Date: 2013-07-12
From: Peters Mnt. Shelter

To: PA. 325, Clark's Valley
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: few clouds

Last to leave the shelter this morning. Gnats were bad the entire day but no one stretch of bugs were as bad as the last hour of hiking before the shelter yesterday. I was feeling pretty down for some of the day because of the bugs and caffeine withdrawal. Stopped for a quick snack break and ate a bag of sour gummy worms. The sugary deliciousness cheered me up quickly. I need to start buying more candies. I'm not good with identifying snakes but I can tell you that we saw at least one rattlesnake today. Not sure if any of the other 4 snakes we saw today were copper heads or etc. The first two snakes we came across were tangled up together and partially covered up by a large rock. I was able to spot these two because I was ignoring the overlook view and eyeballing around in hopes to find a snake. The next handful of snakes we were given a warning about. Some thru-hikers slack packing south told us there was a handwritten note on the trail right before a rattlesnake. It's great to have a warning note on the trail but I quickly found out that note can expire. By the time we got to the note some other snakes had already come out to play. The trail is very rocky in parts of PA and turns into rock scrambles instead of flat none-graded dirt paths. These rocky sections are where the snakes prefer to live. The footing is not good and you have to choose your steps wisely. I unknowingly chose to step a few inches away from a rolled up snake half-hiding under an uneven boulder to my left. As soon as I stepped down the snake started slithering further under the rock and I leaped up into the air like a scared little girl. Luckily I didn't trip and fall over the rocks behind me. Not too bad, this snake doesn't want to attack and is sort of small-ish. A few feet past this scare and I see the handwritten note with an arrow pointing in the direction we are walking. I stop and look around before moving any further. There it is! A large thick black timber rattlesnake on a rock 5 feet below us and to the right of the note. He isn't moving so I slowly drop my pack and pull out my camera for a couple quick pictures. I put my camera away, strap my heavy pack back and walk for 10 seconds before seeing another snake. Another rattlesnake, this time more of a tan/yellow color. I repeat my cycle of dropping the pack and taking my camera out. This guy is further away so I decide I have enough time to record a quick video instead of taking a photo. I get 15 seconds in and the snake doesn't appreciate this and proves to me he is most definitely a rattlesnake. He shakes his rattled end, uncoils to probably 4 ft long and slowly starts climbing the rocks. I don't want this battle, we leave immediately and do not see any more snakes the rest of the day. This cheered me up though. I had heard of other hikers seeing rattlesnakes and was feeling a little left out. Trip Totals--Bear Count: 4 (2 were cubs)Snake Count: 9 (2 were rattlesnakes, not sure if any were copperheads)Giant Scary Spider Count: 2Deer: a lot Elk and Moose: 0 (not far enough north yet)We cut today's hike short because of the lack of water sources. Our late start today puts us too far away from the next shelter, which is also listed as the only place with water for the next 11 miles. We set up camp around 5pm in a nice area next to a small road. There is a steady flowing creek, camping spots under pine trees, and a flat sandy area with a fire pit. A few locals stop by and stalk the waters for prime trout fishing spots. They all look very serious about fishing and are fully decked out with the proper gear and clothing. Before one guy leaves I have a short chat with him about fishing and find out that it can be a pretty strategic hobby. After dinner I find some hidden trail magic, 3 gallon-sized ziplock baggies with assorted packaged Knorr Sides, tuna packs, and instant coffee packs. Smirks and I both take a pack of teriyaki noodles. I also take one pack of tuna and 7 individual packs of the instant coffee (my caffeine fix when I can't have energy drinks or sodas).Smirks starts a fire. It starts raining. We keep the fire alive in the rain for almost an hour before giving up and going to sleep.