Date: 2015-05-27
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: overcast clouds

5/27, 13.9, 501 ShelterThe entire shelter woke early today at 6:15 filled with anticipation of thunderstorms in the forecast. It had not rained overnight but was overcast when we got up so breakfast and packing was done by all in a hurry. I hiked out at 7:15 with high humidity and the sun peeking through the overcast. Soon it was full sun, humid and I discovered that I had not eaten enough, or slept long enough, for my legs to fully recover from yesterday. I hiked feeling like I was lifting extra weight with each step. Uphill climbs were very difficult, and downhill drops were not much better. It was very much like they feel at the end of a long day. Fortunately, I was not planning a long hike so plugging along became the theme of the day. I stopped for water about five miles in and loaded up as the next water was another nine miles, and I was drinking a lot. The humidity increased but fortunately the overcast returned so the sun was less intense. Nevertheless, hiking was still slow. I stopped for lunch near an overlook where the breeze was almost enough to keep the gnats at bay, almost. The next shelter was a few miles further, and the water source there was not worth the side trip. My water was doing ok and there were only 4 miles left in my day. A thunderstorm was developing so a few hikers had ducked into the shelter to wait it out. I stopped and had a snack but decided to keep hiking. I probably don't respect thunderstorms like I should since lightning really doesn't bother me so when the thunder started I was looking forward to a cooling rain. What I got was drenched. I wear a hat to keep the rain off my glasses, but as warm as it was they fogged up anyway. Additionally, right on time, the Pennsylvania rocks returned for a final challenge of the day and with my glasses fogged, it became a very good test of my foot bandage. It also became a test of my footing which failed several times as I slipped often on the angled surfaces. I had two miles to hike when the rain started, and it was still pouring when I reached the shelter. The 501 Shelter is basically a 20 x 30 shed with bunks for 12, a huge picnic table under a skylight and floor space for many more to sleep. I was able to secure one of the last bunks and set about finding places to hang wet stuff. The rain quit and the sun came out about 7 so I ended up hanging my stuff on the clothesline outside hoping it would dry. I will just have to deal with whatever condition it is in in the morning. When I arrived the group at the table was munching on pizza delivered to the parking lot nearby from a local place. After they finished a couple of them hiked on and the rest settled in to watch a movie on their iPhone. There is a section hiking family from Iowa here and their pizzas were delivered next. I was fixing my dinner at the table as they sat down and they graciously shared a slice with me. It was so good I have yet to eat my Ramen meal tonight. After they cleaned up dinner they talked about playing hearts and must have noticed my ears perk up. Hearts is a historical card game for my family and always reconstitutes memories of Grandpa's cottage at Blueberry Hill in northern Wisconsin. Growing up weekends at the lake involved lots of swimming, fishing, eating and every day normally ended with a family size game of hearts. When they invited me to play there was no modesty in my absolutely! I didn't win, but Grandpa would have been OK with the way I played since I took it easy on the girls, just like he used to. After we finished cards the group of hikers decided to order more food and we sit here now at 7:30, waiting for the food to arrive. I could add to my animal list a large turtle today that I almost stepped on, but ended up with a pretty good photo. I also nearly stepped on another black snake as I was hiking in the rain and apparently missed out on my first rattlesnake, encountered by the hikers who arrived at the shelter just ahead of me before the rain hit. I guess that will have to wait for another day.Tomorrow is a big day, 24 miles into Port Clinton, so I plan to get out early. Hiker reports are that the rocks from here to there are as bad as anywhere so the going may be slow but I am excited to hike with a fully healed foot! Each day gets mentally more difficult to keep going so I need to take positives from anywhere I can so my healed foot is as exciting as leaving the state of Pennsylvania in 93 more miles!Silverback