(Daily Mi: 6.8) A strategic slack day. Tomorrow I cross the ridge above Palmerton PA. The ridge has been poisoned with heavy metals from a now mothballed zinc processing facility. It is almost 17 miles to the next shelter and uncontaminated water source (and a healthy 23 miles from where I started this morning).

Piper and Choo Choo are stopping here as well. Potato Man stopped by on his way into Palmerton itself (about 1 mile north). He is going to spend the night in a hostel the township provides in the basement of its town hall. I wouldn't mind going to town, but I am still a little uneasy about hitching and especially don't want to take a chance on finding a quick ride tomorrow.

A fellow named Fantasy Feet was in when I arrived at the shelter. Started at the Mass/Vt border and is headed for Georgia. He is a very old school outdoorsman. His pack must weigh 70 lbs. Nice enough fellow, but he sure can talk. I had planned to bring my journal up to date, but can't seem to get to much writing done.