehigh Gap...This is a view back down into the Gap...
2. Lots of these today...And yes this is the trail...LOL
3. A Picture with Palmerton in the background showing much of the devastation from atop Blue Mtn.
4. As you move away from the mining operation the vegetation returns...
5. But the rocks are here to stay...LOL...

I woke early for breakfast at a nearby restaurant and was ready to go by the agreed upon departure time of 0830... As part of the "Hiker Package", Ira was to drop me off at the trailhead, about a 2.5 mile drive. I thanked him for his kindness and wished him well as I departed across the Lehigh River Bridge for my 1000" in about .7miles ascent of Blue Mtn through the area known as the Palmerton EPA Superfund Site... This climb according to the ALDA guide (Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association) was suppose to be one of the most challenging on the trail... This is a devastated area along Blue Mtn near Lehigh Gap that was a result of nearly a century of zinc smelting. In 1980,the EPA shut down the furnaces and in 1982, put the affected area on the Superfund cleanup list... It is apparent that a revegetation effort is underway with the mountain slowly returning to life... I did take a few breaks on the ascent, taking some pics of the area... Once on top the terrain improved significantly and I was able to move rather well while enjoying vistas of the surrounding mountains... The Forest Service had college students on summer break working in the area, 3 within the first 4 miles of my trip, handing out bottled water in exchange for info from hikers passing through the devasted area... I willingly complied, eagerly seeking my prize each time.... They were all very nice but seemed quite perplexed at the thought of backpacking out in the wild... About 1200, I took a snack break on some rocks, taking time to dry off some...When I decended to Smith Gap, I encountered some Trail Majic, always improves my day...:).. At 1500, I had dinner at the Leroy A. Smith Shelter and a few hours later at 1700 I camped out along the trail near Hahns Lookout just before the decent into Wind Gap. This would set me up for a nice 16.6mi day into the Delaware Water Gap Hostel... :)