Date: 2005-07-12
From: Windsor Furnace Shelter

To: Bake Oven Knob Shelter
Miles today: 26.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Remind me not to set up a meeting along the trail without double checking the mileage! Yesterday, before I left town I had emailed Pilgrim Soul, whom I have communicated with since late '03 about the trail. He thru hiked last year and figured this area would be a good place to meet up. I had told him that I would meet him at Little Gap on Wednesday around 1:00 or so. Well, I looked at the book and realized I had done the mileage wrong. 10 miles of wrong! Of course, being out here there was no phone to call and readjust so I figured I would do the miles. 26 today and a total of 23 tomorrow. No big deal, right? Wrong! The rocks that PA is famous for begin here, out of Port Clinton. No matter what else there is in this state you will remember the state because of what starts here! They are brutal! I hiked along large boulders, hopping from one to another. These aren't bad. Then I would walk on small, ankle twisters, and then on sharp, heel and ball of foot stabbers. They were relentless and my pace slowed a great deal. To add to the misery, the temp was in the 90's with high humidity. I reached the Allentown Shelter, 16 miles into the journey around 1:00. Gypsy, Touk, and Sunshine were there also. They had hiked 15 miles out of Port Clinton on Monday and were heading to the same place I was tonight. Eagle Eye was also there and he was in pain. He has been battling tendonitis and these rocks weren't helping. We were all very grumpy! Our feet hurt, the heat was killer, and to top it off there was zip water at the shelter! Next source was 4 miles up. Thank goodness we each still had a liter or so. The girls were in the same mode as I, get out of the Mid-Atlantic states as soon as possible, so they were in mileage mode also. So, here we have 4 of the GLGE crew going into "Bust Out" mode for the next 250 miles or so. Again, not always meaning killer miles but less stops along the way. They left and I rested the feet for awhile longer. Eventually I threw the pack back on and went out to do battle with the rocks. I got to Blue Mtn. Summit where I headed to the restaurant, which allowed you to get water at their spigot. The crew was there, hanging out and saying goodbye to Eagle Eye. He was heading off the trail. The tendonitis was ripping him up and he had to make the hard choice. I said my goodbyes and hoped he would be able to get back on soon. He didn't know what would happe. The girls had already finished their trail magic, provided by Charlie Brown, and they moved on. I stayed and visited for awhile, had a soda, which really hit the spot and then headed out. 6 more miles to go and my feet were feeling every bit of the last 20! I soon caught up with Gypsy and she and I hiked the rest of the way into the shelter area together. Part of the walk involved some serious boulder scrambling but it went by quickly because of conversation. I always like it when Gypsy and I have a chance to talk. Even in her "grumpy" state of mind she can make me smile. We got to the shelter around 8:00. Touk was there and she told us the bad news. No water! Again! Next water was 6 miles up. I had a little over a liter left which, with no cooking tonight would get me there. The girls also had enough left to get them through. Having to contend with the water issue sure adds to the day's adventure! I was beat! Dead tired and my legs and feet were doubly so! It did not take me long to throw down a peanut butter tortilla and a couple of cookies and then it was sleeping bag time.