Date: 2006-05-23
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: Hertlein campsite
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: few clouds

Day 78 Tuesday Today I'm walking for the pilots, mechanics, and flight attendants of USAir, whom I trust will not go on strike the next 2 weeks. I know y'all are getting tired of reading about rocks, and heaven knows I'm tired of writing about them (as well as stumbling over them). So, to save time for us all, I'm creating Moody's "Rock and Poison Ivy Malevalency Index" or RAPIMI. Ten(10) is the extreme evil end, where every step is a potential fall and poison ivy crowds in on both sides. A one(1) is wide, soft, rock-free, and weedless. Uphill or downhill is immaterial; only the condition of the Trail is evaluated in the RAPIMI, not the y-axis. I got away a little late this morning, due to talking more with the young men who stayed at the shelter. Fascinating to talk with Amish folks in a regular setting- not in a "tourist on display" situation. I also slowed down to look around a little at the historic markers for Rausch Gap Village, which is now a ghost town. I would like to come back some day and poke around. It was unusual to see coal lying around and obvious old railroad beds in a rocky pine forest. After I left the shelter the Trail went down into a valley, which was a nice change of pace from the rocky ridges. During that short segment I had my daily meeting with Hansel and Gretel, walking southward. They said we may not meet again for awhile, since I'm taking 6 days off and they're moving their base of operations from Pine Grove Furnace State Park toward New Jersey. I crossed under I-81 and immediately headed up another ridge, on a 5 to 7 trail. Then on top the Trail became a constant 9 or 10 for several miles, with a few 7's thrown in for variety. I took a lunch break at William Penn Shelter, where the remaining mileage to Katahdin went under 1000 miles-another milestone. Soon the Trail got on an old woods road and the score improved to 2, 3, and 4- much needed relief for the feet and ankles. Unfortunately, the woods road disappeared after about 2 hours, and the Trail reverted to its old evil self. I got to 501 Shelter about 3:30PM, my orginally planned stopping place. However, since I want to get to Port Clinton tomorrow ASAP, I cooked supper, got water, did a few other chores, and headed out to do another 5.5 miles before dark-to avoid having to do 23.6 tomorrow. By the way, supper was Idahoan mashed potatoes, a pack of tuna, and an orange, courtesy of some Trail Angel. The 501 Shelter is unique. It is an enclosed rectangular building the size of a 3 car garage. It is roughly constructed, with no siding or interior insulation. The floor is just boards on joists, with openings through to the ground. But it has 6 bunk spaces(sleeps 12), a large skylight, and an indoor table with chairs, so cooking can be inside out of the wind. It is looked after by a caretaker who lives right beside it, so water is available from a spigot-no treatment required. Instead of a privy, they have a porta-john set up nearby. Pretty swanky for a shelter. After I left 501 the trouble started. The entire Trail to here was covered with baseball-to-football sized rocks, with one exception. A genuine "10" boulder field gave me more trouble than I've had on the Trail. I couldn't find the route markings for awhile, so I was jumping/stumbling downhill and back up trying to find a white blaze. Then I slipped a little trying to get my pack loose from an overhanging limb and my left foot got hung between two boulders, which caused me to lose my balance and fall backwards. I wasn't hurt, but my leg was wedged in and I couldn't sit up to get it out because of the weight of the pack. But at least I was vocal! After a minute or two I wriggled around and got loose, put my pack back on, found the Trail(finally), and headed on to this campsite. It's in deep woods with a stream nearby; 2 tent platforms are available-actually a wooden perimeter filled with dirt, but level. WEATHER: sunny and cool all day. WILDLIFE REPORT: saw one snake yesterday but none today, which surprised me since it was sunny and I was on so many rocks. Saw a large doe on the Trail today, but she ran off immediately (no pictures). GEAR REPORT: the hiking poles kept me from falling on my face at least a dozen times. PHYSICAL REPORT: my feet hurt, my ankles hurt, my toes hurt, my legs hurt, and I'm bone tired. It's almost 8:30PM, and I'm going to sleep. Adios!