Date: 2016-05-05
From: Peters Mountain Shelter

To: Swatara Gap - Lickdale, PAp
Miles today: 24.1
Weather: overcast clouds

No rain today while I was hiking. That was a pleasant change. The temperature continued to be cool. The combination made for good hiking weather. The trail was still easy but had more stones or rocks interspersed between crushed stone or dirt. Am sure strong hikers could move through this trail pretty quickly, much faster than I did. There was an 1,100 foot climb in the morning with much of it on what seemed to be a very old road of some sort. Aside from the hikers at last night's shelter, I didn't see anyone until the middle of the afternoon. Replacing the hikers were continual greetings from unseen birds on the left and right of the AT. It was kind of amazing. Birds often land yards in front of me and then fly ahead to keep distance from me as I hike forward. Today's hike lacked bird or butterfly sightings but the birds seemed to be everywhere. This trail also was clearly cut between long sections of massive Boulder fields seen on the path's right and left. Again, it seemed the trail had a long history whose story I wish was explained as I walked by. Someone cleared those rock fields on this path and I wondered how long ago such work was done.Five young Amish women from Lancaster County were out for a couple nights hiking south. They had questions about thru-hiking. Soon after they passed, I came upon Mr. Nature, a northbound flip-flopper from California. He is ex-Army and was interesting and easy to speak with. His destination today was the same as mine, another six miles ahead. Then it was lucky me. Before I knew it, he was telling me that his wife, Susan, was picking him up at our destination and that they'd gladly give me a ride so that I didn't have to hitch or walk an extra two miles to get to Lickdale where I was intending to stay tonight. Susan is supporting Mr. Nature's thru-hike and sounds like she is having fun dispensing trail magic to other hikers too. Susan stays in their RV that are parked in nearby campgrounds. Mr. Nature hikes in 3-day increments and, as it suits him, tents or calls for a pick-up. They shipped their car to the East coast while driving across the country in their RV. Susan drives the car to pick-up Mr. Nature or drives to nearby points of interest to explore this part of the country while Mr. Nature hikes the AT. Susan recently took multiple tours ofGettysburg battlefields and visited Amish too. Mr. Nature's name has an interesting origin. Many years ago while attending a wedding, some of the wedding party's children were thrust upon him to entertain while the parents attended to picture taking. A hike was undertaken and he taught the children about their surroundings. One child coined the name Mr. Nature and that became his name as the other children asked questions during the hike. Those children now are older with children of their own. Upon hearing of his plan to hike the AT, he was contacted with the idea of embracing the name they had given him many years ago. Love hiking with story tellers like Mr. Nature because I learn so much in such an easy, carefree way. The trail lends itself to all of this while all I have to do is put one foot in front of the other.