Date: 2016-04-28
From: Ensign Cowald Shelter, MD

To: Deer Lick Shelter, PA
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 1814.5 miles in 8.5 or 9 hoursEnsign Cowall Shelter, Maryland (1054.5) to Deer Lick Shelters, Pennsylvania (1069.0)Weather: Rain, cold rain, cold fog, cold, more rainDinner: Curry ramen noodle bowlWildlife: Assorted forest birds during the day, owls and whippoorwills at dusk and there had to be at least a few ¢Snowgies¢ from the movie Frozen blowing into my shelter that nightHikers: Only the crazy ones out in this weather regardless, and Ryno, who lapped me this morningAfter being on the trail for six nights, Postal Poet announced he was heading to Waynesboro, PA today to a Days Inn. Around noon, I too, thought that was an excellent idea, but instead I find myself typing on my iPad with cold fingers, alone in a even colder shelter. I think the tent would be warmer, but I don't relish the idea of packing up a frosty wet one in the morning. Today was tough due to cold, rain and more rocks. I started off hiking in the rain which turned into a drizzle. Stopped at the newer Raven Rock Shelter for a snack and where most of my shelter mates were headed for the night. It was amazingly cold. At one point I thought I saw snow. This, just two days after I was worried about my hands getting burned. The upside of all this cold and rain is that my antibiotic sun-sensitive skin is completely covered. I started fantasizing about taking a hot bath-possibly if only I hitch a ride into Waynesboro like Postal Poet is doing. I can get out of this rain and cold. But that would only be 9 miles and I want to keep up a 15-mile average, which only has just started. Plus, today I will pass my 200 mile mark. The best way to keep warm is to just keep hiking. A few miles after the shelter, I etched ¢200¢ into the wet dirt and took a photo while I still had battery power left on the phone. Then, over the jumbled boulders I descended. At one point, you picked your way around or scuttled over monstrous rocks primarily directed by following little red flags, the kind the gas company marks whenever you do any landscaping for digging. I was warm after that.Actually, the rain stopped and this side of the mountain did feel warmer. And is that the sun trying to burn through this fog? Okay, maybe I don't need to whimp out and head to a hotel. Besides, I'm slated to hit a hostel tomorrow night for a resupply and potential zero day. Carry on and beyond Maryland. The rocky jungle gym trail morphs into an old civil war road (of course) that takes the trail through Pen-Mar State Park. A new state, Pennsylvania, is demarcated by the Mason-Dixon Line (as noted by the conveniently placed sign, thank you very much.) Now I know where that line is--and it's far more north than I thought. After 17 days, I experienced my first true trail magic late this afternoon. A bag of apples and sodas were cooling in the creek by a footbridge just before crossing Route 16 (wherever that may lead). The apple was de-li-cious and did motivate me over the next few miles. I like you Pennsylvania!But now here I sit, in the middle of the woods with the trees dripping and my fingers numbing. . At least I won't be disturbed by any of that freight train snoring like I have been at just about every other shelter I've stayed at. Although, a whippoorwill just started calling and I know of at least a few people who will worry about my ability to sleep if that thing goes on calling all night. Now let's see how warm this 20-degree rated sleeping bag keeps me. Musings: Walking in fog is fun, until it gets cold. Londoners are brilliant to drink hot tea all the time.