Date: 2007-06-19
From: Port Clinton, PA

To: Eckville Shelter, PA
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: clear sky

There was talk last night with Beach Bum (also on Trail Journals) about doing a "slackpack" today. Slackpacking means that you only carry in tour pack only essential things like food, water, rain gear, and maybe an article of clothing like a warm flece. You hike like you normally would, but instead of staying the night in a tent or a shelter, someone meets you with a car where the trail intersects a road. The driver will bring you back to where you stayed before. In today's scenario, back to the Microtel in Port Clinton.I joined Backyard Boogie, Beach Bum, and Betty, Beach Bum's "first wife" as he calls her at 6:30 Am for the motel's continental breakfast.   We planned to leave Port Clinton, slackpack 15.1 miles to the Eckville Shelter where a road runs nearby, and then having Betty pick us up at the road crossing at a pre-determined time.Off we went from the Port Clinton Post Office up the steep climb at 8am. It was easy hiking without a full pack. Surprisingly, it was a really nice hike. In fact, I've been pleased with how well-maintained the trails have been in Pennsylvania.Me, Backyard Boogie and Beach Bum stopped for a snack and to sign the register at the Windsor Furnace Shelter. We continued on over a wide trail with a few boulder fields to cross. Once we reached the top of the ridge, we eventually came to a place called Pulpit Rock and a few miles later, to a spectacular overlook called The Pinnacle.We stayed at The Pinnacle for twenty minutes or so with some other dayhikers, rested, had a bite to eat, and enjoyed the view of the Pennsylvania farmland below. It is an amazing view at least 1,000 feet, below this overlook. We sat there and watched buzzards circling in the updrafts for several minutes without even having to flap their wings. Unfortunately, it was very humid and extremely hazy today, perhaps due to the expected severe weather that was forecast for this afternoon.Because of the threat of severe thunderstorms, high winds, and possible hail, I left The Pinnacle a bit earlier than Backyard Boogie and Beach Bum. I figured that I'd begin walking slowly down the trail so that I could make it off the ridge in the event of lightning. "Boogie" and "Bum" easily caught up with me a short while later as I was filling my hydration pack from a cold spring.By 3 PM, we were off the mountain and finished with our hike for today. Betty came to pick us up, and it is going to be nice to get another hot shower, do laundry, and eat something other than Ramen noodles. Hopefully the hazardous weather will pass overnight. Now, there is talk of the three of us doing yet another slackpack tomorrow with the generous assistance from Betty, "first wife."Betty is actually here with Beach Bum for this purpose. She's taking time to help her husband, Beach Bum through this section of Pennsylvania. Since she has room in her car for two other hikers, I've been lucky to be able to tag along and I certainly appreciate that she's been a "trail angel."Beach Bum got his name because he lives in Virginia Beach. He also wears a Hawaiian shirt when he hikes. Maybe there is such a thing as a Beach Bum brand of shirt. That's what I think I overheard.So far, the new hiking shoes are treating my feet fairly well. Time will tell, though.I wish there was Internet access at this motel. I haven't been able to read and respond to anything that is in my Yahoo account. In the next week or so, I may find a computer terminal.