Date: 2007-05-12
From: unknown

To: Birch Run Shelter
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: broken clouds

I got off to a late start today (about 9 am). You see, there was a Starbucks near the motel-need I say more? Then I needed a new battery for my watch.Rosie drove me back to Caledonia State Park where the required photo ops were dealt with. The props for today included my Starbucks!The days hike started with a 500 foot climb over about 1/4 mile-so it was pretty steep, but fueled with my Starbucks I flew up the hill! Through an old pine forest and large rhododendron groves. I got to Quarry Gap Shelter and wow what a fantastic shelter-look at the pictures! The privy was clean and even had a book to read while doing your business (the book was about outhouses). There were hanging flower pots, front porche lights etc. There were 2 bunk houses with a covered patio area between them. The last few shelters that had 2 houses each had "snoring" and "no snoring" signs! This one someone wrote on a piece of paper "farting" and "no farting". I would have loved to spend the night there but I was just getting started. There was also a note in the shelter register from Little One and Gunna (formerly Dirt South) that had passed through today so I was hoping to catch up to them (which I eventually did).I did meet a very interesting NOBO hiker just after the shelter. He was black, furry and had a white stripe down his fluffy tail. And boy talk about hiker stench! I gave him the right of way and hung back, but he took his time meandering up the trail in front of me. He finally got off the trail and I made it past him without further smelly incidents.The trail again today was crisscrossed with lots of other trails and dirt roads. I passed a few power lines today and I don't know if I mentioned this before but I really hate going under power lines. They buzz and you can practically feel the buzzing/humming on your skin. It's creepy.The blazes on the trail here are not as frequent as in MD. It seemed like every other tree had a white blaze painted on it. The trail is pretty easily seen here but the blazes are further apart. It's actually fun though when you can pick out where the trail goes. It's like a puzzle.Once I got up to the ridge line at 2000 feet, the trees here are barely leafed out so it was very hot and sunny. I'm glad I have a hat and sunscreen. The trail then turned from the open exposed ridge to a very dry pine forest, all shady with a really nice trail through it. This part brought to mind Little Red Riding Hood! The sides of the trail were planted heavily with new young pine trees which soon abruptly ended to show a section of burned out forest. It's very dramatic to see all these towering burnt out hulks and I started thinking about the devastating forest fires in FL.Rosie met me at the Milesburn Cabin and there was Little One and Gunna. They were heading for the next shelter for the night and then on to Ironmasters the next day. They are also going to Trail Days and have arranged to rent a car. So, the plans were made.I said my heartfelt thanks to Rosie for the slack pack, hefted my back pack again and hiked 3 miles to the Birch Run Shelter. We are here with one other hiker tonight, and it's raining. This is also a very nice shelter with a huge grassy lawn in front, a beautiful creek about 100 feet from the shelter and lots of chipmunks.Tomorrow just short of Ironmasters, I will cross the halfway point on the AT. If only it was "all downhill from here"!