Date: 2004-04-21
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: Hertlein Campsite
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Log entry: 81Start time: 0730End time: 1930Morning weather: Cool and cloudy, rained a little overnightAfternoon weather: Partly sunny at times, a little cool when the clouds rolled in. BreezyEvening weather: Mild and maybe some high level clouds, I see a star every once in a whileBreakfast: Strawberry Poptart, Rice Krispie treatLunch: Chocolate covered peanuts, crackers and peanut butter, vanilla creme cookies, and a cheese sandwhich from Smiley.Dinner: Medium bacon pizza with Mountain Dew. (Yup, it's a hard knock life)Trail description: Nothing of real splendor to convey but some good views and some rocky parts. A little confusing as we passed under I-81 because they are doing overpassconstruction. Smiley and I missed the turnoff and followed a road for almost ahalf mile. You could not tell where the trail veered off if you were northbound.As we backtracked we found it but I suspect a lot of Nobos end up walking a ways on Old State Road.People: Smiley, Netman headed Sobo for as long as he can stand, some dude in an oversized external frame pack that didn't say a word or return cheery greetings (I am thinking he's probably wanted a few places ), and then the 501 caretaker, Youngblood (Sobo class of 97)Money spent: $10 for the pizza pieComplaints: Feet now resemble raw meat but felt pretty good as a whole.Thoughts: It was a nice morning for a walk and Smiley and I made solid time. The days pass so quickly since I have been hiking with him. We had a nice lunch somewhere short of William Penn shelter. I am really likeing these cheese sandwhiches Smiley offers. American cheese on wheat bread. Good eaing.We pushed onto Blue mtn spring which is the water source for William Pennnshelter. After filling up we quickly banged out the next 4.1 to 501 Shelter.501 is named after PA501 which passes less than .1 mile from the shelter. Due to the close proximity of the major road and problems with partiers there is acaretaker who lives near the shelter in a modular home. The biggest perk of allbeing that if you have a cell phone you can order pizza and they will deliver to the parking area nearby. So I called up OIP (Original Italian Pizza 570 3455432) and ordered 2 medium pizzas and a 2 liter of mtn dew. Smiley and I atewell inside the enclosed shelter. This pad is sweet but we knew that we wantedto push to Port Clinton and get there on time so we planned on tenting 5.6 miles up at the Hertlein tentsites. As we were leaving the caretaker, Youngblood came home and we chatted with him for a good 20 minutes.He told us horror stories of the blackflies in Maine in June. Should be a goodtime.With that Smiley lead the way to the campsite. Making great time through therocks. He has no trouble with boulders.At the campsite we did the usual drink a bunch of water and soak our busted feet in the cool mtn stream. That was a nice end to a great day, but not where this journal will end...As we waited for the pizza to arrive I returned a voicemail from Andy who was at the time of the call less than 48 hours from leaving MI and about 4 days from heading north from Springer. And I feel it appropriate to now attempt to thank him for planting the seed.Dude, its hard to know where to start, I am not sure why you asked me to head to the Smokies with you a year ago, but I am glad you did. I am not sure why you invited me along on your thru hike, but again, I am glad you did. Deciding to start alone on Feb 1 was a tough choice. This was going to be ourexcellent adventure. And while I am overall glad I went on, I still can't helpbut think what might have been. But no time to dwell on the past, everythinghappens for a reason.In the coming months you will have many experiences I didn't get to. You willmiss out on many I got to experience. I won't see many 90 degree days, you won't see many 6 degree mornings. You will have to use potholders, my hands were too numb most of the time to know the difference. All the cool stories we can share as we work a lazy winter midnight shift. Speaking of work...I was doing the math the other day and it looks like if you stay in the Hollandarea you and me would go through the academy together. That is unless the"Alexander Supertramp" in you follows your spirit out West to marshall somemining town, or Denver. Regardless of where you go, no doubt our wives willcomplain about us; our kids brag about us; and no one understand us. Remember that the ability to hike is a gift. Be sure you earn it. As you walkthink about ways to make not only yourself better, but those around you betteras well. I have been trying to pin down the principles, morals, ethics, andvirtues I want to live by. The true test won't be this walk in the woods butinstead how I react to life after the AT. Remember that there are somethings inlife that "just ain't right". Do what you can to make them right. That's all itis.Here are some last pieces of advice before you go since I can't be there to bugyou with them on your trek:Drink before you're thirsty, rest before your tired, and de-layer before youoverheat. Don't suck the venom out of a snakebite unless you are looking for a cheap high.Remember that the trail is blazed both ways, so if you don't see any blazes infront, turn around.Don't bring your trekking poles into Elmer's Sunnybank Inn in Hotsprings.Being properly hydrated (peeing clear) will alleviate a lot of things. Girls are pretty. And after 3 months on the trail I can tell you all girls arepretty.Climbing makes you stronger, it's the downhills that kill you.A bear is only as strong as its weakest link.It is hard to live by principle. But is there any other way to live?Always be thankful.Zach de la Rocha is an angry, bitter man.Don't forget that whenever you are making hot chocolate, that: "It's all in thegrind Sizemore. Can't be too fine, can't be too corse. This, my friend, is anart."And mercifully a poem from a tattered and weathered paper I found in a sheltersomewhere:When things go wrong, as they sometimes willWhen the trail you're trudging seems all up hillWhen funds are low and debts are highAnd you want to smile but have to sighWhen care is pressing you down a bitRest if you must, but you must not quit.See you in October with Krispie Kremes, gatorade, and Rage Against the Machine.