Date: 2010-04-16
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Rausch Gap Shelter to 501 shelter - 16.9 miles Well, I made three erors in planning but God really smiled on me at the end of the day as I ran the last hundred yards to the shelter just as severe thunderstorms began. I made it! YEAH!!! Back to the beginning of the day. There was a short shower before I got up and two more while I was getting ready to leave. (I took my umbrella to the privy - didn't want to get caught that way again. HA!) I put the raincover on the pack but the rain stopped and all morning was a lovely morning in the 50s with bright blue sky. Perfect for hiking. As I came up to Rausch Gap Village (old ruins) I saw a waterfall. As I got closer I saw that it came out of a grate and plunged down to the little creek swelling it with blue-green water, I assume from a mine. Interesting. And I would not want to get water below the falls. I went up over 2nd mountain, the first of my two climbs for the day and down to Swatara Gap. As I came into the open I thought I saw a couple eagles. At least they did not look like Turkey Vultures and they were big. Cool! After crossing an old iron bridge and going under I-81, I headed up the next ridge, a 7-8 hundred foot climb. Two mountains before lunch. They may not be huge by western standards but the uphill and downhill works the same. I saw more flowers today. Bluets ( which are nearly white here instead of the really blue ones I have seen only in Georgia), violets, nettles, spring beauties, the yellow vetch, the white, not quite bloodroot, maybe more that I don't remember. As soon as I was down to the gap the poison ivy turned up again. And it got thicker and thicker as I reached the crest of the ridge. Some clouds obscured the sun during my climb, for which I was grateful. For a good three miles on the ridge the poison ivy exhibited luxurious growth. Some of the time I just carried my poles as they were just something else to try to avoid touching the ivy. Pennsylvania may be famous for its rocks but the poison ivy is pretty amazing in places too. About my errors - the long slack pack was at least a mile and a half longer than I thought when I planned the trip and today was nearly 2 miles longer. Both were pretty hard for this old lady although I am not sure I would have done things differently without the errors. The last error was kinda funny. I have heard of other hikers missing a map by putting it in the wrong box but I had never done so before. I don't seem to have a map for the next couple days hikes. Maybe they are in the Port Clinton food drop box. Oh well, I do have the guide book and many people navigate the AT just following white blazes, although I would not recommend it that way. I saw 3 young hikers not far from William Penn shelter, a lady with 2 dogs near a road, and 3 people enjoying the evening near 501 road. (I bet they got wet.) Just as I reached 501 the raindrops started and turned into a deluge just as I reached the shelter. I have no water. Maybe the tap on the adjacent house is open, I don't know. I just put my pot out under the eave and collected the rain water. There has been a lot of lightining but I think it is settling in for a good hard rain. I won't be getting clean tonight unless I stand in the rain. Not going to do that. I now have enough water for dinner and will look for more tomorrow. This is a "super shelter". It is fully enclosed with a door and windows and 12 bunks and a long picnic table under a skylight. There is lots of space here for just me. No bathroom though. That will require a trip with a raincoat. I am VERY glad to have made it to the shelter before the downpour. The light is fading now. I am dry and life is good.