Date: 2010-04-24
From: Clarks Valley, PA-Hwy 325

To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: broken clouds

Day 1 April 24th2:15am...the day started early.(but a normal time for me)"Jigsaw", Helen, (trailname="Just Helen)& I jump in the car & head South...to Ravine, PA (near the 501 shelter) & "Jigsaw" dropped off his car @ shuttle driver's (Amy "Maybaby" Holland) house & she gives us a ride over to Hwy PA 325 @ Clarks Valley, PA (550 ft elevation).Lots of cars in the parking lot here...probably a load of folks out for a day hike this day, maybe a few section-hikers (like us)too....its nice & Sunny now...supposed to be abt 60 degrees today.We're on the trail shortly after 10am...after a couple of photos of our start...heading NORTHbound!"Jigsaw & Just Helen" will be hiking with me til Monday morning...then they'll head home @ Hwy 501...as I continue to hike North.Today we have 11.5 miles planned to Rausch Gap Shelter.Its forecast to be nice for today...maybe showers for the next two days after.We hike..."Just Helen" leads...& is a fast hiker...(like "Jigsaw")...or maybe its just that I'm a very SLLLLLLLOOOOOOOW hiker...hehehehehehe ;0)We pass the Horse Show Trail (1650ft el) on Stony Mtn...its a BEAUTIFUL DAY in the woods! (Bill Bryson would even like this!...hehehehehe)"Jigsaw & Just Helen" leave me in the dust after just a few miles...I stop & eat a couple of Energy bars (Harvest bars) & drink some water (gotta stay hydrated!)...after a few more miles...i pass YELLOW Springs Village site (an old camp site)...nothing here to see...but a weekend hiker on his cell-phone...he waves as I hike by...a few more miles & i see a group of abt 8 hikers resting along side the trail...I asked abt the next water-source...they told me @ the top of the ridge...& abt 3/10 mile down the hill from there...I hiked to the top of the ridge & looked @ my A.T.Data book pages...i see Cold Spring trail & drop my pack, grab my empty water bottles & head down...down...down...cross over a gravel raod.....then back into the woods...& down more...down...down...no water...cant find it...no sounds of a spring running....i walk back to the gravel road....nothing...i walk back into the woods....then back to the gravel road...then i see 2 mountain bicyclists...i ask abt the water source...they tell me its off the parking lot...i hike to the parking lot...still not hearing anything...i'm outta water...i'm thirsty & getting desperate for H20...i'm getting mad...i see a few more mountain bicyclists...& they point me to another gravel roadon the other side of the parking lot....so down i walk...& i finally hear & see the water...a nice large stream....ahhhhhhhhhhhh.i "camel-up" (drink as much water as I need here) then fill my water bottles & head back up to the trail...I probably walked an EXTRA 2 miles in search for this water! OUCH!(wasted energy)...It was a very SLOW climb back to the trail...just as it started to RAIN!...Actually, the light rain was quite welcome...i was getting HOT...Now...2 more miles to Rausch Gap shelter...& when i got there...it was already FULL of weekenders...DARN!"Jigsaw & Just Helen" have already set up their tent behind the shelter & was socializing with all the hikers in the shelter...when i arrived.I set up my (actually "D-bird"s) tent, unpack...as it continues to lightly rain...eat supper a Tuna dinner...& talk with a Southbound section hiker, "Han Solo"(MD)...didnt get names of all the hikers in the shelter...I am POOPED!We're expecting RAIN tomorrow...80% chance...hopefully it'll hold off til we get our tents all packed up.over 13 miles today...but only                            11.5 miles count7:30pm                        GOODNIGHT!