Date: 2008-06-29
From: Pa 325, Clarks Valley, PA

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 28.4
Weather: light rain

Today was a "Dump the Stump" day....Mrs Gorp had to get back to VT and get ready for her 4th of July pool party, so she "dumped" me off at the trailhead after we had breakfast. I don't know why she had such a big smile on her face when she pulled the door shut and cracked the window and said; "Goodbye...looks like rain". :-)I started walking north on the Appalachian Trail at 8:40am. I had a 1,000 foot climb to get to the top of Stony Mtn.It started sprinkling almost as soon as Mrs Gorp drove off. :-)I got to the new trail relocation in about half a mile. That lasted maybe a mile or a little more. It was one of the nicest relos I've seen...very nice rock work and it takes you away from the eroded Trail that You used to go up. Thanks to the Trail builders!I was enjoying that climb and listening to a wood thrush...and the light rain had stopped. Life is good! :-)It was very humid, so I was soaked by the time I got to the top. When I got to the top of the mountain, I saw a guy sitting down taking a break. It was BustAce and he was heading into Duncannon. He said he hiked the AT in 1973...I was just a kid then. ;-)I walked on and ran into another sobo by the name of Sailor a couple miles later. He started in NJ and was walking to Springer on a looong section hike. He warned me about the rocks coming up, but said they pretty much stop at the NJ border. Hummm, I don't remember it that way. :-)I passed by the ruins of Yellow Spring village, then stopped by a spring in a half mile and filled up my water bottles, then stopped in another half mile and ate lunch....some tuna with Fritos, diced peaches and a Tootsie Roll Pop.The mosquitoes were the worst I've seen on the Trail this year. I had been thinking of buying a long sleeved shirt for when I do walk through bad mosquito areas, but I realized that by draping my raincoat over my pack, it keeps the backs of my arms from getting bit. That is where the little bitin' buggers always get me, so now I don't have to get a long sleeved shirt. I like having multi purpose gear and now my rain jacket is a rain jacket, a pack cover and a mosquito deterrent.It had sprinkled on and off all morning, then it rained harder for a short while after lunch.I passed by the Rausch Gap Shelter side trail, but didn't stop. There is a temporary relo right there that takes you around the bridge that is being replaced. It's only about a half mile relo and takes you down by the creek on a rocky trail.I was walking on that relo and cared up a spotted fawn that was bedded down. The little guy took off running.The relo brings you out just past the new bridge. It looked like they brought the new bridge out in one big piece, already built and ready to set in place.It wasn't long and I walked by Cool Breeze and Miss Jenny. He said they were going to wait on his sister to catch up, so they were setting up camp at about 1pm. I got to the top of Second Mtn and decided to turn my cell phone on to see if I had reception. Mother Nature called just a few minutes later! :-)Her and Smokestack are about 40 miles ahead of me and were walking another 15 miles in the next 2 days...I should be able to catch up with them in 2 days and walk with them for a few days. I just need to walk a little farther today, then into Port Clinton tomorrow, then I'll catch them at Eckville Shelter. Sounds like a plan! :-)I crossed the old iron bridge at Swatara Gap and decided to sit down and eat an early dinner....so I didn't have to carry all that food up the next mountain.I was eating some bagels with cheese and summer sausage when Bonnie Kayne from Lancaster came walking up and started talking. She had a whole case of water she brought out and offered me some.She said she really enjoys helping out the hikers when she can. She poured 3 bottles of water into my water bottles while we talked. I finished eating the bagels, then had a Rice Krispie Treat and a Tootsie Roll Pop for dessert!Thanks Bonnie for that water! :-)I had another 1,000 foot climb up to the top of Blue Mountain. The humidity was so high it was stifling. There was no air moving and I was soaked again.I got to the top of that mountain and finally got a breeze coming in from the other side of the mountain.I kept walking and passed by Bilko about 3 miles before William Penn Shelter. I passed him in a bunch of big rocks and I didn't think he was going to let me walk past him for a minute. He finally stepped off to the side and I walked on.I passed by the side trail to William Penn Shelter at 7pm and decided to walk the next 4 miles to get me into the 501 Shelter.It got to be easy walking for those 4 miles and I got to 501 Shelter about 8:20pm.I had called Honeyboy when I realized I was going to make the 501 to see if he could stop by to talk.I had met him first in Maine in '03 and had stayed with him and his wife, Dee a couple times. They live just half a mile from 501 Shelter.Honeyboy came up and we talked for about 40 minutes before a storm hit and he figured he'd better get home.He offered to pick me up and take me out to breakfast, but I am carrying too much food right now and wanted to eat that.It was great seeing you again Honeyboy! :-)There was one hiker at the shelter I knew...Hiker Dave, and 3 I just met...Neon, CC Rider and Old Buzzard.I wanted to journal, but I figured I'd wait and journal in the morning since everyone was in their bunks already.Another great day on the Appalachian Trail. :-)