Date: 2016-05-08
From: Eagles Nest Shelter

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: few clouds

Happy Mother's Day! I can hear Beth now saying "I'm not your mother." My Mom was the focus of my thoughts today. It seemed very appropriate that today's hike included a very steep climb to get to Pulpit Rock, where the views were expansive. I've always jokingly thought my Mom came over as one of the original Pilgrims. She wanted Sunday to be the day of rest; today's 23.8 miles surely wasn't that. But she'd have been pleased with a connection of this day's hike being undertaken to enjoy God's creation. My Mom clearly taught me to work hard and to not complain about such work. I worked very hard today. I have felt for many years now how fortunate I was to have my Mom. It wasn't always easy being her son, but moments of goodness that I am proud of are certainly traced to her and how she raised me. Another reason why I am a lucky guy.I was awakened by a loud clap of thunder. Then I heard rain coming down pretty hard. It convinced me to roll over for a few more minutes of sleep, but then I realized that sleeping wasn't going to get today's hike done so I began to get up shortly thereafter. The rain stopped before I was ready to leave and the day's weather just got better as the day went on. The hike started with more of yesterday's trail puddles except that the puddles weren't as deep or as long. The trail was flat and initially made for some "fast" hiking (at least it was fast for me.) I wanted to hike more miles than usual today and knew I'd be hiking until near sunset to get those miles in. Temptation came as I arrived in Port Clinton. A family was waiting across the road and seemed to be agitated that a door wasn't open. Someone then opened that door and after the family went in I asked if food was served there. I didn't realize that Port Clinton Hotel had a restaurant. I went in and waited to be seated. I think my being a "clean" looking hiker paid off as I overheard a waitress say that "a hiker walked in and that she seated him." I don't know what would've happened if I came in with a haggard look as sometimes happens after a day's hiking is over. The burger and fries were as good as anything eaten on the AT so far. Recommend you stop here for food, but be careful to be cleaned up before you arrive. Lunch was a bit slow though and cost me one hour's time. Before resuming my hike, I lingered and purchased some candy at the Peanut Shop next door. There's a nice River walk coming out of Port Clinton. Nice AT graffiti under the overpass too. Then a very steep and very long climb begins and goes on and on for the better part of an hour. Ridge walking is fit in between parts of the climb and there's a rock scramble in the mix too before the final part of this climb is completed. While my stomach was full and I was happy about that, I knew that this day's hike might be even longer than I'd expected. I ran into Swamp Angel   and Captain Kirk, who were again hiking southbound just as I had seen them hiking yesterday. They do a very interesting two-car aided slack pack hike that results in them enjoying good meals and not camping at the end of each day. Holcomb describes their hiking process nicely in his May 6th trailjournal post if you want to understand their process. I really think such a process enables hiking the AT for people who like to hike but don't want to camp. Rocketman and Princess also are doing this, in a different way, and they post entries in trailjournals too. Today's hike has long sections of dirt-based trail that I really didn't expect to see in Pennsylvania. But just as I got going and got used to such trail, I found myself in another rock scramble. Today's hike seemed to have a bit of everything in it. Easy road-path walking was the trail around Windsor Furnace and there were many people out enjoying the great weather and outdoors. Lots of questions as I walked by but the questions were easily answered as I kept hiking. The climb up Pulpit Rock was steep and it finished with steep boulder climbing too. That's when I did have a prolonged conversation with a couple whose husband asked many questions and expressed interest in hiking the entire AT.The views from Pulpit Rock were far reaching. I easily could've spent more time there and it would be a perfect place to stop for a rest break to eat. I didn't have such time available so I kept moving. Then came another significant rock scramble that slowed me down so that I didn't hurt myself with a fall. Time was really getting eaten up now and I sensed I might be doing some night hiking before today was done. I briefly lost the trail at the Pinnacle. I missed the hairpin left turn and really don't understand the trail's routing here, except that it's there to probably take you to a place where the blue-blaze Pinnacle is more readily available. Lucky for me, the descent to Eckville Shelter has miles of road-path hiking so I moved as quickly as I could to give me a chance to get to Eckville Shelter in light. The shelter is literally on Hawk Mountain Road so don't cross the road expecting to find the shelter in the woods, where most shelters are. There isn't a sign directing you to the shelter so careful about getting to it. I met Chill Lax as I arrived one hour before sunset. The shelter has room for six so I got a nice bunk with padding which will make for nice sleeping conditions. The shelter has a flush toilet and a door that closes the shelter sleeping quarters. There are tables and a water spigot. Lots of nicely cut grass to dry out wet gear too. This is a great shelter if it fits into your hike for the day. Long day today with many challenges. It all seems appropriate on Mother's Day as I'm sure I gave plenty of challenges to my Mom as she raised me.