Date: 2018-10-07
From: Kennedy Shelter

To: Tom's Run shelter
Miles today: 18.5

The day started out pretty bad. The two guys near me were asking everyone who hiked by if they wanted to party. They even went half a mile to the shelter seeking recruits. Fortunately no one was up to it. But they partied. Right up until about midnight. I finally dozed off but about 3:30 a.m. one of them was really really sick and I heard it on and off until 6 a.m. Enough of that story. After I escaped the camp the day went well. Early morning fog surrounded the trees and the high rock formations the trail went through. A good woods road descended to PA 34. The busy highway was reduced to one narrow lane with traffic signals at each end. I watched the signal's cycles to figure out how to get across. Finally I went just after the last car went east across the bridge. I hustled and got to the other side successfully before the traffic from the other direction came across. Just up the road from the trail was the Green Mountain Store and Deli. I've stopped here every time I passed through. I got a breakfast sandwich with ghost pepper cheese, coffee, two days worth of food, and a cheeseburger hoagie to go. It was just before noon. I ate the breakfast sandwich, packed up, got a Dr. Pepper and headed back to the trail. I was debating how long before I ate the hoagie but the abundance of mosquitoes kept me going. I followed an old railroad bed for about a half mile and both sides were buggy wetlands. After crossing Pine Grove Road I stopped and ate the sandwich. At the same time I noticed how hot it was getting out. The fog had disappeared around 11 a.m. and the sun was shining. Though hot it was a beautiful day. I stubbornly did not get water at the next creek which was the last water source until Pine Grove State Park. I thought something would be up ahead but I was wrong. Though hot and sweaty I was enjoying the easy walking through the woodlands. Just before the park there was a spring along the trail. I treated a liter and continued down the hill and entered the park about 3:30. The trail followed a bike trail and weaved through the picnic areas. I drank my water while hoping the park store was open. After going by the Pine Grove Furnace and rounding a corner there was the store and it was open. I bought the last Coke in the cooler and got a cup of chocolate ice cream. While sitting outside at a picnic table several people asked me about my trip. A girl at another table said she is planning to do the AT and asked me questions about gear. At 4:45 I knew I had to get going to make it to Tom's Run Shelter. I got a liter of water and headed out and up PA 233. The sun was low and I had difficulty seeing where the trail turned off the road but found it without too much difficulty. Out of the sun the air was cooler as I hiked up a long easy hill. Lots of mud today but not as bad as Vermont. I crossed a few stone roads then followed a gated road all the way to the shelter. I arrived at 6:33. Quickly I hung up my sweat laden shirts and got the tent up and gear inside. I heated water for a shower. Only one other person here, Just Suzie. She has a 20 year plan for hiking the trail. She came over and introduced herself. She asked if I'd lift her heavy food bag later up to a hook on the bear pole. As it got dark I showered behind my tent rinsing the sweat off. Then, using my headlamp, I hung my food bag on the bear pole and later put Just Suzie's up also. The creek is 20 feet from me. Hopefully I'll get a good night's sleep tonight.