Date: 2014-06-10
From: PA 61

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: few clouds

Another one of those nice weather days - overcast, drizzly rain, an all day affair. But we cannot always wait for the rain to stop - this is supposed to go on until Saturday!The rain slowed significantly after packing up and eating breakfast - we ran into Chocolate and Cheese downstairs along with Quicksilver and Peaches. Both are taking another zero day to rest and to help Cheese feel a little better - probably a good call for them since there is a big climb out of town today!Dad picked us up at the hotel and shuttled us to the Port Clinton post office and the trailhead so we could start our day. After thanking him for the ride we began the climbing process - initially it was a little tough with a few switchbacks but then the slope decreased significantly and the climb was not too bad. It was nice and humid outside though that made us sweat! Also one of those days with no views - passed both the Pulpit and the Pinnacle and did not get to see much below because of the misty rain and clouds - felt like we were back in Georgia our first three days. Both spots were really nice places and the Pinnacle made a nice lunch spot for the day. That is of course after we got to the lunch spot - this section of trail from I-81 to here needs some maintenance done on it! The trail is overgrown in some spots and poorly blazed with either fading blazes or blazes placed in poor spots - not maintained like in the clubs further south.From the Pinnacle down to the Eckville Shelter was a very nice hike - along an old roadbed and we were hiking fast! Rugby passed us with two friends who were slackpacking - nice to see Rugby again although he had thought we were section hikers only! They stopped to rest and we kept moving - feeling fine after our zero!We arrived at Hawk Mountain Rd and walked down to the shelter - this one is right next to the road and the shelter caretaker's own home! A neat shelter setup in a little shed with six bunks with their own foam pad + carpet padding - the padding on the bunks and the threat of rain made us opt for a rare shelter stay. The shelter also had a flush toilet privy and a solar shower (not warm because of the cloudy day) and an all around good setup. The caretaker was on hand all day - he had just lost his job as a residential painter and was a little grumpy at times but overall nice.Big Tex and Rugby were at the shelter when we arrived - Big Tex was slackpacking his son with a rental car since he himself had hurt his foot and could no longer hike. Sad to see him off the trail but glad he is out with his son still. Reset decided to stay at the shelter because of sore feet but Sharp Knife and Hiccup pushed on ahead - a brief meeting with them at the shelter.Settled in and only two others stayed with us - Crow and Justin. Justin was section-hiking SOBO and was from NJ - he told us what to expect ahead and was a nice kid. Everyone chatted around the dinner table and then Reset, Justin, and myself stayed up later than the rest chatting. Best advice from the night:Problem Bear's Philosophy: "What will the trail bring me today?" - every day is a new day full of amazing things.Appreciate everything, especially the chance to do this with Big Dawg - not many people will ever get the chance to do something so amazing with their father.I need to keep these in mind as we push on - sometimes I have lost focus on these.Hoping to push a little closer to Palmerston tomorrow - bad weather still brewing out there!