Date: 2010-04-29
From: Windsor Furnace Shelter

To: Allentown Shelter
Miles today: 16.5

Day 6 Thur Apr 297:30am Didnt get as COLD as expected last night...or @ least thats the way it feels as I sit up in my warm, cozy mummy sleeping bag...The winds stopped during the night...& I had a very peaceful night...@ one point...i heard something scampering around the camp fire ring...I turned on my Petzl head-lamp & found a SKUNK...lurking around the fire ring...(he went away quietly..without leaving a smelly "present"...I was alone in the shelter & surprisingly had one of my best nights sleep on the trail, ever!Theres a barn swallow next in the middle of the shelter rafters...he(or she)tried to fly in a couple times last night but was "spooked" when he(or she) saw me...the bird finally got brave this morning & flew in anyway...Supposed to be Sunny & abt 60 degrees today..YEAH!!!I fix my double strength coffee & eat my hiker PopTarts (here comes the Sugar Rush!)...i water-up before leaving camp...(8 miles before the next water source)..& out of Windsor Furnace SHelter by 9am...Lets Hike!...No rush, tho'!...its just me & the miles today...Approx. 16 of 'em!The climb starts immediately & seems the rocks do too.I've heard bad thangs abt the "PA ROCKS" & now I know...they are all TRUE!From the small fist size rascalls jutting outta the ground to the medium size whoppers to the boulders...they are TUFF!& theyre eating away @ my boots up & slowing my hiking pace way down.I normally guage myself @ abt 2 mph(average)...but, the terrain has probably slowed me to 1mph or less...I hike up to Pulpit Rock (1582 ft elevation)...nice views.Still a bit windy today...but it is Sunny...love it...highs mid 60s...I hike to the top of the mountain & see the "Pinnacle" (the local A.T.club has piled a "pyramid of rocks on top of this ridge...nice!)a monument, i guess, to the Rock Gods...(???)I hike on...more rocks on the trail...(did i mention they lots of rocks on the trail in PA??????)a couple miles & i pass the Blue Rocks campground trail...then hike down a bit..onto an old logging (or hunting)road...a couple ladies on horseback intersected with me...& stopped & chatted for a few minutes...12:30pm I continued to hike onto Hawk Mtn (a bird sanctuary here for Raptors, Hawks, etc)& then down...& into more dang ROCKS....boulder fields, actually...after a few more miles...& a descent...i take a right off the trail & head into Eckville Shelter (600ft elevation)...a nice little shelter...one of the oldest in PA...6 bunks etc, a privy & a picnic table...I took my boots off for a few minutes...ate a couple energy bars here...& actually laid down for abt an hour just to rest.These "PA ROCKS" are kicking my BUTT today!!!1:45pm I get up feeling energized...i put the pack & boots back on...water up & back to the White Blazes....hike on...the first mile back on the trail was nice...i even met a SouthBound section hiker...then the Rocks came back...with a vengence!...they came HARD!...for the next 7.5 miles...they didnt let up!they were beating me (my feet)up!At one point...I actually thought abt ending my hike today...just pitching my tent & camping for a few days...then hike to the next road & get a cheep motel room...but, i didnt...i pushed on...& the rocks kept up with me.Never letting up...After a few more miles...I pass Tri County-Corner (1560 ft elevation)...& its abt a mile to the shelter from here....sometimes today I would actually get in a rhythm rock-hopping...other times...snails passed me.finally...the shelter....YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!I AM BEAT.I drop my pack...i'm outta water...so, i head down the Blue Blaze trail(2/10th mile)to the water source...(downhill)I call home...good to hear Donna's voice...i miss her & home.Cooked mashed potatoes & Tuna...didnt really feel like eating (sooooo tired)but made myself....need the fuel for tomorrows hike.Over 16 scheduled again tomorrow...we'll see...pray for me!8pm......Goodnite                           16.5 miles today