Date: 2018-06-12
From: Windsor Furnace Shelter

To: PA Route 309 Blue Mountain Summit
Miles today: 20.6

I had an awesome time hiking with Isaac today! It was the best day of hiking I have had since Which Way and I were hiking together. Isaac is a 16 year old rising Junior. He aspires to thru hike the A.T. before going to college to get the education he needs to become a Game Warden. He is already very knowledgeable about wildlife and has extensive back country experience. He and some of his buddies are Bushcrafters, so he brings a minimalist mindset to hiking. Early in the hike I gave him the trail name ¢The Warden¢. I told him since it was given to him on the A.T. he could keep it if he wanted to. He liked it.We were the first ones out of the shelter at 7:00. The trail immediately ascended about 600 feet. The Warden tackled the climb with no problem. A good sign. It was an absolutely gorgeous day with multiple views which were among the best in Pennsylvania. We also saw three deer, a snake and other wildlife. I was so glad he got to experience some of the best that Pennsylvania had to offer. Another thing that there was no shortage of today was ROCKS. They came in all shapes and sizes. Like me, The Warden liked maneuvering over and around the bolder fields with larger rocks. He also now shares my disdain for the clusters of small, sharp rocks. About 10 miles into the hike we stopped at the Eckville Shelter for lunch. It is one of the only fully enclosed shelters on the AT. It was located down a road about a 1/4 mile off the trail. The shelter sat behind a house where the caretaker lived. This location was the first option for The Warden to get off the trail. The next option would not come for another 11 miles. He said he was feeling good and having a great time and wanted to press on. I reminded him that what we had already completed was just a warm-up for the afternoon hike.We found our way back to the AT after lunch and immediately began a 1,000¢ climb. When we reached the top we stopped for a break at Dan¢s Pulpit. While we were relaxing there, a hiker came from the opposite direction and stepped towards us. He immediately asked if I was Next Step. I answered in the affirmative and he introduced himself as Dennis. He had been following our journey through the trail journal and said he was inspired to do his own AT thru hike. Cool! Dennis has signed the guestbook several times, leaving encouraging comments. He whipped out two Snickers Bars for Isaac and me. As The Warden was getting a picture of Dennis and me on a huge rock, I said: ¢I bet you didn¢t know I was a ¢Rock¢ Star.¢We hiked more miles over rocks today than I have in any single day on the trail. The Warden was really starting to feel it, but he held on like a champ. Fortunately the trail turned soft for the final 3.5 miles. Pulling The Warden along, we made the distance in an hour, arriving at the Blue Mountain Summit at 6:00 p.m. sharp, our designated meeting time. Dick had just gotten there two minutes before our arrival. He took us down the road a bit for a quick bite to eat and returned me to the Blue Mountain Summit, which permits hikers to tent on the lawn out back for free. Dick and The Warden hung around until I got my tent set up. I thanked Dick for dinner and for linking Isaac up with me.At one point during the hike I asked The Warden to help me with a title for today¢s entry. He said, ¢How about ¢Becoming A Rock Star?¢. In my eyes, he was just that by the end of the hike. Isaac also told me that the hike would probably be the highlight of his summer and that he wished he could go a couple of more weeks with me. The pleasure was mine buddy. I am thankful that I could be part of your experience and that you shared this part of my journey with me. Keep the dream alive!Peace & Blessings¢Next StepElevation Data: n/aAscent - 2,960Descent - 2,440Grade - 5.0Weather:Day - 78 / SunnyNight - 58 / Chance of RainOver the Horizon: Port Clinton, PA