Date: 2008-04-27
From: Antietam Shelter, PA

To: Quarry Gap Shelter, PA
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Start: Antietam Shelter, PAEnd: Quarry Gap Shelter, PAMiles: 13.4HammockWow was that a wicked storm last nite. It rained all nite long, there was lots of lightening and of course really loud thunder. Me. my hammock, my underquilt...everything stayed perfectly dry. It is an incredible feeling when the gear you invested in really does the job.I finally got to sleep after 10 p.m., and woke a few times to turn over (yes, you can sleep on your side in a hammock), but before I knew it, the birds were chirping and shortly there after, my first (of 2) alarm went off. After I calmed down last nite, I rather enjoyed the storm and sound of rain drops hitting my tarp. See, I could care less if it rains when I'm all tucked in, it's the rain that pours down while I'm hiking that is no fun and makes you miserable.Even though I was a bit slower packing up because of all the wetnes, I was still hiking by 8:15 a.m. Oh, it was 52 when I woke up this morning.So it was oe of those soppy, foggy, wet, totally saturated kinds of days. I initially hiked in my short sleeved shirt, because I was climbing up for almost 2 miles, towards Chimney Rocks. Of course it was totally socked in, so I didn't bother taking the blue blaze trail to the view.After getting to the top, I started cooling off, so I added my rain jacket, but was fine the rest of the day.I met a cool woan today Shady Lady from VT. I came diddy-boppin over a hill, and she was stopped for something,but saw me and goes, "Are you Certain?" I said yup. Apparently Margaret and Ann (the 2 section hikers w/Ken) told her I'd be about 1.5 days behind them. I like how people watch out for ya like that.Shady Lady and I talked about hiking solo, ad how she freaked herself out at first, but finally told herself to stop being ridiculous. Hilarious, sounds like something I woud have done.I moved on with the intention of stopping for lunch @ Rocky Mt. Shelter, but my stomach told me otherise. I stopped short of the shelter and had my lunch. The trail today was some rocky (climbing over a ridge..typical), but in parts, it was just flat out a stream. Impossible to keep my feet dry today. I was impressed that the leather portions of my Keens were drying pretty quickly as long as I stayed out of the water, but that was hard to do today.I've been surprised @ how many day/weekend hikers are already out here, but they all seem to be going to the south.About 2:45, I was already @ Caledonia State Park. A really beautiful hike into this park with soft dirt groomed path, huge river to the left. Sounded like I was in a rainforest. i got to 1 of several picnic pavillions and there was a metal swing, so I sat on that for a bit to tke a break. I knew the short order gril didn't open till Memorial Day, but one could still dream, I didn't know where it was anyway.So I hiked on to the next pavillion where a restroom was open! (I love flushing toilets!). There was a family there, and they were afraid of me at first, I think they thought I was a bum or something. Finally they talked to me (2 young boys mom/dad), but they thought I was absolutely crazy, and the dad had that "scared and angry white man" vibe about him and was insistent that it would not be safe out there without a gun, to protect yourself from ALL the bears and weirdos. It sort of made me sad, because you could tell pretty easily that his word was the only word, and his 2 boys would be totally iinfluenced by this type of fear-based emotional decision making rather than educated decision making. I know it sounds weird for me to assume these things, but I've had personal experience w/this type of dynamic, and it's easy to recognize it in others. So I decided to move on, and I only had about 1 more hour to go. Up and up that is. A sign made me laugh though, just before climbing out of Caledonia, there a sign telling you it's the AT with one of those difficulty level sign attached to it. This one said "Most Difficult." I thought, wow, if this little hill in front of me is most difficult, how would theae people rate the Whites or even the mountains in NC? I do realize it all in comparison to other trails in the park, but it was still funny.The climb wasn't that bad really, and I ran into 2 guys day hiking. They told me they hike out west a lot, but haven't explored the AT, which is right in their backyard. I told them this trail is a gift and it is so worth spending time on it. They asked about food and gear and after they made a comment about my tent, well, I was obligated to start my hammock sermon. I told them to go to my journal, and everything they want to know is there. Nice guys.Finally, about 5:30, I was @ the Quarry Gap Shelter. Holy cow is this nice! The volunteer who takes care of it, Jim "The Inkeeper" was here so I got to praise him for his dedication. There's little flower pots, games available, a covered cooking area w/a metal sheet on part of the table so our alcohol stoves don't burn a ring into the table, and hilarious outdoor porch lamp fixtures on the 2 shelters, of course they don't work. This place is amazing, AND Jim cuts firewood and he brought some to me! I did go around and gather smaller stuff, but we're surrounded by Rhodadundrens, so there's not a lot of big stuff. I couldn't believe it. He's been a volunteer for 31 years folks! Thank you Jim and all volunteers/paid workers whoo keep this trail running.So I made my mac n cheese, set up camp down this great path that leads to a group camping area. I'm surrounded totally by Rhodadundrens and can hear the stream. It's awesome.My fire tonight was hard to start because of all the dampness, but Jim even had newspaper to use! I finally got it blazin and put my shoes by it to help dry them more. It's 52 degrees, but feels warmer. I had to cut my fire time short because it started raining again...darn. I'm all bundled up in my hammock, listening to the raindrops and stream. What a life huh?   ~Certain