Date: 2004-06-21
From: Quarry Gap Shelter

To: Pine Grove Furnace
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: broken clouds

Last night was the coldest in weeks. I dug out my long pants and long sleeved top and still slept cold. But it made for good hiking today, as did long stretches of smooth level path covered with pine needles.According to thru-hiker tradition, Jun 21 is Hike Naked Day. Some go all out, the more timid celebrate it more privately on isolated stretches of trail or not at all.But all that was forgotten when I saw a couple poking around the underbrush. They were picking BLUEBERRIES!!! I had finally come to Berry Heaven! Blueberries, blueberries, blueberries! The bushes closest to the ground were full of ripe berries and the higher bushes were packed with even more not yet ripe, promising berry feasts in the coming days. I was so busy picking and eating that my pace slowed to a crawl. It was a miracle I ever got to Pine Grove with all those berries to eat. Finally I had to remind myself that one reason the South lost the Battle of Gettysburg was that their solders had eaten themselves sick on berries as they marched into Pennsylvania. I had better not do the same and besides, I really ought to leave some for other famished thru-hikers.I was feeling buoyant at being nearly half finished. I was the happiest I have felt since I ran into those Easter Bunnies back in the Smokys! At one point near the end I took a suggestion Aloha Ann had that I try jogging short stretches to give my legs a break by using them differently. Only I jogged for more than a mile, rather excessive with a heavy pack after 15 miles of hiking!Today is also the day I reached the halfway point on the Trail at Pine Grove Furnace State Park, the site of the remains of a colonial era blast furnace that remained in operation over a century. Now the ore pit where iron ore was mined is a lake with a beach. The mansion of the furnace owner is an AYH Hostel where I am spending the night. And the stable is now the park store and home of another thru-hiker tradition, The Half-Gallon Challenge. Any hiker who can eat an entire half-gallon of ice cream is awarded a wooden ice-cream spoon that says "Member, Half Gallon Club."I had resolved to be sensible and not try it, but by the time I arrived about 3:00 p.m. the temptation was almost irresistable. I wandered into the store, looked at the flavor choices and wandered back out again. How would I feel skipping a time-honored ritual? Would it really be worth the risk of serious indigestion or worse? But the hostel did not open for two hours, what a great way to use the time!My mind resolved, I went in and bought a carton of vanilla. I had read it was the easiest to get down because of its bland flavor. Two other thru-hikers, Hobbs and Flipflop, watched solemnly as I got my trusty lexan spoon from my pack, opened the carton, noted the time, and began.I started around the edges, looking for the parts that had softened and were less cold, taking small bites to avoid a headache from freezing the roof of my mouth. I took my time, going around and around the carton and as I got further and the top surface softened scooping from there as well as the edges. The sides became diagonal as I ate away and then when I got to the bottom edge I worked in, so the block of ice cream got smaller and smaller. My two onlooker's eyes widened at how much was gone. By now my tummy was so chilled from ice cream I shivered. I got out my long sleeve top, put it on and kept eating. Soon there was just a small block left, and then I was finished! It had taken me 50 minutes.I got to sign the special register reserved for those who dared the Challenge. Many previous hikers noted being queezy afterwards but aside from being cold I felt fine. No, I felt better than fine, I felt euphoric and laughed triumphantly! They kidded me about there being some mood-altering substance in the ice cream. I got a disposable camera and had Hobbes take a picture of me holding the empty carton and my trophy wooden spoon, grinning like a fiend.Between the berries, reaching halfway and joining the Half-Gallon Club I went to bed on cloud nine. My Virginia Blues are evaporated!