ROCKY III – THE PINNACLE

AT Day 073: Monday June 19,  2023

Mile 1217+18 miles/29 km

Total Distance Hiked:1235 miles/ 1987 km

Campsite – Mountain Road – Walmart – Reservoir Road – Windsor Furnace Shelter – Pulpit Rock – Reservoir Road – The Pinnacle –  Eckville Shelter

A:2805 ft /855 m  D:3555 ft / 1084 m 

The hum of traffic was constant throughout the night. I was awake just before the birds and we were packed and our way before 6am. From our campsite we followed a snow mobile road down the ridge and then Mountain Road for the four and half mile trip to Walmart in Hamburg. Pleasant enough walk. We made it to Walmart just after 8am. Our resupply is a pretty much the same food each time and we were done by 9.30.  We sat by the side of the Walmart store and had some breakfast while  charging devices on a power point we found outside the building. 

Hamburg is a mile and half east of the trail. To get back to the trail is a walk on a busy freeway so we got a shuttle back. It was a treat to get a ride with Brian in a really cool 1960s Ford Galaxy. We were back on trail just after 11am. We shared the ride with another hiker ‘Poop Spoon’ an easygoing and funny conversationalist. 

From Port Clinton we had a long ascent to a ridgeline. It was steep and slow especially with full packs on a very hot and humid day. It was such hard work we took a short break on top to dry our sweat soaked shirts. The trail leveled off for a bit  and then another steep climb followed by a very steep descent and another roller coaster of a steep climb followed. The trail was very rocky which made for slow progress. 

We were heading towards two very popular lookouts at Pulpit Rock and then The Pinnacle.  The views from both were absolutely sensational on such a beautiful sunny day. From the Pinnacle we had great views east and southeast  over the huge agricultural valley. We could actually see the ridge line which will take us into New Jersey. 

We walked to the Pinnacle with another hiker who was slackpacking due to an injured ankle. A recent college graduate from Boston with trail name ‘Electro’. Interesting conversation about his studies and travels in Uruguay. We left him watching the vultures riding the thermals at the Pinnacle.   

 

From the Pinnacle we had a great flat dirt road walk. So good to get a bit of respite from the rocky roller coaster. By late afternoon the heat started to dissipate and hiking was really quite pleasant. 

We decided  to stop at Eckville Shelter. It has a shower, flushing toilet and tap water, total luxury. The cold shower felt great just to wash the salty sweat off our skin. Such an unexpected treat on a hot and sweaty day.