Date: 2009-05-06
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: overcast clouds

It rained heavily overnight. But it was a hiker rain, as it stopped by 5 am. However it was still a gloomy morning when I left the shelter at 7:18 am. Catch Up and Ski-man had left early, as they planned a 17 mile day to the 501 Shelter. I had only planned a 13 mile day to William Penn Shelter. It was about 50 degrees and misty, but never really rained all day. There was great trail to the abandoned site of Rausch Gap village. This had been a town of about a 1000 people in its hey-day, but was abandoned by 1910. By 9:15 am I was passing through a meadow approaching PA Route 443. I stopped to photograph a group of dogwood trees in full bloom, as Rocky loves dogwoods. Jolly Ranger and Harley passed me then. While I chatted with Jolly Ranger, Harley continued loping on down the trail. He must be a great trail dog. A few minutes later, after crossing Route 443, I came to a stream that was uncrossable on the well-placed stepping stones. The water level was quite high due to the recent rains. I knew I was going to get my feet wet. I took off my sox and took the inserts out of my shoes. My shoes were thoroughly soaked, of course, but my feet were a little less wet for the rest of the hike. Shortly afterward I realized that there was a road bypass to the ford, if I had only checked the map. I reached Swatara Gap at 10:33 am. Memories came back of a year 2000 hike that started here with the Boy Scouts of Girard College Troop 400 (Philadelphia). Great memories of a series of hikes over five years from Lehigh Gap to Swatara Gap. I stopped for lunch and aired out my feet at a footbridge just past Interstate 81. Itchey and One Shoe passed me here. I then started a strenuous climb up to the top of the Blue Mountain ridge. From here on it was a top of the ridge walk. Surprisingly, over half the trail distance to the next shelter was rock free. However, there were also some typical ¢Rocksylvania¢ sections also. At 2:30 pm, I reached the William Penn Shelter. Ski-man and Catch Up were just leaving the shelter after a short break. Rocky was to meet me at the William Penn Shelter and we were supposed to be spending the night there. However, she had not arrived yet. So I left with Ski-man and Catch Up and figured on meeting Rocky enroute to the 501 Shelter, which is a nicer shelter, anyway. About ten minutes later I met her coming toward me and she readily agreed to turn around and go back to the 501 Shelter. Rocky walked most of the way to the 501 with Catch Up, as they are both avid quilters from NH. I walked with her brother, Ski-man, a retired Air Force colonel. We arrived at 501 Shelter at 4:30 pm. 501 is an enclosed shelter with 12 bunks, but with lots of room and a picnic table inside. There is a Johnny on the Spot and a potable water faucet a few steps away from the shelter. The shelter has a large sky light that brightens the interior. The other hikers ordered pizza in, but Rocky and I cooked our left over trail food. The other hikers here are Catch Up and Ski-man, Itchey and One Shoe, Jolly Ranger, and a 65 year old hiker, Santa¢s Helper. Once again I am the oldest one here. My section hike has ended a day early, as we had planned to hike tomorrow from William Penn to 501. We will drive to Philadelphia tomorrow.Swamp Fox