Date: 2014-06-10
From: Rauschs Gap Shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: light rain

Everything is saturated with dampness and its sticky and 70 degrees already at 8 am. Leo is in the lead again with a 500 foot climb right out of the gate. Its tough going but we finally made it over the second climb of a 1000 feet. There has been water everywhere with the trail getting muddier and muddier and streams swollen up to and in some cases over their banks. In one place we had to tight rope walk across a tree trunk as the water rushed past underneath us. It was actually pretty neat and we both got video of it. At noon we take a break under I-81 and discuss cutting our hike together short. Leo's boots are causing some major contusions on his ankles as then rub up against them and to go any further would not be the best thing. I will move on and he will come back and pick me up at our original destination to bring me home for Father's Day. I just want to note that before Leo getting on I had had a number of times when I started to question whether I really wanted to stay on the trail. Part of me looked at the fact that I had covered over half of the trail, no small feat in and of itself. The other thing was that I continued to feel kind of selfish as my wife continued to handle everything at home and my sisters and brothers were holding down the fort at home with my parents. It had become quite an internal debate within myself as family has always been and continues to be number one to me. However, I finally decided to take advise that I have given a lot of people through out my life, "You have to take care of yourself so you can take care of others." With that in mind I decided to go home for a few days to see my family and then get back on the trail. With that in mind and with Leo's generosity and kindness in coming back to get me and take me home it only made sense and would help me complete my goal in the long run. The climb up and out of Swatara Gap where I-81 is long and difficult but nothing I haven't faced before. However, I will admit the last 400 yards were a torture as they were both steep and straight up. Then to cap it all off I was into the rocks and of course with the rain the past few days they were very, very slippery. Several times I went to step from one to the other and as my foot would land the rock would tilt and my foot would start to slid out from underneath me. A lot of prayers were said and answered as I made my way across this obstacle course of disaster waiting. This continued on for a half mile or so and then the rocks slowly petered out and I was once again able to place my feet on terra firma and made good time to the shelter. Since it was only 4 pm I decided to pass on William Penn Shelter to get to the 501 Shelter where I would be able to order pizza and other things and have them delivered there. God was definitely watching out for me as the trail became well groomed and easy to cover and I made the 501 by 7pm. All my things are now wet from either sweating or the rain that has covered me for the past 3 days. I am hanging things in hopes they will dry out some, but I am doubtful as the air continues to be loaded with humidity and mist. I order a pizza, poppers, mozzarella sticks and some soda and down most of it that night. The hiker appetite continues to work in overdrive. I do save some sticks and pizza for tomorrow's dinner. I finally get through to my Dad and wish him a happy Fathers Day. I really miss my family and look forward to seeing them if only for a few days. Tomorrow is a short day of 14.7 miles and I hope we catch a break and the sun come out or at the very least the rain goes away. There are 5 others here who are also trying to get their gear dried out and they are having about as much luck as I am.