ROCKY IV – THE KNIFES EDGE

AT Day 074: Tuesday June 20,  2023

Mile 1235+ 25 miles/ km

Total Distance Hiked: 1260 miles/2027 km

Eckville Shelter – Dans Pulpit –  Balance Rocks – Allentown Hiking Club Shelter – Fort Franklin Road – Route 309 – The Knifes Edge – Bear Rocks – Bake Iven Road – Bake Oven Knob – Bake Oven Knob Shelter – Ashfield Road – George W Outerbridge Shelter

A:3087 ft /989 m  D:2726 ft / 831 m 

We may not be able to see the stars at night but through the night, the fireflies were dancing over the field in which we were camped. It was absolutely magical. I got up through the night and was mesmerized by the dancing lights, like little fairy lights flittering through the air I wanted to stay up and watch them but I was tired and went back to sleep. 

We left the campsite around 6.  There were quite a few tents in the field.  The caretaker said it was the most number of hikers he’d seen in weeks. It’s definitely the most hikers we’ve seen in ages, outside of a townstop. 

The morning was grey and overcast and very humid right from the start.  

From Hulk Mountain Road we descended down to a creek which we crossed on a small bridge and from there we had a long ascent up to a ridge line on which we stayed for quite a few hours through the morning. We were sweating profusely in the morning humidity. The wind whistled through the tree tops and a roar of distant planes could be heard but not quite drowning out the sound of the bird song chirping in the tree tops. On the ridgetop the trail was lovely and soft underfoot and we both remarked that we were surprised hearing all the stories about the rocks in Pennsylvania how much nice trail there is in between the rocky sections. We passed two rocky lookouts with valley views obscured by morning fog. 

From the Allentown hiking club shelter we were  on beautiful access track, soft underfoot wide open and really nice to see, nice change from the rocks. 

The grey sky felt like a lid over us. We stopped for lunch at Thunderhead Lodge which was closed. But we could get water and use a picnic table to cook lunch.

After lunch the sun came out and the trail became a little bit more tricky. Lots of rocks with a very slow traverse of the Knife Edge. When I could take my eyes off the trail the views below were of an agricultural valley which was somewhat obscured by a smoky haze.  It was very frustrating as it felt totally unnecessary to wind through this tortuous rocky field.  It didn’t help that I banged my head really hard on a low hanging tree branch while trying to focus on foot placement. Hammer was a mountain goat as usual and skipped through here all the while chatting to another hiker who came up behind us.  His trail name was ‘Lightweight’ as he has been slackpacking and shuttling on trail since January and sleeping in his van most nights. 

It was a relief to descend off the rocks and hike out to Bake Oven Road. Here we met a couple, Frank and Cynthia, who were supporting their son who was hiking the trail. They were providing trail magic along the way. They are from Hershey, Pennsylvania. I learnt that the town is home to Hershey chocolates and Frank worked there when he was in college, as did many members of his family.   

After being tortured by the rocky terrain it was such a treat to sit down in a chair and have some cold fruit salad and a cold drink on a warm afternoon. Hammer managed a hot dog as well.  

The rocky terrain was not quite over for the day. From the road we ascended towards Bake Oven Knob stepping over more rocky boulders. The view from here was the best we’ve had all day. The ridgeline into New Jersey seemed so much closer now even though the view was smokey. Another person enjoying the view commented that the smokey haze was from the Canadian fires. 

It was nice to finish the rocky lookouts with a reasonable view. The rest of the day we hiked through lush green forest before stopping near the George W Outerbridge Shelter. Not the nicest campspot, we were regretting not stopping earlier in some lovely piney woods we passed.