1: Missed Turn Black Snake Boulder Omens
If not for the daily thirty milligrams of Prozac coursing through me, a trip like this would not be possible. An unplanned stop – not an option for sure and my directions would have been inscribed in a notebook like psalms on stone. Stupidly without a seatbelt, the urge to take new chances – to be reckless – finding a surprising home in me, and I first laid my baby eyes on the Water Gap from Interstate 80.
The Eight Scenic Wonder of the World, right here, a short hour of drive from Allentown into the Poconos. Here, the Gap is the entrance to thousands of acres of National Recreation Era. Most importantly, I would discover the Gap to be a passageway into the old green origins from whose wet loins our slow evolution developed in.
I would have downed at least one Clonopin after we missed the turn and drove away from Mount Tammany and Mount Minsi and into New Jersey. I would have been able to stick my anxious palms to the interior of the car and peel the m off in a shower of cold, nervous sweat. I would have clawed to find a ginger ale, to burp, to wait to feel my stomach turn and hope against hope I didn’t puke.
I nearly leapt from the car in excitement when I discovered that we had ended up in the place we wanted to be, by accident. I could see the red dot trailhead in front of us with a series of wooden steps that would serve as the beginning of our ascent. Far away, on top of Mount Tammany I could see an outcropping of stone that matched the outcroppings on Mount Minsi across the Delaware. 
I didn’t double check to hear the shaking of the orange prescription bottle in my pocket. I realized I didn’t check, and I didn’t even aftewardsr I wanted to climb this mountain. I was still concerned that I would find myself sick, or stung, or bitten, or left in some other odd peril that could only mean a slow death alone on the ancient mountain. Screw it, I have some bandages in my pack, and some bactine and I know the orange bottle is in there, just in case…
Beginning the 2 mile climb to the top of the mountain, I had no idea what was ahead. I was hoping to see a black bear. I had read up on the geology and was excited to identify some rocks. I was ready to climb when I saw the long black snake slither through the dead leaves right near me. I tried to get a picture, moved closer, listened as it hissed. The black snake was pissed – tried to get away. 
The snake was an omen. I shouldn’t do this.
My God! That snake was beautiful! I hope we see another one. 
There are supposed to be rattlers and copperheads here.
I would love to see one.
And I began my ascent. 
TOMORROW—-Part 2: Red Dot Trail Panting Sweat Soaked Boulder Climb
