Date: 2019-07-23
From: Pine Swamp Shelter

To: Silver Hill Campsite
Miles today: 8.2

TA 1,908. TD 2,248  TG 584It rained heavily during the night and continued in the morning. We put on the same wet clothes and packed our gear. At least my tarp is dry having hung my hammock under the roof at the shelter. I tucked my phone and glasses away.  It was a beautiful wet forest with pine laden path. Pennsylvania rocks, those sharp pointed and firmly planted rocks in the middle of the path that catch your foot, found their way on the Massachusetts trail. Then we came across large opposing boulders that you had to squeeze through and slide down on your butt. GipCGirl had to take her pack off and I slipped once hitting my right arm.  Nothing to do but keep going.  The rain continued and her clothes are all wet but within one hour of walking or form. We passed a few hikers; NoBo, LASHer and a day hiker. We are considered by all accounts to be LASHers.  Perhaps now is a good time to review acronyms.NoBo. NorthboundSoBo. Southbound Through hiker. A hiker on the AT covering the full distance of the trail within one yearSection hiker. A hiker doing sections of the 80. May be on the trail for a weekend or a week or two.LASHer Long ass section hiker,  usually reserved for those hikers hiking a section that covers several stated, or, as we are doing, on the trail for 65 days.  Trail angel. A person who does a kind deed to benefit and 80 hiker. May offer a water or food or a ride.Trail magic. The act of a trail angel.Cowboy camping. Someone who sleeps out in the open with the sleeping bag and tent.Yogiing. Nonverbal beggingShelterett. Someone who hogs a shelter White blazing. Following the ATBlue blazing. Following a side trail off the ATPink blazing. A male who is pursuing a female on the trailBrown blazing. A female who is pursuing a male on the trailAqua placing. Following an alternate water route on the AT Zero. Waking up in town and staying in town. Nero. Hiking the trail to a town and then staying in town for the nightHero. Hiking the trail to a town and then leaving town to resume the trail.So the conversation goes like this. NoBo? Yeah. SoBo? Yeah, LASHers. Cool.  Are you going to zero? No hero. Are you going to Yogi a ride? Gonna try. Happy trails. Further down the trail there is a sign saying the river is too dangerous to forge. The trail is diverted 1 mile down a road. We walk the road and cross a bridge over the river. Once in the woods again, we pass a creek and a stream. We get water but need to treat it because it¢s too close to the road. The trees are large and the forest is thin. There are a lot of oak. The birds are slightly audible over the rain. We set up the tarp to eat our lunch (nuts and jerky) out of the rain. We come to the campsite after walking 8 hrs.  There is Max, our Divinity graduate. He slept under the pavilion last night as planned and was out of the rain.  He is a happy fellow. We set up our campsite under the pavilion and hang our clothes to dry or at least to get less wet. The rain settles. We have some tea and then take a nap. Later it is dinner and bed. A few other hikers come in late evening and set up outside the pavilion.