Date: 2011-07-14
From: Caledonia State Park

To: Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Miles today: 19.2
Weather: few clouds

Day 115 ¢ I slept great in the 58*F temperature and did not get up until 7:20am. It was going to be an absolutely gorgeous day, mid 70¢s, very low humidity, just a great day to hike. My plans were to hike 15.8 miles to Toms Run shelter. Scott had breakfast ready around 8:00am, consisting of scrambled eggs (with leftovers mixed in), fried potatoes, and sausage. Again, there was more than enough food for everyone and it was very much appreciated. I was on the trail at 9:40am, a little later than I had hoped but I thought I was okay time wise to get to the shelter. Where the terrain two days ago was a bear, today was a breeze. Most of it was on old forest service roads so I moved fairly quickly and it was so nice to be outside in this type of weather in July. I stopped to eat lunch around 2:00pm and had another revelation. I realized that if I could hike another 3.4 miles beyond Toms Run shelter I could get to Pine Grove Furnace State Park and have another shower. Additionally, it would also get me past the half way point on the trail and get me to the Pine Grove General Store. The General Store is significant because it is the first store beyond the half way point going north and they have what is referred to as the ¢half gallon challenge¢. This involves consuming a half gallon of ice cream in one sitting. I figured the store closed at 6:00pm so I would have to be ready to do that tomorrow morning. I passed the 1,090.5 mile mark at 5:10pm and proceeded to the state park. I was surprised to see 10 or so hikers still outside at the General Store when I arrived at 6:45pm. They all had passed the challenge and were swapping stories. I was further surprised to learn that the store was still open so I made the decision to take on the challenge now and not wait until tomorrow morning. My choice of flavors were cookies/cream, vanilla, chocolate, peanut butter/chocolate, banana pudding and cherry jubilee. I elected the cherry jubilee, as I did not want anything too rich. I dug out my spoon from my pack and took my first bite at 6:52 pm. The first part went down fairly quickly since I was fairly hungry; I persevered and finished the entire half gallon at 7:34pm. I was stuffed but I really did not feel ill. In 42 minutes, I had consumed 2,400 calories, 112 grams of fat, 32 grams of protein, 880 grams of sodium and 480 grams of cholesterol but I also had hiked 19.2 miles that day. I was pleased to have gotten there in time to do this tonight versus tomorrow morning. I think it would have been much more difficult to do after getting up. For everyone who finishes this challenge you get an old fashioned wooden ice cream spoon, wow!!Pine Grove Furnace also has some rich U.S. history. Several gentlemen built an iron furnace along the creek in 1764. It manufactured tin plate stoves, fireplace backs, iron kettles and possibly munitions during the Revolutionary War. It passed through several other owners and finally went out of business in 1895, ending 131 of iron making on South Mountain. From the General Store I walked to the state park and set up my tent for $21.00. Fairly expensive but it was a very nice camp grounds with nice, clean restrooms and showers. Six other hikers also elected to camp there as well. It was supposed to get down to the mid-50¢s tonight so I put on my rain fly half way on to hold in some heat. It had been a great day, once again, I went to bed fully hydrated, with a bloated stomach, showered and resting in a cool, low humidity environment. I had passed the half way mark and my total miles now stand at 1093.4 miles.