Date: 2016-05-28
From: The pRavilion

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: broken clouds

This morning we got up later than usual. Bag of Tricks offered to slack pack all our bags to Eckville today because it was only 10 minutes up the road for him. He even gave out light backpacks for people to use. I thought my Osprey turned into a small day pack, if it does, I couldn't figure it out. My heel is finally starting to get better, but I still have my morning limp. It oozes, then I clean it and seal it. It's become an easy routine now. My morning was off to a terrible start, Tricks offered to take me to the post office so I didn't have to walk and when I got there, none of my packages were there. I was devastated. I thought I might starve, my whole trail family had zeroed in town the day before and had everything taken care of already. My only option was to stay back behind again or hope I could spread out my 1 day supply of food over 3, where the next resupply would be. I was so upset, I was fighting back the tears. I just dropped off excess food at the 501 shelter the day before, that I could've used now. I had pushed myself so hard to get into town to be able to pick up my mail, just to find it wasn't there. I was so worried and I kept trying to tell myself it would all work out.Not only did not having my food suck, but my thin running socks I ordered off Amazon weren't there either. I had just boxed up my old socks and gave them to the mail lady to ship off. I could've got them back, but I knew everyone was waiting on me back at the pavilion. Luckily, Fiber gave me some granola bars and Green Hornet had left behind a shrimp ramen in the hiker box. I grabbed it and we all headed out. I called Amazon on the way out of town and there was nothing they could do for me. They were only able to refund my order. The lady at the post office isn't allowed to open my mail, so the only thing she could do was send it back to Amazon. It was a tough situation, down to one stinky, dirty pair of socks and no way to tell when I'll have more. The sock situation bothered me more than being almost out of food. There was nothing I could do about it and I knew the situation was out of my control. It was hard but our first stop of the day definitely cheered me up. We went about a mile out of PC and went to a local spot called Peace Rock. It was a swimming area with a huge graffiti'd rock across the way. Probably had a 30-40ft jump at the top, with a smaller 15-20ft jump at the bottom. We were all so happy to get to swim in the water. Especially water that wasn't bitterly cold. It really helped to take my mind off my situation. I wasn't going to swim across the way and jump off the rocks with my feet in the condition they were in, so I was perfectly content floating on my back in my sports bra and shorts, while I watched the locals jump.After about an hour, we all had to get back to hiking to Eckville. None of us were ready to leave, but no one had their packs, so we had to keep going. It was so late, about 1pm when we hit the trail. Hiking without a 40lb pack was phenomenal. It was nice to feel like a day hiker again. Sadly, I was starting to get hungry. In addition to the hunger pains, I was tired and not at 100% from drinking the night before. So the hike was easy, but not easy enough lol. It was a super busy weekend with the locals. So my group and I (minus Fiber) decided to blue blaze on a trail Tricks told us about. So I'm officially a section hiker! Dun. Dun. Dunnnnn. Lol We skipped 5 miles of the trail and bypassed the Pinnacle view. The book listed it as the best view in PA, I think. I don't see how that's possible after the view I got to see a few days later though, guess I'll never know till I go back and hike it!We got to Eckville Shelter, it was really nice. There was a shower inside a shed AND a flushing toilet. We actually bunked in a shed basically. It was just the 6 (another trail guy who crosses our path was with us today and tomorrow- his name is Babbit) of us and the dog Jack. (Oh yes, Alice and Jack has joined our group today too -they are awesome!)Follow my SNOG for daily updates and pics. Snapchat username: saylind.vettloRemember who you are.