Après le déluge

Not that this sort of weather is unhikeable or anything, but it does limit the oppotunities to enjoy the view.  Other hikers are champing at the bit, heading out today as soon as the rain eases, but I am waiting for tomorrow morning.

Duncannon -- Indigenous Peoples Day

Reflecting on Life &c in the 2nd floor foyer (sans towel)

With the usual shipyard disclaimer that plans are most important so that we know we're not following them, here's my intentions for the last week of this wander.

Date	Day	Goal	Notes
10/10	Tuesday	Darlington shelter	Hawk Mtn views? And, rocks.
10/11	Wednesday	Boiling Springs	Shuttle past hwy shoulder walk
10/12	Thursday	Mount Holly Springs
10/13	Friday	Pine Grove Furnace St Pk	AT Overnite Parking lot, est mid p.m.

Time to get off the Trail for a while! Pennsylvania will not be formally done until I complete a small bit from PG Furnace to Caledonia State Park, but a weekend ramble will take care of it. In any case, the trees, rocks, and white blazes will still be there when I return.

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The posts for the two missing days before I reached Peters Mountain are published, detailing trail guide unreliability in identifying useful water sources. Here are links back to those posts.


Moss Removal: Swatara Creek crossing

Moss Removal: Got water?

Rocked out

Rock hopping along a ridge spine, I can't help but wonder about rumors that the Trail maintainers in this State actually sharpen rocks when they can't find paths that are naturally difficult. At least SATC seems to lead more trails over boulders conveniently arranged as stepping stones or stairs, rather than through the random rubble that KTA prefers.

Charles Ferry Shelter, on time, two hour lunch break, still enough water. Duncannon visible down below, almost there! But the Trail leads away along another rocky ridge, dives down and climbs back, and finishes with a half mile stretch just about the thundering trucks on US 322.

Duncannon, just a few short miles away ...

Susquehanna River

Clarks Ferry Shelter

Finally. Across the bridges, double frogger through Friday traffic and then down the streets of Ducannon like an unwashed bum, collecting a resupply package from the post office and limping uphill to check in at The Doyle.

With a brief stop for recovery, of course. The creator cautioned me that the fudge might be hot.

3 B's Ice Cream

Large S'more Sundae

Forecasts of heavy storm activity on Monday have leaned in on concerns that certain joints need a recovery time out. I do not plan to leave here earlier than Tuesday, October 10.

I plan to post backdated trail notes and photos from the week later.

Water, water everywhere... UPDATED

Raining in torrents outside Peter's Mountain Shelter tonight ... ironic, someone just headed down the three hundred stone steps to the only viable spring in this stretch of trail.

Water is pouring out of the shelter's gutter. The two Army vets and I, having already stumbled down to fill up, smile and wave to the latecomers who see the sign and look back at us for hope and courage. It's down there, really.

Not to mention the part without steps

... and these are the steps!

While rehydrating to make up for several days of short rations, I bemoan my slow progress to my companions. No worries, they say, only 11 miles to Duncannon, now that you've got water. Even a Navy vet can make it tomorrow, you're doing fine. Actually, since there's a storm coming in and no more water sources until the doubtful one at Clark's Ferry, you really should make it tomorrow.

Ohh-kay. Tomorrow (Friday), I will push on toward Duncannon, aiming to arrive and go to ground before the weather hits. Could delay my arrival at Pine Grove Furnace by an additional two days or more. Then, time out.

Got water?

Another slow start from a beautiful forest grove, this time with a pleasant, clear, acid-contaminated stream bearing away leachants from coal tailings.

So, water rationing rules dropped when i found this camp last night have been reinstated.

After a hard climb and six hours hiking, I reach the "highly reliable" water sources where I was looking to refill my water supply.

 

Reliably muddy?

 

Chem quiz- contaminants with orange oxides?

 

Better than none

Another four hours to Peters Mountain Shelter, two hours' rest and refilling of water supplies, then on towards Duncannon for as long as daylight allows. It's a plan.

Swatara Creek crossing

Today started with water ratìoning in effect:  no tea, trail bars instead of oatmeal. Bleagh. Ahead, Swatara Creek, where I can draw and treat enough water to rehydrate and bulk up for the climb to the ridge.

The Swatara Creek bridge looked to be the most overdesigned pedestran bridge I have seen. Maybe it serves as forest access  for emergency vehicles? No, something more unusual -- trucks filled with crushed limestone that haul their burden up creek to a rock pile just above a curiously shaped dam molded around two large open cylinders.

A sign offers enlightenment; they are reverse creek diversion wells, used to treat acetic coal runoff? Guess I won't take water out of that source!

So, another night and more miles to go without water. Time to look for bailout options? All are limited, long descents onto county roads, no towns of any size.  

Good that the guides show several water sources as I continue up the ridge to Peters Mountain Shelter. Onward.

Another day lost to the rocks

A relatively flat trail and cool temperatures helped make up for a very late start, waiting for the newly formed Two Guitar SOBO tramily (trail family) to  stop playing old folk and rock, get organized, and depart. A couple of rock rivers and climbs, though, kept me from making my target of crossing the Swatara today. Shi kata ka nai.

New target for my zero day at Pine Grove Furnace is Octber 14. Ice cream lovers welcome!

 Great views all along the ridge! We politely slipped by two Mennonite teenagers sitting next to each other (with a good air gap between them) enjoying the view.

 One of the tramily -- 1000 miles done!

Trail magic

Breakfast done, everybody gathers their gear, trying to think of a reason to take another zero day. Kitten says I will pass her by on the trail, but I disagree -- Snail here, you will pass me.

As it turns out, we pass each other several times. We talk about the northbounders praising the 501 Shelter. Skylight, rain cistern, and pizza delivery? Kitten wavers, hikes on. Bye, say hi to Springer Mountain for me!

I walk on. My ten mile fade mark is at the 501 Shelter, but maybe I should push on to the next shelter?

When I turn off the Trail to take care of biological necessities, I finish and turn to find an older couple looking at me from the Trail. I apologize, with smiles. District supervisors, it turns out. The man asks how I have found the Pennsylvania trails; I reply that I have enjoyed them, but, well, rocks ...

A few more ahead, he says, which makes me wince. Onward.

More recidivism

2:40, turn for 501. I could go on. I turn up the trail. 

Housekeeper greets me. Kitten is here, just stopping by, not staying. Pizza order, says Housekeeper? No, Kitten says, wavering ... I need to get past the Smokies before the snow starts. Here's an extra pack of apple cider mix, says Housekeeper, this hack of a gatorade bottle lets me listen to NPR orchestra downloads while I hike. You should Youtube that! I say. No, I'll be doing it at Trail Days, he says. 

Two High, Tom, and Ruby the eleven month dog come in bringing guitars. Fire, Housekeeper asks? We scramble for blowdown wood.

Everyone's fed, fire is going, two guitars and a crisp alcohol free evening. Kangaroo and Jupiter show up.

501 Shelter October 1, 2017

Serendipity, Dr. Christman's ghost whispers to me. New Orlean, forty eight years ago. Don Mclean, Beebe Hall, Ithaca. Christ the King, Norfolk. Bread and Roses, Oakland. Trans Siberian Orchestra, Newark, New Jersey. Dover Mountain warmup session, Delaware.

Magic times. Deo gratias.