Date: 2018-05-15
From: 501 Shelter

To: EagleÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Nest Shelter
Miles today: 15.1

Baby Bird made it into 501 Shelter last night, along with Bat Girl, Jelly, Rizz, Sally Forth, and Andrea, Ulysses missed the shelter trail and kept going, eventually phoning Rizz with some colorful language. A 1986 thru-hiker, Old Ridgerunner, stopped in for old time¢s sake on his way to Damascus, Virginia for Trail Days, celebrated the weekend following Mothers¢ Day. Festivities include a hiker parade by year, and he wanted to march. It¢s supposed to be one great big party with lots of people. That many people scare me, especially if beer is involved. We invited him to eat with us. Counting Furnace and me, that was a total of nine. We figured five large pizzas and several large bottles of soft drinks. Beer can¢t be delivered in Pennsylvania. At any rate, alcohol is not permitted in this shelter. We agreed on the toppings and Jelly phone the pizzeria that delivers to the 501 Shelter. It rang and rang until we checked the fine print and saw that they were closed on Mondays. Instant depression. Several people began Googling other places that might deliver. We even considered hiring a shuttle driver. Finally Old Ridgerunner took a hint and offered to drive if someone would navigate. We ordered the five pies from a pizzeria in Lebanon. Jelly went with Old Ridgerunner since he is from Pennsylvania and could speak the language. Finally they phoned as they neared the shelter parking area, for help carrying them in. No shortage of volunteers. The pizzeria threw in paper plates and napkins, so we had a civilized feast. Normally, at home, I would usually eat 1/4 of a frozen pizza. But being on the trail is not normal. We each inhaled one-half of a large pizza. I had a slice each of veggie, meat lovers, pepperoni, and cheese, washed down with root beer. We also had good Pennsylvania potato chips! I admit that I didn¢t sleep very well with that much food in my tummy, but I would gladly do it again. After a piece of leftover pizza for breakfast, I headed out early at 6:15. The weather forecast showed thunderstorms starting at 1:00 and I had 15.1 miles to go. The others, along with Ulysses, were are going to Rock ¢n¢ Sole Hostel, but I needed to be in Port Clinton tomorrow. This was my third consecutive big mileage day, and between a leaden belly, a poor night¢s sleep and muscle soreness, it was slow going. It wasn¢t helped by the treadway. When it wasn¢t rocky ¢ big and little rocks¢ the trail was flooded from the recent rains. Hikers had created ad hoc paths around the flooded ares, exasperating the problem. The quagmire will keep expanding until a proper trail is built or puncheon installed. This area had the same issues the last time I hiked Pennsylvania. Needless to say, my shoes and socks were soaked once again. It was also a hot day, up to 86 degrees, with the rocks radiating heat making it seem much hotter. The trail also went through another proscriptive burn area. I went down to two springs, Black Swatera and Sand Spring, to stay hydrated. Shortly after Black Swatera Spring, i came upon the pictured pine tree that looks very much like an American Indian marker tree. The only problem is that it is only 10¢ in diameter, far too young to actually be one. It is right beside the trail. Could it have been injured in the original building of the AT?  I reached Eagle¢s Nest Shelter, on a 0.4 mile side trail off the AT about 2:15. There¢s a single tent set up, presumably with a person in it, but I have yet to see them. There¢s also a large garbage bag full of trash that someone has gathered and hung. It¢s too big for me to carry out. Now at 4;00, it¢s getting very dark and windy. I am very grateful to be in this shelter made from whole logs. I have all the water I need and will be quite cozy while it rages outside.