Today’s hike was a test to see if my knee would hold up or maybe just a test to see if I could stand the pain. I’m happy (sorta, I mean it hurts, but not so much that I’m ready to give up) to report both are true.

I got a ride to a trail head 5 miles down the trail and started hiking back to the hostel. I was slacking packing so only carrying about 7 pounds of gear and water.

The trail for the next 20-30 miles is supposed to be the rockiest and hardest part of Pennsylvania and the 5 miles I am hiking today is part of that 20-30. Considering the rock scrambles and mazes I have already done, that makes me nervous to hear.

The trail started out nicely with few rocks and pretty level. That lasted for about 3/4’s of mile then, you guessed it ROCKS! My least favorite rocks – pointy ones that look like shark teeth jutting out of the ground (although I guess I should be grateful they weren’t the rolling kind). I went slowly, carefully placing my feet between the rocks when I could (very grateful I hike in pants because it keeps me from getting so many scrapes). The rocks were wet and slippery with rain so I really tried to avoid actually having to walk on the rocks where I could. In many places that is simply unavoidable- the rocks are just piled on top of each other. Where this happened, I just crept along at my old geriatric snail pace – better to go slow than to bust my butt or worse pitch forward on my face.

I have heard several stories of people falling forward and losing teeth. This evening a hiker came into the hostel with a big bruise and bump in the middle of his forehead. He had stepped on a rock; it shifted under his feet; and he pitched forward and landed on his forehead. He broke his glasses and had several scrapes on his face. It looked bad and hurt worse. It will be even worse tomorrow. I was pretty motivated to go slow from the stories I have heard. Seeing his injuries motivates me to be careful even more.

Speaking of being careful I had to cross the rock formation called the Knife’s Edge (see pic above) by myself. I ran into Gadget Girl slack packing north as I was going south and she gave me some tips the most important was BE CAREFUL. I came to Knife’s Edge as 3 hikers were scooting down on their rears. These were guys I knew from the night before at the hostel. One of them was 6’6”” and they said all of the rocks were wet, slippery, and tall. It took them 30 minutes to go about 200 yards.

I started by putting my poles away and climbing using my hands to get to the top of the rocks (I felt like a monkey, but looked like a crazy lady). Once to the top, it was a long boulder scramble across huge rocks that looked like they had been kicked over by a giant disgruntle toddler. If the rocks were dry and I were braver, I might have tried to walk over the top (not really, but it’s nice to think this in retrospect). Since the rocks were slippery and wet I carefully sidestepped along on a lower level while hanging on with my hands to a higher level. Keeping my back to the drop off below – varying from 10-30 feet (best guess, it was far!). My knee did not like this! I pulled the muscle on the outside of my knee. I do okay just walking, but any sort of balancing or lateral movement HURTS! Thank goodness for pain meds!

When I ran out of levels to side step on, I climbed up and did a combination of monkey crawling (where your knees NEVER touch the ground, but you crawl along with your butt in the air, attractive I’m sure 😂) and butt scooting. Rest assured I was super careful a there were no close calls or bobbles. When I got to the descent, I scooted down on my butt just like I had seen the guys do. I figured if a 6’6” foot guy couldn’t walk down the rocks, I couldn’t either.

It was the hardest and most dangerous rock scramble I have done so far. I am thrilled to have it behind me and pretty proud of myself for not wimping out!

The rest of the hike was rocks: big, small, wet, lichen covered, rocks. I went t slowly and carefully and wishing for more powerful drugs than ibuprofen! Luckily the hike ended at Thunderhead Lodge and I celebrated my success and endurance with a gin and tonic, a burger, and delicious strawberry shortcake!

Tomorrow I’m planning on 10 miles. 10 miles closer to the Pennsylvania border! I’m a determined to walk the hell out of this state!

Gross Note: don’t scroll down if slugs or millipedes gross you out.

While monkey crawling and butt scooting I was dodging these slugs (above) and these millipedes (below). The slugs were 2-3 inches long and the millipedes were 2-4 inches long. So much grossness and so grateful I was able to maneuver without touching one – the recoil from touching one would probably have literally sent me over the edge.

If you squish one of these millipedes, they can cause skin burns. One of the hikers squished one in his shoe (never leave your shoes unprotected in the woods overnight and if you do shake them out before you put them on). For whatever reason (my mind has come up with lots – neuropathy, apathy, ignorance, laziness, lassiez-faire attitude), he didn’t take it out of his shoe when he squished it and walked on it all day. It ended up burning off a layer of skin on the sole of his foot and he had to go to urgent care and take time off of the trail. 😳