Date: 2014-06-05
From: Quarry Gap Shelter

To: Iron Masters Mansion
Miles today: 16.9

Trails were really good today even where they were rocky I could find a spot to place my foot without worrying about twisting or breaking an ankle. I'm crossing a lot of roads, mostly gravel and passing close to other roads. Pennsylvania has worked really hard at maintaining and keeping open the road so people still have access for various recreational activities. The up hills have a lot of stairs cut into them and few switchbacks. I think this is mostly because they needed to gain elevation quickly and switchbacks require a lot of terrain to build. I got to the midpoint mile marker (mm) 1092.65 at 1045 and took some pics. It seems so weird to think I've covered this much so far and now the mileage to cover is less than that which has been covered. Got to Grove Furnace State Park where the Iron Master's Mansion hostel is. Now I don't want people to start getting Shade's of Grey thoughts, this hostel was built by the person called the Iron Master because back in the early 1800's there was an Iron making furnace here, hence the name of the state park and back then the making of steel was as much an art as well as a science and the Iron Master had the knowledge that it took to mix the right ingredients and amounts to make the steel. The hostel has been restored and even had a secret room that was used by the abolitionists to hide runaway slaves as part of the underground railway. There is so much interesting historical information I wish I had the time to really check it all out. Also here was the General Store which offered the "Half Gallon Ice Cream Challenge" where if a hiker finishes in less than a certain time they receive a "commemorative spoon". Talk about a marketing ploy! First as most people know ice cream companies rarely sell full half gallons. This ice cream container was actually 1.5 of a half gallon and cost $6. If you wanted a full half gallon you could buy another pint at a cost of $3! Oh well its part of the trail right and you do get the commemorative spoon. Well do you remember the Dixie cup of ice cream you use to get? And do you remember the tiny wooden spoon you got with it? Well that was the "commemorative spoon" which you got. Whoopee.....I did get the chance to walk thru the AT Museum and found it very well set up and had many interesting artifacts about and from the trail. Other thru hikers are here including XC, Flying Panther, Studebaker, Young Ganderful and Mobius. While out front of the General Store we were approached by a couple that was staying in the area and they asked us if we would like to get together for a cookout that they would host. Being Thru hikers we never turn down Trail Angel generosity so plans were made to meet back at the pavilion at 5. In the meantime I was able to move into the Mansion and got situated and then headed to the cookout. Brenda and Mike, the Trail Angels put out a great spread of hotdogs, bananas, chips, carrots, candy and cookies. After a great meal and some pictures Mobius and I headed back to the Mansion for a shower and laundry. On the way back we ran into Rogue and Terrilium who had just got there and missed out on the cookout. I quickly gave them my left overs of cookies and candy which they were very grateful for. It felt good to play Trail Angel and pay it forward. After my shower and laundry I spent the next 2 hours using the computer catching up on my journal. With that done, I was able to get to bed around 10. What a great day.