Summer 2019 Section Hike - Day 2 - Eckville Shelter to Bake Oven Knob Shelter

Miles Hiked Today: 17.4
Total Miles on this Section Hike: 31.9

Eckville shelter had bunks for 6 people, and when we arrived at sunset...there were 3 bunks left. Yay! And what a shelter. A flush toilet, cold shower, charging station and fresh water tap.

We took our time leaving the Shelter, ate some oatmeal and topped off our batteries on the charger.

Another wet day. There was a fog in the air and the ground was wet, which allowed us to walk right up on a few deer.

Sage found a miniature deer to ride on top of her backpack. 

Rockslvania. 

Lots of great overlooks. Time for a snack and a foot break.

I found my pulpit, and I don't have a message prepared. Guess ill just tell a story.

David was in the lead and the AT forked to the left. In PA, you spend so much time looking down at the rocks,  it is easy to miss a turn. In this case, the path, going straight, would take you off the trail. No big deal, but it was a good learning moment and a reminder to watch for the blazes.

Allentown Hiking Shelter, a great place for a meal and a nap. 

Someone maked the 2000km point on the trail. How far is that? I have no idea...I'm an American.

The next 6 miles after Allentown shelter is super easy. We averaged 3mph on that stretch.

And then we approached the Knife's Edge. It is a bit slower.

Thankfully, the rain had stopped a couple hours before and the rocks were mostly dry. I would not want to do this section in the rain.

Knife's Edge...a fun section of trail. 

We plodded along as darkness approached. As we hit the top of Bake Oven Knob, it started to rain. Then, as darkness approached, after 15 miles of trail, in the rain...we came to the descent from Bake Oven Knob. It was effectively a rock climb. And not an easy one on slick, jagged boulders with backpacks on. If you have been praying for our safety, your prayers were answered, other than a bruised lump on the side of my ankle, we made it down...alive. It would have been hard with fresh legs on a sunny day...after 10 hours of hiking, in pouring rain...wow. 

Exhausted, after dark...ready to collapse...we stumbled into the shelter. It was full. And there was no where to hang out hammocks. The only choice as to hike further, looking for a campsite. Which, thankfully, was found 300 ft up the trail. 

A very hard day. 2nd day in a row of rain.