Date: 2008-05-24
From: 501 Shelter, PA

To: Stealth site .5 mile past Eagles Nest Shelter, PA
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: broken clouds

I slept great last nite, actually had to take off my down jacket. I had weird dreams about people trying to make me late to getting my hiking day started, and they lived in the huge red barn. Don't ask me...It was 48 when I woke @ 6:15, a little cool, but I think I'm getting acclimated to being back out here again. It was amazingly quiet all nite, maybe one car drove by, so that was good.I got up and was hiking by 7:52 a.m. The trail today was definitely more rocky than ever before, but my sources tell me it's after Port Clinton where it gets bad. I'll be in that part tomorrow. My attitude though is this, yes rocks (as in boulder fields..not trail with some rocks sticking up) are tough, but just like I had to learn to hike on flat trail, uphill, downhill, and on loose pebbles, I'l learn to hike on rocks too. It can only make me more agile, but this is no guarantee that I won't complain! hee heeFirst up was a nice view @ Shikellamy Overlook. I actually thought I had another .5 miles to go, so being further than you think is really nice (and rare for me). Today could not have been more perfect. In the mid-70's, a slight breeze, sunny with puffy white clouds, jst super nice, and there were lots of weekend and day hikers out for the Memorial Day weekend.I met and talked to tons of people today, first a mom-dad-son, really nice and when I told them where I was headed, the mom goes, "Oh! I'm so proud of you!!" It was a nice boost and much appreciated. Then she took my pic next to this cool tree that was bending 90 degrees.Oh, there was a pretty tough section of trail before the overlook. Extremely bouldery (is that a word?) and up a lot too. My topos even said "rough trail". See, I thought ALL of PA was going to be like that, so you can guess my appreciation for the rest of the state that has been wonderful.Anyway, next it was down towards Hertlein Campsite, where there was water. On the way there, there was a sign on a tree that said "Boulder Field" and a double white blaze under the sign. I thought, "Wel, here it goes..." I could hear the stream, so went down what I thought was a unmarked side trail and got water. Then I came back up ad went to the boulder field. It was absolutely unfreakin believable. I was trying to mentally prepare for hiking over this thing, but I couldn't see a blaze to save my life (they're usually on the rocks). I stood there and thought minute, and then my gut told me to go back to the double blaz and make 100% for sure this was right. I did, and wouldn't you know it, that "side trail" where I got water was actually the AT and I hadn't seen the blaze. You have NO IDEA how relieved I was to not have to hike through that boulder field, and man would I have been pissed if I'd gotten half way out there and then realized it! LOLSo it was down to this really beautiful campground with an awesome stream. There were a lot of people set up already with beer in the stream keeping cold. I'd love o camp here someday.Next was uphill for 1 mile which was the last significant climb of the day. It was a bit steep in places, but I kept at it. I ran into a guy who was with that group camping, but he didnkt think it was this far. I directed him and told him to follow the blazes.When I hike, there's little games I play for rewards. For instance, I told myself I could eat lunch after making it to the top of this last climb. One of my favorite things that mkes me feel a sense of accomplishment though is when I get to fold another section of my topos under and a new section out. I'm a very visual person, so these work for me so much better than the guidebook, and the topos give water sources the guidebook doesn't, but obviously I'm still carrying the guidebook.Anyway, I passed Fort Dietrich Snyder Monument today, which was the place a fort was during the French and Indian War. I see these things and can not imagine traversing these mountains in te type of clothig and gear they had back ten. Those people were rockin tough in my book.I made it to PA 183, where tons of cars were parked. That is a dangerous road, you jst can't hear te cars coming very well. I ran across and hidden behind a large rock was a gallon of water someone put out. I didn't need any, but thought the trail magic was nice.The trail was actually like a sevice road or something and I was zooming along in a transe and 1 mile in, suddenly there was a cairn. It was in front of a large dead tree that was laying across the trail, but it made me stop and look around. Man, the AT took a right turn right there, and I totally would have missed it, see you get used to stepping over blow downs, so I didn't think anything of that tree. To whoever made that cairn..THANKS1 I also made a stick arrow for others. That would have really sucked if I'd missed that.Today I'm feeling a bit mentally exhausted, and that's not helping any. So I figured I had about 5 miles to te shelter, and the trail went from friendly to rocky to friendly again. It did this all day actually.I ran into 2 guys taking a break, nice men from Lebanon, PA, then 2 young men from this area. One of them asked me how I found a job that let me take off..I'll admit, I enjoyed being able to say, "I didn't...I quit," (with a smarmy look on my face). They told me there were some great views coming up.Then it was 2 more people out day hiking who were very cool. I was chatty freakin cathy today, which did slow me down, but hey, it was nice to talk to people. Oh, and during lunch, this awesome 80-yr old couple came by and I talked to them. They come out for walks all the time, and I have to say I was impressed, because the trail was rocky in this area and the man had 2 canes and they just diddy bopped along. Hope I can still do that when I'm 80.I finally got to the shelter sign @ 4:45 p.m. I needed water and wasn't sure if I'd say or go a bit further. The high temps = more sweating = my favorite..butt cheek chaffing! YIPPY I wondered how long it would take to show up! It's just painful, but I've got my Butt Paste (for new readers..it's a baby diaper cream really by that name).The shelter is .3 miles off the trail, and you hike down to the water and then back up the other side to the shelter. I decided screw it, I'll get water and go back out to stealth camp. I was pretty tired by now so I decided to go at least 12 mile, so I did. I hiked until I found a good spot, set up camp, and cooked dinner (mac-n-cheese! mmm).   As I was eating , and actually most of the day, the gnats were horrific! I even put a small amount of Deet on my face for some hope of relief. During dinner, they kept flying into my mac-n-cheese...little jerks! Even with a breeze, they were relentless.So I am feeling pretty homesick tonight. I miraculously had a cell signal even though it showed no bars, so I called home and talked to Karen. She's great about encouraging me and giving me hilarious reports on what the boys are up to. It made me feel better.Tomorrow is going to be a tough day, down and then back up from Port Clinton, PA. I'm not stopping there, but I might stop @ the PO which is apparently right @ the road crosing, ad mail my dumb sleping pad up to Hanover. I brouht it out after going home, and haven't neede it now. Can't win for losing huh?Well, I am totally exhausted. It's still 68 degrees @ 8:23 p.m., and I'm loving it.Cut and Paster Note:Oddly enough, this stretch of trail was treacherous with gnats for me too! Except, I actually punched myself in the face trying to swat one away. It wasn't a good day for me. I'm glad to see it was a good day for Certain!