Date: 2012-06-07
From: Wolfsville Road - Free State Hiker Hostel

To: Rocky Mountain Shelters (2)
Miles today: 24.8
Weather: broken clouds

Day 74 - Thursday, June 7thHiking Days 44 / Nero Days 11 /  Zero Days 4 / Off Trail Days 15Start Location: Wolfsville Road - Free State Hiker HostelMile Marker: 1048.2Ending Location: Rocky Mountain Shelters (2)Mile Marker: 1073.0Time: 9h 50minMiles: 24.8Weather: cooler morning.  Warmer afternoon.  Mostly sunny.  Some clouds later with rain later. Then it started.  At 4:30 in the morning Joe was up.  Yes, I said 4:30am.  That would have been ok but instead of moving his pack into the living area he left it by his bunk.  Instead of using his headlamp, he turned on the hall light so he could see.  He made endless trips back to his pack, rustled around it, walking back and forth all with the light glaring in the room.  Remember that the living area is also the kitchen area, had its own light source and actually has two rooms separating it from the sleeping quarters.  Even after I got up to close the door he didn't figure it out.  4:30.  I was now wide wake so I got up.  As soon as I sat up he asked if he could turn on the lights.  This made no sense.  He was a pretty cool guy but this bullshit put him right in the category of the dicky, inconsiderate section hikers.  He was out the door by 5:45.  I heated up my leftover calzone, hiked the 1/2 mile back to the trail and was still on trail at 6:00.  Again the morning was pleasant and the trail was moderate to easy.  Made great time.  I was planning on doing a bit bigger mileage day near 24-25 or so.  My first major stopping point was PenMar State Park.  The day was great so I stopped and took a break.  Bought a soda from the vending machine, sat on a bench and felt like just another local enjoying the day.  On the way out I went to use the restroom.  Locked.  Really,  what kind of crap was this.  So I looked for another one and while doing so came across an old crotchidy maintenance man.  Asked about the toilets and his reply was ... They get opened at 11.  What a dick.  That was only 15 minutes so I thought it would be better then squatting in the tick infested brush.  So at 11:00, not 10:59, 11:00, Mr needs-a-life went over and unlocked the bathroom door.  Did what needed to be done and back on the trail.Along the way I met up with the mother/son that GI Joe had talked about meeting yesterday.  Her name is Five Pair and started on Springer the same day as I did.  Her son is 10 and is doing the second 5 day section with her.  His name is Triple T ... (T)alks a lot, (T)ooting since the trail food gives him gas and (T)ortoise, just because he likes them.  So we talked a bit and I found out they had stayed at the hostel the previous night, a b&b last night and tonight they were going to tent out.  It was funny because as I was leaving Trip T was eating some Oreo cookies out of a big package. When he was done he gave them back to his mom.  In my joking manner, I told him he was rude for not offering me any and that my feelings were hurt.  He said he would make up for it by giving me one of his hot dogs if I helped gather the wood and helped him with building a fire later.  I could do the math and could tell they were not doing long days.  So I said sure, if we meet up again and he gives me a hot dog, we had a deal, if I gathered the wood.  Now remember, in over 5500 AT miles, the amount of times I have gathered fired wood is like 1, if that.  I hate doing that.  The sites are usually picked over, and the chance of spraining an ankle or picking up a tick as you rummage through the thickets for sticks is, in my opinion, just not worth it.  So I was safe in making the deal.   In two more shelters I stopped to get some extra water since the Shelter I wanted to stay at up ahead had a bad water source.  So for the first time this hike I actually hiked with my 0.7 liter water bottle and one extra liter of water.  As I was there the two of them were coming in.  The next shelter was 6 more miles and had an 1000 foot climb.  Not bad for me but this would make it a 15 mile day for Trip T.  That's a big day for a ten year old out for a five day section.  As I was coming back from getting my water, I over heard Trip T say to him mom, "well if THAT GUY could do it then I know we could do it".  Really, a ten year old out for a short section is making that comment about me, a thru hiker, pounding out a 25 like its pudding.  So that was it. I raised my hands repeating "that guy ... That guy,  I'm DayPak dammit ... When did I become That guy".  We all had a good laugh out of the whole thing and away I went leaving them to discuss their plans.  At the top of the climb was chimney rocks.  It was close so I took the blue blaze to check it out.  Another pile of rocks with a lame 1200 foot view to a valley that looked just like every other valley but even closer.  Not worth the effort. Sorry PA but you really don't have views. So in about a mile, who do I come up on ... Trip T and Five Pair.  I was very surprised they moved on.  So I hiked with them, actually him, and the two of us had a very fun conversation the entire rest of the hike.  Even after 15 miles this kid didn't complain one time.  Amazing.  And he talked non-stop and I mean NON STOP.  But he's a real smart kid with lots of questions.  A real straight forward person.  But I guess at ten you should be.  Also very respectful of his mother as she lagged behind us.  So once at the shelter I was reminded of the deal I made.  It had rained a bit but we were able to gather enough wood to keep dry until the rain stopped.  So right after it stopped, we started a fire. I gathered a lot more wood and had a real blazer of a fire.  It was a lot of fun.  Trip T had the camp fire experience I think he was waiting for. We had our hot dogs and even some marshmallows. I think mom was going to enjoy not having the extra pack weight anymore.  It really was a fun time.  Also in the shelter was Galileo and diesel.  Diesel was getting off trail at Pine Grove Furnace. He just had enough hiking for one year. Galileo choose her name since she was Italian and liked the journey he represented.  She is completing a section from mid Shennies to NJ/NY. It started to get late, so I started the sleeping process at 8:30  Trip T and his mom went off to their tent, I went to the shelter with Diesel to give Galileo her own shelter. As it turned out, two more hikers came in later and ended up in the same shelter as Galileo. A good trail day.