Date: 2018-05-25
From: Windsor Furnace shelter

To: Eckville shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: clear sky

I woke up in the middle of the night to the crashing sound of a falling limb. My immediate thought was that perhaps a bear was in camp getting at the food bags hanging near the shelter. But when I heard the sound of snoring from the shelter I began to question if the sound was real or I was dreaming. After all it wasn't followed by any other noise. I waited a while and exited my tent to pee and then went back to sleep until 5. I love the birds in the morning, their sounds are such a pleasant alarm clock. I'm so comfortable sleeping out here now when I'm in my tent. I felt like a new person today, the stress from yesterday gone and my feet felt ready again. I exited my tent to find my food bag that I'd hung the night before had been delivered right outside my tent along with my bear line compliments of River. I made breakfast at the picnic table after packing up then hit the trail with T-Bird. A quick stop at the privy on the way out made me wish I'd opted for Yogi style relief. That privy was nasty! This shelter is close to a parking area and thus easily accessible to people other than section and thru hikers who spend more time living out here. It's my observation that the people I've been around for the past 4 weeks take care at the shelters and in general on the trail. Leave no trace practice (LNT) is abundantly utilized. However at shelters and campsites within a short hike of a parking area there is almost always an overused ( or abused) privy that is less cared for, trash or other things left behind. I also notice toilet paper, glass and other things at these areas that I don't notice at shelters further from car access. It's too bad that we can't all have the same respect for these areas. As we headed up the 1.5 mile climb to Pulpit Rock I was energized and happy. The view reward was a great place to rest and take in the beauty of this day. Thumper was already there when T-Bird and I arrived. River arrived just as we were ready to leave. While taking in the beauty I shared it with Brian, my Dad and Mom thru photos and videos via text. Being a holiday weekend I was just wanting to be close to my family and share with them. There were a few day hikers and section hikers showing up on the trail now because of the easier access and the holiday. I met a nice couple with a dog playing hooky from work and planning a 100 mile hike this summer with their 5 children. I love meeting people like that! Invested in getting their children outside away from video games and TV. It's so rich out here in things to see and learn. There's an astronomical center up here at Pulpit Rock but no one was around. Bummer. We moved on to the 2 miles of trail of rocks and boulders that brought us to Pinnacle. We followed the blue blaze and took a few pictures but moved on. The trail was kinder for a while and we took a break at a creek to water up and wet down. It's warm today. T-bird is respectful and turns so River and I can wash up with our bandanas and dip our shirts so we can cool down. We hiked down hill from here to the Eckville shelter on the side of Hawk Mountain Rd. The shelter itself is a shed sitting behind a caretaker's house with about 6 bunks. It's dark and feels like a confined depressing space to me. Across the lawn from it is a bathhouse with flush toilet and solar shower. Solar shower just means cold instead of ice cold shower, don't let the solar fool you into thinking it's warm. There's no electricity in here and it's very dark and well, imagine converting your old wooden shed to this and you'll get a good picture. My feet were killing me and the toe cramps were getting worse. They take the fun out of this. As I was hiking today I concluded that this isn't right. I called Jeff at Outdoor 76 in NC and he kindly spent 20 minutes with me assessing my issues and concluded it's foot fatigue. It's cause is likely that I'm in the wrong shoes and/or insoles for me. He walked me through how to be properly fitted for shoes and said if I couldn't find someone competent to do it that he could help me on the phone with pictures of my feet at different angles and measurements from a brannock device. I called for a shuttle to Cabela's after confirmation they have one but my contact couldn't help me. I resigned to hike two 10 mile days and one 5 mile day into Palmerton so I could get some help. I can't take the continuation of the pain. Thumper was here when I arrived. She was on the phone arranging a shuttle for tomorrow morning from route 309 to the post office. This would mean 2.5 more miles for her today to a campsite Sandals was at and an early morning 9 miles to the road so she could get her package before 12:30 on Saturday ( tomorrow) and not be stuck in town until Tuesday because of the holiday. River arrived and we ventured across the street to the tenting area because neither one of us is sleeping in that shed! The tenting area was amazing, with lush green lawn that was freshly mowed with 2 grassy tent platforms and a picnic table. We had the place to ourselves! We set up camp. River jumped at the cold shower first. She tipped me off to start with my clothes on, so when it was my turn I did that. I soaped up my clothes, rinsed and then took them off and washed me. When I was done I filled a gallon bag with water so I could wash other other clothes and socks. River hung a clothes line and our bear line. I scrubbed socks and hung them up with my shower washed clothes. I prefer the gallon bag washing method. My shower washed clothes still stink and I put them in a separate bag inside my clothes bag because I can't wear them like that! We enjoyed spreading out and having dinner on the picnic table. T-bird came to see our diggs and was then disappointed with the shed accommodations but he was committed and didn't want to pack up and move. Despite the fact that the 60's siblings were there and I snores. Loudly. He did bring his food bag over and join us for dinner. After dinner we cleaned up and I spotted 2 hikers heading down the road from the trailhead. They came into the tent area and set up, 1 in a tent and 1 in a hammock. Not really social but did say hello as they passed. River and I said goodnight to each other, hung our bear bags and went to our tents. I slept without my rainfly because the weather was gorgeous with no rain overnight. After being in our tents for a few minutes a car pulled up at the side parking area used by the caretaker, where he has a no parking sign. There was a conversation between the 2 and she used the privy and then walked around the tenting area with a dog, looking in on River in her boxers and of course on me because I had no rainfly and was pretty exposed. She left after a few minutes and then River noticed the smell of marijuana. Our private sanctuary was certainly no more. I'll journal for a short time and say goodnight to Brian and then sleep.