Date: 2016-05-12
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I knew today was going to be shorter than usual so I allowed myself to sleep in. The sun woke me up and it was turning into a gorgeous day. I started out later than most folks but made good time up and over one hill before descending down into Swatara gap. I took a long break at a few benches someone made in the shade the hulking overpass of interstate 81, which we are passing for the fourth and final time after paralleling its route since southern Virginia. I powered up to the top of the ridge which we will essentially be following for the rest of Pennsylvania. The rocks were bad in a few places, but mostly we were on dirt paths today, especially nearing the end. I stopped and ate lunch at a viewpoint with White Rabbit and then caught up and paced with Frost at William Penn Shelter. I enjoy his company a lot, as well as the rest of his crew (rain man, seal tree and Doc). He would fit in well with my college friends. About a mile out from William Penn, a sobo woman told us that there were snacks and drinks a mile ahead, and we cruised over the flat ground to get there quick! We were met by Slick (Nobo '04) and his wife, who maintain this section of trail and give out lots of magic! They gave us turkey subs, sodas, gatorades, tons of snacks, and, perhaps most welcomely, great comfy folding chairs to sit. We spent probably about 45 minutes there because we only had 2 miles left to the 501 shelter. Doc apparently spent a grand total of about 2 hours with them. I asked Slick if he had any advice for us. He said "don't have a schedule." I immediately glared jokingly at White Rabbit, which made her dad laugh. Frost and I walked the last two miles together listening to The Suburbs by Arcade Fire, which I had kind of been going on about all day. Great frickin album. Frost had a banana from trail magic strapped to his chest. Anyway. The 501 shelter is a very large cabin with tons of bunk space and a picnic table inside, as well as a giant skylight that brightens the whole room. I was surprised to find that many of the bunks were already taken by some older folks, a few flip floppers and a couple LASHers (Long-Ass Section Hikers) who did only 4 miles today. We all still got bunks. It was also funny to find myself at the only other shelter from which you can order pizza with the same crew I was at Partnership with. We finally gathered ourselves enough to put an order together. Large Sausage and peppers, yes please. We ate pizza and had a generally uproarious evening as usual, fueled by Seal Tree's skepticism of the restaurant's sauce and the constant mispronunciation of Frost's name. A sobo named gypsy came in late in the evening and Doc very kindly gave up his bunk to her. He's a good guy. Less good was the (maybe thru hiker? I can't tell) guy who had walked down to town earlier in the day and came back in the shelter at 9:30 blasting his music and talking loudly about how great the deals were at the store. Dude. Shush. Tomorrow I'll probably do 24 miles into the town of Port Clinton/Hamburg and find a hotel for the night. Frost and them are doing 15 and 9 the next day and then probably zeroing in the town the day after, but I am basically out of food... Also I am gonna try and push miles such that I can be a little closer to catching up once I get back on the trail. I am probably going to end up staying in town a bunch in the next couple of days. We shall see.