Date: 2010-06-20
From: Tumbling Run Shelter

To: Quarry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: broken clouds

~~~The Most Beautiful Shelter Ever~~~Father's Day and broke camp last again. I have to say, this group of Boy Scouts was really, really loud this morning, especially the leaders. Could have been a bit more respectful of everyone else; even our group of Boy Scouts from the night prior, who were camping in another site, were better mannered. Ah, such is life in the Trail. You get all kinds and some campers feel more entitled then others.Met two women on the Trail, Timber and Rabid who were hiking with a guy named Safari and boy could they hike! They pretty much blew north past me. Hope to be up to their level one day.The Trail leads thru Caladonia State Park and it as absolutely packed for Father's Day. Passed Rabid who was coming from a snack bar, so I forced down a hamburger and an extra large Diet Pepsi. The Pepsi was the best. I do love the liquids more out here. Made phone calls and had the hardest time finding the Trail out of that Park and NOBODY even knew that the AT went thru there, much less where the blazes were. Used a "real" bathroom and then found my way out. Sad to say, not a single person or family offered me a single hotdog or hamburger or cold drink. Trail Magic does exist, but not so much outside of the hiking community. What a shame.Later on, I realized I forgot to drop off my trash. Must remember to drop off trash when I see a trashcan!!! Up the hill from the Park, about three miles out or so, I met Jim Stauch, the Innkeeper for the next shelter, Quarry Gap Shelter. This shelter is the nicest one on the trail, no doubt about it. Jim was coming down the Trail from cleaning up the shelter, carrying a day pack and a rake and he really enjoys and takes pride in his shelter and I have to say that if you have the chance to stay over, do it.This shelter has two separate shelter spaces connected by a covered porch that has a rolled up tarp in case it starts to rain. Lovely gravel all around and a built up fire pit in front of the picnic table. Chess and Checker Set, playing cards, magazines and hanging plants. Nice spring for water, a bench and, best of all, a large bear box where you can store your food instead of hanging it with it's own covered roof. Just the nicest, cleanest setup you could ever want. The privy was even clean. Met a young guy who is southbound, started his first day, thinks his trail name will be Compressor. Achilles the Red, this tall, red hair and red bearded hiker stayed over. And who should come walking up the path but Lorod !!! It was just wonderful to see him again.The entertainment for the evening was watching the two guys cook dinner. Between them, they cooked enough food for all of us. Gotta love those hiker appetites, though these guys have been burning the calories for a few months now. Lorod got off Trail to watch some World Cup. It's funny that you think you will never meet these people again and somehow, everyone intersects.Rocket had a difficult night because of her knees and I got maybe two hours sleep. Up early at 0515, packed up and was the first one out. Got to Birch Run Shelter at 0940 and decided to take a break. it too was a very nice shelter, not as grand as Quarry Gap, but a lovely resting place. Taking care of an infected blister that formed on the inside heel area of my right foot which really bums me out as I have been faithful in treating my feet with tender loving care, lots of cold mountain soakings, alcohol swabs and baby powder during the day, changing out socks and still, a blister. Oh well...So up comes Lorod and I forgot that today was Summer Solstice, the longest day of summer and the tradition of Hike Naked Day and I can tell you that Lorod has a bright blue bandana because that's where my eyes went to, it was so funny. Lorod was laughing as he came up the path, but did put on shorts at the shelter. Rocket was right behind him, thankfully she covered up before getting to the shelter. She had thought to stay at Quarry Gap to rest her knees but decided to hike in the nude. I, however, decided that this was a hiking trail, not a comedy club and kept ALL of my clothes on. Just not my cup of tea.I give lots of praise to the PATC, the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club for their efforts in maintaining the shelters, especially Quarry Gap and Birch Run.....most excellent. Things that happen when you hike alone:Face Plant- I heard this snap of a branch next to me and my head swiveled to the left but my body kept going and whether it tripped on a rock or branch, whatever, I was down. And you really do turtle, you're arms and legs in the air, >Help Me, Help Me< and you have to unclip your pack and roll out of it to get to you feet. Bruised right arm and shoulder.Fear- Hiking along and suddenly hear this growling noise and I whip around to see if there is a dog or worse behind me. Nope, the trees above me are rubbing their branches together and it makes this noise. Duh.....Stumbles- I stumble every single day. I am watching my feet and I still stumble a LOT, especially when I am tired at the end of the day. There is a reason why my hiking shoes cost as much as they do because the stitching allows me to stumble up the Trail.So, the Trail goes right thru Tom's Run Shelter and I decided to hunker down there. Two separate shelters, I took the one that was the furthest away from the tree that had bees. Had the place to myself and had time to wash up and wash clothes, which I do at every shelter. I hate going to bed sticky so I always do some type of wash up and I wash out my bra and undies and shirt and if I am lucky enough to be at the shelter early enough, they are sun dried by sundown.Lorod makes it in as well as another Boy Scout group and a Christian Boy's Group. Lorod hangs his hammock and this hiker named Freeman comes in an twilight. Wonderful young man, lots of fun. We sleep in the shelter and another day is done.