Date: 2014-06-02
From: Quarry Gap Shelters

To: Ironmasters Mansion Hostel
Miles today: 16.9

We finally made it - we have covered half of the AT on our 2014 NOBO thru-hike! It is amazing to think we have covered 1092.65 miles on foot with our gear strapped to our backs - ready for the next 1092.65 miles!We got another early start to the day - the ice cream motivated us to move quickly! The terrain was very nice so we were able to hike quickly and we rested at the first shelter with Boomerang. Lots of groups passed by hiking south - word on the trail was that the teams were doing a 50K walk along the AT. We left the shelter as Joe arrived and planned to see him further ahead. Stopped at a road crossing and talked to some section hikers going south on the trail - they told us about the halfway sign and where it was so we did not miss it! We hiked on eagerly looking for the halfway sign - and we finally saw it! A little laminated sign marking the halfway point for the 2014 AT! We had a short celebration and moved on to Pine Grove Furnace. Rested one last time at the last shelter and had an unique encounter with a snake eating birds in the rafters of the shelter! It finally fell out of the rafters and slithered away slowly - it hit the floor pretty hard!From the shelter we passed the 2011 AT Midpoint Sign on the trail - a much bigger sign that marked another halfway crossing! Two in one day - weird!We made it to Pine Grove Furnace State Park and sat down at the General Store with Mission, Sole Power, and Boomerang. Sole Power still was not feeling well so he did not do the ice cream challenge - we gave him a little medicine to help his stomach and we hope he feels better!We got our ice cream (Big Dawg had Mint, I had Moose Tracks) and we ate with Mission - all three of us completed the challenge! Big Dawg finished before I did but we both ate it under 30 minutes - experience trumped youth. After the ice cream we all ventured over to explore the AT museum and looked around - a nice little setup with great information and an informative docent! Gave us insight into the trail up ahead and some good advice.From there we wandered down to Fuller Lake where my dad completed his Mile Swim Test as a Boy Scout - a trip down memory lane! I went back up to the store to get my suit and I had a nice swim in the lake - a little chilly but I warmed up by doing the same swim test he had to do as a youth!The park was very nice and I read about the Pine Grove Furnace before heading up to the Ironmasters Mansion Hostel to check in - what a great place! The husband and wife running the place were very nice and we all set up in the bunkroom and showered before dinner - nice to get cleaned up before eating delicious pizza!It was a great evening at the hostel - got the laundry done, uploaded photos, updated journals, explored the secret room (subterranean room - kinda cool), and talked with all the hostel residents. Joe, Mission, Big Tex, Rugby, and Grasshopper and Runaway stayed the night and everyone relaxed the night away. It was great to see Grasshopper and Runaway after their 22 mile day and we heard that Queen was off the trail for a little bit with foot issues - get better!Next up: Boiling Springs and the Rock Maze!