Date: 2015-06-12
From: Birch Run Shelter

To: Pine Grove Furnace SP, Ironmaster's Mansion
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: broken clouds

Trudge got his name because he just "trudges along all day", as he will tell you. He doesn't hurry, but he gets the miles in. And when he wants or needs to, he does fewer miles, too. So last evening he tried talking me into his methods in order to try and save my foot, but also to try and help me stay on the Trail. The idea for the next few days being a "10-10-10" plan, since there's not a convenient place to zero just now. The idea is to hike no more than 10 miles a day, for 3 days in a row. Today's miles (9.8, to be more precise) began with a damp tent. No, it didn't rain. But there were water drops on our rain fly (s) just the same...it is so humid that the sky dripped last night and this morning. I even saw ROCKS sweating yesterday and today. The heat is a factor for all of us hikers; it is more important than ever to try and stay hydrated. The walking was a continuation of yesterday's ridge through mountain laurel forest, and primarily downhill, with good water supply. It was a day to celebrate as we crossed the official halfway mark at 1094.6 miles, and stopped for photos. We also passed the 1100 mile mark on the way to Pine Grove Furnace State Park, home of the half gallon ice cream challenge: hikers pay a lot of money at the general store to buy a half gallon and down the entire thing in one sitting (since cartons are no longer a true half gallon, an extra pint was purchased to round it out, often of a different flavor choice). If successful, they receive a commemorative wooden spoon. I chose not to attempt this feat...I didn't want the upset stomach that came as a result...but most hikers did, and most looked quite queasy afterwards, though a few did not (the tall German, Earth, finished quickly and easily, for example ). I was happy instead with a toasted bagel with cream cheese...a personal favorite which is hard to get on the Trail, plus a bottle of orange juice, followed up with a single dip ice cream cone afterwards. Since my hiking was finished for the day, and the hostel I'm staying at tonight didn't open until 5pm, I spent most of the afternoon on the nearby AT Museum, first studying the artifacts, then relaxing on one of the sofas near the entry. The nice lady on duty chatted with me and other hikers as they wandered in and out, very hospitable and welcoming. I wrote more journals so I could post them easily, and bought and wrote out a few more postcards to send. Then I returned to the general store to enjoy a burger under the covered outside patio, as a heavy rainstorm passed through. Once the hostel opened, I checked in and found that the men's dorm room is downstairs, the women's upstairs. I am the only woman here, so I have the entire space to myself, including two bathrooms, two sitting rooms, plus the bunk room which sleeps 14, and has a space AC unit, since it's hot up here (the men's has no AC). The hostel itself is in the firmer Ironmaster's Mansion, which has been repurposed nicely for its present use, and also hosts groups, weddings, etc. It's not a true restoration in any sense, or even fancy, really...in fact it's more like a utilitarian/historical/museum mixture, very unique, and priced well at $25/night with simple breakfast. I'll take it!