Date: 2005-07-09
From: Little Rock Pond Shelter

To: Clarendon Shelter
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: light rain

¢A soft day ¢ Thank God¢   Prairie Dog arrived, wet and late, last night. He had waited until the afternoon before he left Peru Peak, in the forlorn hope that the weather would improve. He is a very strong hiker and covered my mileage in much less than half of my time.   It rained all night long and greeted us when we awoke this morning. Nothing for it but to don full rain gear and ¢Just Do It¢ The rain was steady and cold and everything dripped.   The trail goes up and down White Rocks ¢ and I was reminded of the old Irish Song ¢The Rocks of Bawn¢ which means ¢The White Rocks¢   My shoes they are well worn   My socks are growing thin   My heart it is a trembling   For fear they might give in   For I must rise up early   In the clear daylight of the dawn   Or I never will be able    To plough the rocks of BawnSeemed appropriate some how!   At the side trail to the White Rocks themselves ¢ I saw no marble today - there is a curious collection of little rock cairns that mark the trail junction. It appears that over time people have added to them, and the net final result looks like a city built by little stonemason elves!   Then it was past Greenwall Shelter through tall spruce trees with the naked forest floor interrupted by rocks and boulders that seem to be pushing themselves out of the earth in a contorted agony ¢ rather like that sculpture on Frank Lloyd Wrights Home and Studio - ¢Man Emerging¢   After crossing the road it was a long and easy ascent of Bear Mountain ¢ impeccably maintained switchbacks and small stone staircases. Somewhere about there Prairie Dog passed me with the goal of eating at the Whistle Stop Caf© and resuppling there with snacks.   A stop on top of Bear Mountain rewarded me with a cell signal and a conversation with KT.   After a long ridge walk in somewhat less rain, I passed Airport Lookout ¢ you can see an airport ¢ and descended down to Clarendon Gorge, which has a spectacular suspension bridge over very troubled waters. Although camping is verboten here, the locals had a whole array of tents ¢ with wood fires ¢ already erected, and three teenagers were trying to rig a rope from the suspension bridge down into the gorge over the rushing and turbulent waters, God alone knows why!   I had promised myself that if I arrived at the road before 2:00PM, I too would head for the Whistle Stop. I did, so I did, and met Prairie Dog returning. We said our goodbyes on the road and I finally remembered to take his photo.   After a cheesy and greasy Philly Steak Sandwich ¢ it hit the spot - I was back on the trail in one hour, but now in a horrendous downpour, a real gully-washer!   Ant ¢ a French-Canadian hiking with his Dad today, had stayed at this shelter last night, and warned me of a ¢steep and rocky¢ path. Even though it was only a mile, the first quarter mile was indeed ¢steep and rocky¢ up a narrow, steep and rock filled gully. When I finally arrived here I got two can of orange juice ¢ Minute Maid ¢ from Ant and his Dad, before they left to continue north.   This shelter has a table in the middle and a window on the back wall. The water source is close by.   I thought today of all of the various types of rain. I think that for most of the day I had a ¢Soft Rain¢ ¢ as in ¢May the rain fall soft on your fields¢ in the old Irish blessing. A soft rain is nice and gentle and brings good fertility to the earth. It caresses and enfolds you like an extra heavy dew, and is much to be desired and loved.   I am now ensconced in my favorite bunk spot ¢ first on the left when looking into the shelter. Penny ¢ NOBO ¢ has just arrived and tells of many more people who are following and planning to stay here tonight.Thought for today ¢   Into every life a little rain must fall    May it be a soft rain in yours!