terrifying 30 seconds.

A terrifying 30 seconds. And no, it wasn't when I was lost in the woods. That's a different part of the story.

Yesterday I went to South Mountain Preserve, the trail head in Emmaus called the Robert Rodale Gateway. Makes sense, it's right off of Minor Street where Rodale Publishing is. I took my phone, but it was at about 49%. 100 would have been better, but I should still have been plenty of juice. I took a picture of the trail map, so I knew where I was going. What could go wrong?

The trail to the next trail head is about a mile. It's well groomed, and has fancy bridges and things. But I wanted to do more than two miles.  At the Alpine Street trail head there is another map. I picked the red (or is it orange) Alpine Street trail. This is a natural trail. I didn't realize at first how natural, natural was. If Lyd was a long we would have turned around.

It was 1.7 miles and a big loop. That should have given me about a 4-mile walk.  The trail is well used by bikes, people, dogs, and deer. Lots of footprints to follow. The trails are also well marked. Flashing on the trees. Also colored triangles with the path name in them. You have to be right on top to read them. Or maybe I need new glasses. And my hiking stick.

The deeper I got into the woods I got, the more ice, snow and wooden bridges there were. Also a lot more rocks. My phone was pinging. What the heck? I pull it out and I'm at 10%. Ut oh. I am deep into the woods with no phone.  I've hiked alone before in the woods without a phone. I don't need no stinking phone.

 Before I reached the creek I ran into one man with his dog. After crossing the creek I met another. I was thinking that the trail should be turning. So I asked him if the red trail went to the left soon. He told me I was on the orange trail. Really? Clearly the sun has faded the red markers.

This is the last pic I took. Then the phone died. It is a board. With a nail. Laying on top of a field of rocks. I had to cross it. Shit. I have no balance what-so-ever. I also had no walking stick. No assistant. No courage. When I stepped on it it sank down. I walked as fast as I could. About 3/4 of the way I felt like I was going to tumble. I. Cannot. Fall. I don't have a phone. I don't have a friend. And it's 28 degrees out. I jumped off onto a rock. Wiggled for balance. And made it. The scariest 30 seconds of my life. It was probably really 10.

It remained rocky for a long time. Welcome to Pennsylvania.

Then it was up the trail I went. One went left, one straight. As many footprints for both. There was houses to the right. I remembered the map saying that there was houses at the top curve. I went a few steps looking for the trail markers and instead saw "Private Property. No bikes or hikers". I turned around and continued on the trail.

All was going well until I came to another sign. The road was a Y. One went further up the hill. The other said "Bolder Outcrop". Both had red markers. I forgot that they had words. I didn't look. I did not want to climb on boulders in ice and snow. I took the tight fork and was headed east and going up, up, up. I had wondered how close I was to the top. I could see the city below. Probably Allentown. I soon had to go down and west.

There were many trail signage huts, but none had maps. I was becoming concerned. But the trail was still red. So I continued. Then I caught a glimpse of one of the trail markers. It said something like "Buck Trout Trail". Shit. I picked up another trail.  Do I move forward, or go back. I had no phone to call Bonnie, nor did I know where I was. My last communication was posting a trailhead sign on Instagram. That's all a search party would have to work with.

I had to go all the way back to the "Boulder Outcrop" sign to pick up the right trail. It probably took me 1/2 hour, 45 minutes to climb that hill, and 10 minutes to go back.

I was starting to get worried. The sun was lowering in the west. No phone, no watch I thought it was after 3. Would I get out of the woods in time? I was not dressed for a night in the woods. Thankfully I had not seen any bear prints. I carefully followed the Alpine Street trail reading every sign, and worked my way back toward the trail head. I heard a noise, and then an "excuse me". I jumped. It was two bikers. At the trail head, I headed back to the Emmaus trail head. It was 3:00.

Sunday Walk Stats:
Miles/Steps: Over 6 miles
Bathrooms:  None. Thank goodness for Wawa.
Wildlife:       None. Does a wiener dog count? Lydia would have been pissed. He was off a leash. The owner was carrying it.
Weather:     About 28 degrees and very windy. The wind chill made the temp much lower. 
Extras:        Great view of the city from the top of the wrong trail..