Date: 2015-05-23
From: Birch Run Shelter

To: Ironmaster Hostel (Pine Grove Furnace State Park)
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: few clouds

Another cold night. I woke up needing to wrap up my hands in my warm winter gloves because my numb fingers were unable to articulate enough for me to pack up our gear. What strange weather.We left the campground quite early. The milage was short but today, we crossed a significant landmark: the half-way point! We have hiked more miles than still remain unhiked, that is, we can start counting down the miles rather than adding them. We arrived, a few miles after the half-way point, at Pine Grove Furnace State Park, the home of the "half-gallon challenge". Hikers must/may eat a half-gallon of ice cream to celebrate the milestone.Just as we were walking up to the park's general store, Vicki, a trail angel, pulled up in her car. Vicki has been reading this blog and decided to drive the 80 miles from her home to bring us trail magic. She had cold sodas, sandwiches, fresh fruit, fudge cakes and a couple of freshly baked pies. It was delicious! Thank you so much, Vicki! I was blown away by this show of generosity.I definitely want to say that, while maintaining this blog is a bit of work, it has been one of the highlights of my hike. It's an interesting exercise to describe and document my experience and associated thoughts, but the constant support and feedback I have received from my readers has been amazing. Although these are mostly virtual exchanges, I still see them as what makes the greater AT community particularly outstanding. Thank you!Shrugs and I were enjoying our meal when Tortoise, Hare and Silverback showed up and joined us. Then...Smasher appeared!!! I barely recognized him with his large beard. We had met Smasher a long time ago, at Muskrat Shelter, the first shelter in North Carolina. He had hiked for a few days with his Dad (who sometimes reads this blog...so hello Professor Smasher's Dad!) We matched Smasher's pace for a while, until the end of the Smokies where he gained a day on us, a leap that he maintained until my injury. From then on, he had been quite a few days ahead, though had gone off Trail to attend his sister's graduation which is why we saw him again. I have a particular sense of attachement to the people I met in the early days for some reason, so it was a pleasant suprise to see Smasher again. He is a very strong hiker, so a second encounter is less likely, but it's wonderfully strange how unexpected people cross paths with yours. It was a great day to commemorate the half-way point milestone.Then, the ice cream challenge. Shrugs and I watched Hare and Smasher finish off all their ice cream while we digested our lunch. We decided to try. Although it took him a couple of hours and a few breaks, Shrugs managed to complete the half-gallon challenge!!! I, on the other hand, failed miserably. I was left with a pool of melted ice cream at the bottom of the carton, unable to continue. Shrugs received a small popscicle stick on which the words "member of the half-gallon club" are printed in bold red letters. Shrugs was satisfied, and I think I don't like ice cream anymore.With his belly full, Shrugs was unwilling to hike on. We bid farewell to the others and went to the Ironmaster's hostel. The building is very old and there is a lot of history here as this park is home to a Revolutionary-era ironworks and forge. The hostel is nice though they have seperate men and women's dormitories, which is a bit irritating. It's the first time in YEARS that I sleep alone... it is now 11 PM and I am writing this journal entry, wide awake.- Axon