Date: 2016-06-23
From: 501 Shelter

To: Trail angel's house
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: light rain

From my limited (near 200 miles) experience, there are four types of rocks on the trail that are worthy of your consideration...First, we have what I this morning heard referee to as "baby head" rocks. Though I would say that the size ranges from infant to adult. I have talked about these before. Hiking over them is like trying to walk over a ton of semi-stable softballs, except with more pointy edges. These are also referred to as ankle-breakers. They aren't usually a whole lot of fun.Then we have what we might refer to as rock scrambles, but on the more take side. Boulder field is also a common term, though they usually aren't huge boulders. These can range in side from an iPad to a small dining table. These are kinda fun, though not for prolonged periods of time. One traverses these by rock hopping (or just rock stepping). Staying on the rocks conserves energy, and if you ever have need of stepping between rocks it's a good idea to watch for snakes and have a plan B. Watch for snakes because PA rattle snakes like to sun in these rocky areas and aren't as apparent if they are between rocks. Have a plan B because sometimes you are thinking that you are stepping down into hard ground or dirt covered rock between boulders, but you discover that you are merely stepping onto a this layer of leaves and dirt being helped up in the crevice between the boulders. Good way to break a leg or an ankle. Keeping that in mind, finding the right rocks to step on is kind of like a video game. I imagine the Mario castle lever music going on... Duna Duna Duna, Dunt Duna Duna Duna... You learn to read these Boulder fields. You can figure out my the general shape and angle of the rock, the position of the rock with respect to those around it, and the sound achieved when tapped with a trekking pole if a rock is likely to move under foot and what the nature of that movement will be as you shift your weight across the boulder. Again, fun for limited periods of time.Then there is the bouldering rocks. This is when you have to use your hands and you are climbing over large boulders, hefting yourself up or lowering yourself down. These are fun also, but can be exhausting quickly and often are not well blazed.Finally we come to the fourth kind. This is my least favorite. In fact, I kinda hate this type of rock... These are the rocks that are mostly buried except for the pointy corner bits that stick up a bit from the ground. You won't always see these because they are often covered with a later of duff or leaves.! But it doesn't really matter anyway. These tend to be so prevalent in the area where they exist that even if you can see them, you still have no choice but to walk right over top of them. Yeah yeah, not a big deal...for a few steps! Do this for a couple of miles and see how you feel. These kill the feet, but there's not really anything to be done about it. You just resign yourself to the ache and pain...I got to spend time with all but the bouldering rocks today.Late start today. Caitlyn and Carter (AKA, Add Coffe and Welcome Back) are bad influences and we hung around the shelter until after 11. Just before we left a southbound section hiking couple came up and we chatted with them for a bit. Turns out they are caretakers for Tumbling Run Shelter, and I had met him when I was staying there.I left out just after the others. It was a slow day on the trail people wise. I only saw three hikers and one trail runner all day. There were a couple of nice views, and I made a few video calls to some folks to rub it in! :-)I had been told of a swimming hole near the Hertline campsite and took the blue blaze to check it out. The creek had been dammed, and it be rested a great, deep reservoir on one side of the dam and a small waterfall on the other. I soaked my feet for a while and had some lunch. Too bad it wasn't hotter, would be a great place to cool off, especially with that rope swing! This was almost six miles into my day, and I considered setting up camp. I AM taking it easy after all...I decided to press on and left the campsite at 5 with 3.3 miles to go to get to the campsite I had picked out. Starting to feel like a thru hiker, pressing on into the early evening.I was trucking along pretty well and was about two miles from the campsite. Then, everything happened so fast! I took my first real spill, thwarted by a couple of large sticks in the trail! What I think happened was that one of my trekking poles caught the stick then I tripped over the trekking pole! I went down hard. Hit my right knee, barely got my hands up, though tangled in my trekking poles.! I did manage to get my hands up enough to break my fall sufficiently that I barely felt the rock that I hit my head on. The wind was knocked out of me and my legs were a jumble of legs, large trippy sticks, and trekking poles. My hands were attached to the trekking poles making maneuverability difficult. I eventually disentangled myself and decided that it would be a good time for a break. So I sat in the ferns on the side of the trail catching my breath and assessing a tender wrist. I was worried I might have sprained it which would make using the trekking poles very difficult. Fortunately, after a few minutes it was good to go. No remaining pain now.Back on the trail, I knew I had to stop at a spring a quarter mile before the campsite as I was down to about a quarter liter of water. The trail turned right, the blue blaze for the spring turned left. As I went to turn left my eyes caught a glimps of a cooler and I headed right. Score! Trail magic! And it wasn't empty! I had hoped for water so I wouldn't have to go to the spring, but found none. Was still happy for a Starbucks via refresher! As I read the note (can be seen in the pics) I considered my options. I was ready to camp, I was less that a quarter mile from my site. Why bother doing anything else when I was ready to camp? Ya see, the trail magic letter also had a phone number and an offer of a bed, shower, laundry, etc for $5. I finally decided that the trail is about the experience and interacting with various people. I will have plenty of time to camp by myself! So I called him up and got directions. While he did make it clear that I could go in and make myself comfortable, I chose to wait in the yard by the pond, lying on my back looking into a beautiful sky. When the guy, Breath Easy made it home I got the grand tour and we sat straight down for dinner. A lady from his church had sent him home with two plates of shepherd's pie and pasta salad, as well as a half gallon of ice cream. After dinner we got laundry started and I grabbed a shower while Breath Easy hiked Dian to his trail magic to refresh it for tomorrow. While there he ran into mint and pepper who had already set up camp, but will be joining us for breakfast. Looking forward to a good night's sleep in this comfy bed.Oh, no issues with the hammie today. 9 miles and doing okay, I'm super pleased! Hoping for it to continue!