Date: 2015-06-19
From: Allentown Hiking Club Shelter

To: George W. Outerbridge Shelter
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: light rain

ROCKS ROCKS ROCKS. EVERYWHERE, ROCKS.Pennsylvania is AT famous for the rockiness of the trail. A lot of people complain about the rocks.Me? I say, bring on the toe-tenderizing! It's not an accomplishment if it's not a challenge!Just kidding. I do think that, but I also do complain about the rocks. My new shoes SUCK on the slippery rocks. However, they are much more manageable when dry. Dry rocks are a million times better than wet rocks.Some of the rock climbs are really fun, like a choose-your-own-adventure story. The goal? 1. Find the next white blaze. 2. Get to said blaze without cracking your skull.Today we placed our packs down on the side of the AT and climbed Bear Rocks, following the blue blazes to a gorgeous view. It was quite a climb, even without a pack. Throughout the day today, I used a lot of hands and knees to brace myself, and spent quite a bit of time sitting and scooting around steep sections, like a dog with an itchy butt.The rain stopped by the time I got up. Since it was a dreary morning, I decided to cook breakfast. I have cooked breakfast maybe once before. Cream of wheat on a rainy morning is wonderful, let me tell you.We leapfrogged with Renne a lot today. Renne is 18 years old. EIGHTEEN. She just graduated high school, and is doing a month-long section hike. She hiked her first week with her Dad, and then was left to her own devices in the wilderness. She hiked with the Aussie Legs for a few days, until they picked up extra miles one day so they could get into town the next. They coached her on hanging a bear bag at Cove Mountain shelter. It was cute.Anyway, I give Renne a lot of credit. I can't imagine having come out here when I was 18. I couldn't handle going to college, I was so homesick. I probably would have had a heart attack, being out in the woods for a week alone.In retrospect, I was such a scaredy cat when I was 18. I was perfectly content in my bubble of comfort, never straying far from home. I guess I should thank Candace and Jim, because without them I wouldn't have ended up moving to Korea and getting over my fear of travel and the unknown. Now I live for adventure!Renne ate lunch with us at Bake Oven Knob, where we enjoyed the view and strung up clotheslines to dry out our tents in the sun and wind. It was a gorgeous day after the clouds cleared and the sun came out.Just past Bake Oven Knob, we stopped at Bake Oven Knob Shelter to get water. Spring 1 was dry. Spring 2 (they were actually labelled) was moving slowly, but moving, so I went for it. Chris was going to check out Spring 3 until he reached a sign that said it was still 0.2 miles further down a blue-blazed trail. Then he turned around and headed back to Spring 2.While we waited for his AquaMira to react, I stamped the register. Upside down. Oops. I wrote in it upside down, too.Also, jeez is that shelter appropriately named. I thought I was going to turn into a puddle in the ten seconds it took to walk through the clearing between the spring trail and the shelter. IT WAS SO HOT. IT WAS REALLY JUST LIKE BAKING IN AN OVEN.We hit trail magic in the afternoon! I enjoyed an apple and orange, and took some gauze and antibiotic ointment. "Is that in case you fall again?" Chris asked. "I figure it's only a matter of time." I answered. Truthfully, my elbow scratches were a little swollen, and I want to avoid another infection. I coated my elbow and part of my leg in ointment and gauze this afternoon.So finding the ointment was perfect. Yay trail magic! There were cans of tuna in there, too. I wanted tuna. But what thru-hiker carries a can opener?! That's just madness.While Chris made and ate a peanut I neurotically organized the box. And peeled another orange to eat later. That way, I could leave the peel in the trail magic trash bag. Less weight for me to carry! A stroke of trail genius. Chris liked my idea and copied me.We also met Porkchop's parents, who were waiting nearby for him to arrive. I have never met Porkchop, but he apparently started from Springer two days after I did, so he must be flying down the trail.The last stretch of trail today was gorgeous. I loved it, even though my feet were killing me. The sun was shining, a light breeze playing through the trees. We passed burned-out mountain laurel, and tall trees with their leafy fingers extended high into the air. We walked grassy trail next to ferns taller than my shoulders, vibrant green against dull brown bark and dirt. It was magical. I strolled along blissfully.We arrived at our destination shelter before 4:30 to find Renne, Saj, a section hiker, and her little dog Destroyer. I introduced myself to Saj, who recognized my name. "Wait, how did you hear about me?!" I asked. How do so many people know me?!But she said that Funk had told her about my trail journal. I didn't know that Funk even knew that I keep a trail journal (ARE YOU READING THIS, FUNK? HI!). I find this a little intimidating. If Funk is reading, I have to keep my work up to high standards.Saj asked me some questions about my parents' reactions to my decision to undertake the hike while we collected water. She wants to thru-hike but her mom apparently took issue with the idea. I think my parents thought I was crazy at first, but once they realized how serious I was they couldn't have been more supportive.So, to Mom, Dan, and Dad: thank you again so much for being so supportive of my AT obsession! I couldn't be here without you!There is absolutely no camping at tonight's shelter. One spot south down the trail was fully occupied by the Aussie Legs' tents when we passed (Coco and Magnus were going to try to squeeze in, too). They went into town to resupply and enjoy McDonald's, returning while I was eating dinner (Redback talked to me for a while about falls and boots while I sporked down my pasta). Meanwhile, Firebear happily drank some of the Coke she carried out of McDonald's in her water bottle. I listened jealously as they talked of chicken nuggets and French fries and hot fudge sundaes.On their way to bathe and get water, Muddy Duckling and Firebear stopped in the shelter and chatted with me for a while. They always have good stories to tell. But then they moved on to the spring, and I am the only girl again... Miles, Samaritan, Po' Boy, Oliver, and more sat in front of the shelter with Chris when cooking dinner.Tonight's topics of conversation included jokes about poor Renne's mother, who is supposed to start hiking with her tomorrow. Why jokes? Because it is kind of a HORRIBLE place to start. There is a steep climb right out of Lehigh Gap. The next shelter is more than fifteen miles away. There are no good water sources in between, and no campsites marked in the book.We also discussed concerns over Captain K, who we heard also took a fall. Also, complaints about how the shelter smells like a chicken coop (Miles started a fire in hopes of making it smell like smoke instead).My feet are feeling better after a rest. I have developed a small blister on my right foot, despite stopping to duct tape the sore spot at lunchtime. I think my feet were too damp for the tape to stick... But it's a small one, and I have moleskin and Band-Aids and Duct tape ready for morning application.I am thankful that I got to see the Aussies tonight. They make me smile! I am thankful that I got to enjoy a wonderful-weather day, because it looks like a lot of rain is headed our way soon. I am thankful for gorgeous trail and kind words from so many people. Another day of good company is almost over and even though I am so tired, I am still happy. Any of you out there who are considering a hike, of any distance, DO IT. It is so good for the soul.Time for me to do some reading and enjoy a dry sleep!