Date: 2015-06-25
From: Birch Run Shelter

To: Ironmaster's Mansion Hostel
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was both eventful and boring to report on. I know it sounds odd, but that's just the way it is!It was the coolest night we've had since the cold rain early this month and I actually used my sleeping bag. And I didn't really want to get out from under it when it was getting light, so I got a bit later start than the last few days. I left camp at 6:45, which is late-ish now but would have been a record until early May. Daylight and temperature determine whether I get up early or not, apparently.Right away, only two miles from the shelter, we hit the official 2015 halfway point. Because of trail re-routes the total length of the trail changes every year, but the people from the AT museum here in the park put a sign up for the class of 2015, which is nice. Pacer and PomPom were there when I arrived, so I even have my picture with the sign (selfies don't work well with lettering in mirror image).Four miles down the road the bigger, more permanent and certainly more impressive halfway sign stands, but it was only in the correct location for, I think, 2011. Nobody was there so I took a picture without me in it.And a few miles after that, we hit the 1100 mile mark, but by then I was blas© about the milestones anyway. My goal for the day was Pine Grove Furnace State Park, with its snack bar famous for the half gallon ice cream challenge. I got here around 11 and I knew the hostel didn't open until 5 pm, so I had a lot of time to kill. The weather was steadily deteriorating from sunny and low humidity to completely overcast with a distinct feel of 'it's going to rain today sooner or later'. Fortunately both the snack bar and the hostel have very generous covered porches.I had an excellent BLT with avocado and tried to figure out my stops and resupply options in Pennsylvania. I have to say, there's not much. Most towns are off the trail by a few miles, with the exception of Boiling Springs and Port Clinton. There isn't much in Port Clinton though. I kept going back and forth about whether I wanted to hike on to the next shelter today and then stay in a motel in Boiling Springs tomorrow, but in the end my indecisiveness decided for me, as it was getting later and later. I checked out the AT museum and walked down to the trail Magic setup where I had a hot dog. I certainly ate a lot today and very little came out of my food bag. It's always a good day in my book when that happens! I saw Pacecar again (I had run into her yesterday when she was slack packing southbound), this time with her mother, and I chatted with them for a bit. Her mom is so inspired by Pacecar's stories that she is considering a thru hike herself. How cool is that! Especially if you know Pacecar called her mother to come pick her up because she was violently ill! (She's much better now).Later in the afternoon, Outro and her dad arrived also and we and three other people are the only guests here. It's a really cool place, a mansion built in the early 1800s that is now a hostel.Tomorrow I might try to get to Boiling Springs, which is about 19 miles, or I might just take it easy. Breakfast is at seven so it won't be a very early start. Here's to hoping it doesn't rain too much tomorrow, because Saturday has apparently 100% chance of rain.Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?