Date: 2015-05-26
From: Duncannon, PA

To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 28.9
Weather: few clouds

5/26, Rausch Gap Shelter, 28.9When I calculated my miles today it reminded me to get up and take a dose of Advil but I'm back and it has been a good day. I awoke at 5 as planned, packed and headed across the street to the diner that was open at 6. I was joined by Opie, and two of the three flip floppers that started at Harpers Ferry. Unfortunately, and I don't have his name, the third flip flopper was called home in the early morning hours because his sister had gotten very sick. His hike has been a mess since he began. He had started in Georgia in February, and fell face forward on the downside of Blood Mountain, about four days into his hike, and hurt his knee badly. He ended up getting off the trail to heal and just restarted his hike as a flip flop at Harpers Ferry 10 days ago. His situation is frequently the case with why a thru hike can end early and it makes me mindful of how fortunate I am to still be going. I finished breakfast and was "on the trail", which followed streets through town for the first 2 miles, at 6:45. I made my first stop at the truck stop on the far side of town to use the restroom and get another cup of coffee. The climb out of Duncannon was one of the steepest yet in Pennsylvania climbing nearly 1000 ft. over three miles of trail. I was feeling a little out of place hiking in a different bubble of hikers, most of whom were very new to me. I am sure in time all will be fine but for now, that was how I was feeling. The feeling didn't last long though as I hiked into the first shelter for a break and there sat Mrs. Dash having breakfast. You will remember he was the hiker I stared with on Springer, and then caught him in Erwin where he joined my family for my birthday dinner. I was as surprised as he was but it was a nice reunion nonetheless. He was off the trail again for a visit with his girlfriend, and now she and a couple of their other friends are hiking with him. There was something comforting in seeing an old friend again. I said my goodbyes, probably for the last time since he leaves for his hiking work in Europe next week and returns to the AT in August, and hiked on. I shared the trail today with many resident hikers. I chased a ground hog off the trail at one point as well as three different kinds of beetles that scurried away as I approached. The usual millipedes and caterpillars were present and I nearly stepped on two of the three black snakes I saw. It was hot hiking today and it wasn't long before I realized I had planned to refill water at the shelter and had forgotten that little detail. That meant when I stopped at the next shelter, for lunch, I needed to hike down 300 stairs to the spring to get water. It was a good spring though and the cold water was very refreshing. Over the course of the hike today I refilled my 2 liter bladder twice, and drank at least three additional liters when stopped. After at least 7 liters I was still thirsty and drank a liter of Gatorade with dinner, and another half of a liter of water. I will need to watch my water sources closely in the heat. As I hiked on this afternoon I planned to stop at a campsite around 24 miles. I filled all of my water, 5 liters, at the stream 2 miles before the campsite, and hiked on. The forecast for the next seven days includes a chance of thunderstorms each day so I was feeling like I really wanted to be in a shelter rather than my tent when the forecast rain starts tonight. When I arrived at the campsite, I realized I was only 4.5 miles from the next shelter and it was only 6:45. I had made very good time today so I pressed on drinking heavily to keep hydrated. I arrived at Rausch Gap Shelter at 7:45 after hiking 28.9 miles. I would not have been able to even consider that many miles if the new bandaging I applied to my toes had not performed so well. The trail was still very rocky but I could tell I was not causing additional injury as I hiked. My legs and such also felt very strong so it was an easy decision to hike on from my original planned stopping point. Nevertheless, I left all my energy, stamina and hiking effort on the trail today. When I arrived at the shelter not wanting to cook I fixed a sandwich with some of my extra cheese and spam, drank my Gatorade and settled in to sleep. It is now time to do just that. SilverbackToday's addendum is brought to you by my wife Kathy's, aka Bonobo's, birthday. I am still not sure how I was able to be so fortunate to be married to her. We met in high school when she quickened my heart by tapping my shoulder in science class just before the Sadie Hawkins dance. For those of you reading this under thirty years old that was a dance where the girls were allowed and expected to invite the guys. Back then we had to sanction times for girls to invite guys on a date. It was also traditionally the way a young lady could let a guy know she would like to go to homecoming with him. I was certain she was going to ask me to the dance so I turned to her and had to remain calm when she asked, "Do you think your friend Scott would go to the dance with me?" I was devastated but played it cool. A year later we had our first date, and have been together ever since. She is my best friend and I have been amazed by how much more in love with her I am each day but perhaps the greatest thing about her is her commitment to our faith. To that end one of my favorite stories was a recent one. When we began to share with our friends that I was going on a thru hike and would be away 6 months the first question everyone asked Kathy was, "And you are going to let him?" Kathy's response was quintessential Kathy when she responded that being married was not about letting your partner do things. Rather, marriage is about getting excited about the things that excite your partner. I have watched her put this into practice helping me plan, and continuing to support, my thru hike. So here's to my best friend, Kathy, ...Happy Birthday Babycakes!