Date: 2016-05-15
From: RPH (Ralph's Peak Hiker) Shelter

To: Fahnestock State Park
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: light rain

The day started out with high hopes of hiking to Greymoor Spiritual Center, about an 18 mile day. Did I think I could do it? Certainly.The day however apparently had its own agenda. First, it was windy, very windy. Then the temperature seemed to be dropping. And that was before I even left the shelter area.About 15 minutes after leaving the area I meet Gunnar (now trailname, "Rusty") NOBO. I had met "Rusty" at the Flip Flop Festival in Harpers Ferry about a month ago. At first he didn't recognize me; it took a minute to refresh his memory. I had thought him to be a rather tough German hiker when we first met. His distance after a month confirmed my belief. Apparently his fellow NOBO hikers had tried to name him "Iron Man" (more confirmation for my theory) without success. Gunnar said he simply responded that he was "rusty," not iron. He is dressed very warmly even though he reports he has hiked about 6 miles.After going on our respective ways I meet 2 females also NOBO. These are 2 females that have been hiking in the same bubble as "Rusty." They are even more warmly dressed, claiming the cold has been following them for the past 2 days. Whatever "weather" is following them is what I'm walking toward. They also report Fahnestock State Park has warm showers and poor tent sites for AT hikers.About lunch I get to the boundary of the state park. The temperature has dropped further and the wind increased. I pass another NOBO thru-hiker. We converse in passing; he hurries past reporting he is trying to "get out of this weather." My decision now changes. I will be stopping here. I leave the trail and find I've no choice but a road walk . AWOL's guide is not very accurate here. I check the park office to confirm an overnight AT stay. I'm directed to the first 3 spots in the campground.I get the hammock hung and proceed to the shower. The showers are warm, hot even. So warm that turning the water off is not something I really wanted to do. But I do get dried and dressed. And I return to my hammock. On this return I discover I'm on the wrong side of the road, the AT sites are on the opposite side. Poor tent sites, that would almost be an understatement, bad might be more accurate. In addition, there is absolutely no place or way to place a hammock. So my hammock stays where it is. And the wind never eases. I try for a nap. That works for a short time. I awake to someone throwing gravel at my tarp. I look out, under the tarp. No one there. But the gravel is still being flung. Realization sets in; not gravel, hail. Briefly the ground turns that glassy white. It stays briefly, then melts. I return to my nap. Just before dark the hail makes a second appearance, even more briefly.The temperature continues to drop. Cold air just seems to lay atop my quilt waiting for a slight gap so it can seep in and disturb my sleep. It becomes a vicious circle for unknown reasons. I pull one side tighter; the cold air slides under the other side. I pull that side and cold air drifts under another spot of the quilt. Every move on my part is countered by cold drafts.I'm not winning and tomorrow is a zero day. When Melody lets me know the travel time I advise her to pick me up. I start my zero day at 0300. And my equipment exchange will occur Monday.At about 1100 this morning I encountered a US flag painted on a rock.and I remember that just about now there is a Memorial service. Just like the vigil of 2 nights ago it will be attended primarily by friends, family, and those of the same profession. Few, if any, outsiders will be there. Not much will be newsworthy. But I remember, and honor, although my presence will not be missed here either. I also wonder how those who try to make this profession just a job with benefits can sleep at night. The treat a noble and honorable profession like friends, with benefits. As long as they can feel good they really don't care who gets...hurt in the process. Again I find myself pontificating...I shouldn't dwell on things.