Date: 2021-05-10
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: 501 ATC shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: overcast clouds

After yesterday¢s miles combined with overnight temps of 39, I was in no hurry this morning and snoozed my alarm for 45 minutes. Gathered up my gear and got to the trail at 6:50. I was just about 30 yards behind three hikers - Roo, Not Yet and Tin man and followed them. We were hiking directly into the rising sun and so missed the turn off for the trail and found ourselves on the Beaver Dam bypass trail. Well, we realized the error and turned around about .4 of mile down the bypass as none of us wanted to turn down the chance to wade through a cold beaver pond!25 minutes later we had our opportunity. One could try and pick their way over logs and branches and boggy areas and stay kinda dry if you chose well. Some took off their shoes and socks and put on camp shoes (crocs) to keep their stuff dry. I went a different route and just waded right in up to my knees. The cold water was refreshing and the mud was likely good for skin tone!  Out the other side and began a stout little climb for the next hour. The trail was its normal mix of rocks, roots and mud, but it was a very pretty morning with some sun and little wind. The normal hikers who pass me, passed me, but a little later I came across Tall Son (his real trail name, not Tall Boy as I had thought) who packs a fly rod with him and was doing some fishing at a river crossing. Shortly after I talked to two women out day hiking with their dogs who had just seen a bear on the trail. They didn¢t seem to think of themselves as being as lucky as I thought they were. I kept my eyes peeled as I hiked, but alas, the bear was gone. Took a short break around 10 and posted yesterday¢s journal and then it was up up up for the next hour. Then I did something I hadn¢t done in two weeks on the trail: I stopped and used my alcohol stove to cook some lunch. As I looked at the trail ahead, I realized that my long awaited shoe package had arrived in Port Clinton, Pa about 28 miles ahead. So I made a decision: I would hike another 4.5 miles today to the 501 shelter, then hike 17-20 miles Wednesday, setting up my arrival in Port Clinton Thursday when the post office there opens at 12:30. What a fortuitous choice this turned out to be!When I got to Pennsylvania Rte 501, Roo and Tall Son were excitedly pointing at a van in the packaging lot. Fresh Grounds was here. Fresh Grounds is a trail legend, he travels up and down the trail all hiking season, providing meals and support to hikers. I was just hoping to meet him at some point, I didn¢t expect what was to come. At the shelter, he took Roo and Wicked and went to a local store. I was having dinner of three low carb granola bars and a protein bar when they walked in with chicken, salads, pork egg rolls, watermelon, deviled eggs, ice cream, cake, cantaloupe, drinks, parfaits, and potato chips. All courtesy of Fresh Grounds. He had only one rule: the 16 of us here had to eat everything. What a throwdown. And it gets better: tomorrow morning he¢ll have an all you can eat breakfast ready at first light along with...fresh ground coffee. Yes, I¢m going full nerd and will try to eat myself sick in the morning!I should mention, there is a family of seven here at the shelter hiking the trail together, the youngest is roughly 9 years old. They have their dog as well. They are zeroing here as Mom hurt her leg yesterday and they hiked the two miles back here to recuperate. I hope she gets well quickly. One last bit of trail magic: the ATC caretaker here was offering free epsom salt hot water foot baths on the porch of his cabin. Good golly, did that soak feel incredibleWhat an unexpectedly fantastic day.