Date: 2016-06-23
From: Pavilion at Port Clinton, PA

To: The Pinnacle
Miles today: 9.5

Jun 23, 2016 - Hiking was not the first thing on the agenda today - Yuengling Brewery had that honor. Peach, Training Wheels, Jingle and myself would be attending the tour of the oldest brewery in America. As it turned out, the brewery was just the beginning of another ridiculously enjoyable day.A shuttle picked us up at the Pavilion around 8:30, but not before we watched the largest black bear I've seen on trail so far moseying around the lawn before he retreated towards the privy. Pottsville, the home of Yuengling's first brew house, was a quick 30 minute drive. We had some time to kill before our 11 am tour so we enjoyed coffee and small breakfast at the Sage coffee house down the street. When the brewery started, our tour guide walked us across the street from the gift shop and opened an old, large sliding door that led down into a dark cave below the brew house that led into the side of the mountain. At that moment, the tour became the coolest brewery tour I've ever been on although Dogfish Head in Delaware remains a close runner up. Since Yuengling has used this particular brew house since 1831, the hand dug cave was used to store the beer at a constant 52 degrees. Moreover, the natural spring at the back supplied the water used to make the beer. Keg machines and barrels over 100 years old littered the floor of the cave and served to preserve Yuengling's history. I won't get into all the details, but, suffice it to say, I was a satisfied customer. Brew Blazing! With the tour over and several beers in my belly, the shuttle returned us to Port Clinton so we could resume what we all came out here to do. But wait...just 5 miles in, Tom Coughlan and Matt Georgov, two good friends from UD, met me on the trail for some Trail Magic and to do some hiking. I was a little late so I literally ran some of the 5 miles uphill and realized I am in fantastic shape. I don't mean to brag, but I was all out leaping up boulders with a 30 lb pack on like it was a stroll in the park. It felt good. Tom and Georgov killed it regarding the Trail Magic: 6 Little Cesar's pizzas (they alone understand the nostalgia those crappy pizzas bring back), Klondike Kate's wings (still my favorite wings ever and the greatest gift they could have brought me), toilet paper, a metal spoon, baby wipes, a life straw, chips, ice cold beers, and jerky. A bunch of hikers stopped by and were able to enjoy the magic also. Both Tom and Georgov were a bit appalled by how badly I smelled. It was pretty funny - as soon as the hikers started touching the food, they were done. We are filthy human beings out here and they finally understand how filthy, I think. When all the food and beer was gone, Tom and Georgov joined me for a 4 mile hike up the rocky incline to the Pinnacle, a rock outcropping overlooking. It was dark by the time we reached the top and I was little afraid they would have trouble finding their car again since the terrain was pretty difficult, but everything turned out wonderfully. Thanks again for coming, guys - all Trail Magic aside, it really means a lot for you to drive all the way out here to see me and I appreciate the hell out of it. There weren't really any good camping spots up at the Pinnacle, so Legs, Great P, Peach and I cowboy camped right there on the rocks maybe 2 feet from the cliff's edge. The breeze coming off the cliffs was incredibly comfortable and kept the bugs away. If the weather cooperated, we were in for a fantastic sunrise tomorrow morning.