Day 11: Will it EVER warm up?

Summary: 

May 6th

RT 30 to Birch Run Shelter

NOBO mile # 1092.5

Tom’s mileage today 10.0

Tom’s total miles 68.8

Had company in the room last night, Tom and Pam came in yesterday. They are finishing the AT with a section that runs from Harper’s Ferry to Dalton, MA. They and I were headed to the trail via Timber’s for breakfast. Junker gave us a ride to the restaurant, and we sat together. I wanted a last shot at the bathroom, so sent them back to the trail ahead of me. Junker was bringing Bubblegum north for a slack pack, which I had seriously considered doing, except I didn’t want to spend a third night at the hostel. 

It was time to get moving!

Today’s forecast had a better than even chance of light rain; as I left Timber’s, the clouds seemed low and threatening. The trail was nearly a half mile from the restaurant east along RT 30. Not a long walk, but I was itchy to make miles. The plan was to do 10-ish miles to Birch Run Shelter, with the possibility of going on to Tom’s Run Shelter, another 6.2 miles; a longer day than I felt up for. Tom and Pam planned to go that far, and I was open to see how I felt when I reached Birch Run. 

The trail quickly reached and ran through Caledonia State Park, mostly on dirt roads. I was concerned about flooded trail from yesterday’s rain, soon proven well-founded. There were two areas I had to maneuver around to keep my feet dry. Then the ascent up out of the valley began in earnest. 

Not long after the trail leveled out, the rain began. I had started the hike wearing my rain coat for the wind protection, but now I took out my umbrella and set it over my pack. The trail started to resemble its name: “The Green Tunnel”, with close stands of rhododendron right up against the path; my umbrella was being snagged over and over again. 

The first milestone was Quarry Gap Shelter at 2.6 miles. This was the shelter Jackie spent the night at last night in her plan to meet a friend at noon at a road crossing just past Birch Run. Quarry Gap is an amazing place, with potted flowers and a landscaped stream running through. Unfortunately, I only got some video of it, no still pictures. 

About 4 and a half miles in, I met up with Bubblegum as she slacked south. I was concerned because she said she was cold, and she didn’t seem to have any additional layers to put on…

I was getting chilled myself; I hadn’t been able to get the rest I wanted at Quarry Gap because I needed to keep moving to maintain my body heat. Around noon I was able to stop to put a fleece layer on and eat some lunch, which helped a lot. 

As the afternoon deepened, I heard the sound of someone coming south towards me. The umbrella really limits my visibility, so I didn’t see who it was as until they were right on me. It was Meeko! “Hello, you!”, I exclaimed. “Are you slack packing?” Turned out she was. She gave me some idea of the trail ahead, then off we went in our opposite directions. 

Now I started to reconsider my decision to not slack pack, and I actually ended up thinking I would try to call Junker to pick me up at the road after Birch Run and take me back to the hostel for the night. It was still another 3+ miles to the shelter, so I kept going.

The pattern for my afternoon hiking usually includes the intensifying of all the physical aspects of the hike; it’s about this time when I feel the bottoms of my feet (not hotspots, exactly; more tenderness), my shoulders are aching, sometimes I can feel some tenderness in the front of my hips. I want to hike faster, and I even begin to, but then my feet heat up, and I have to slow down.

I pulled into Birch Run around 2:40, feeling tired and chilled. There were some Boy Scouts already set up on one side, and a young man and a young girl at the shelter discussing plans. Neither was staying there, and soon the guy was off. The girl was wet and chilled, trying to warm up. She was hiking with her dog. 

I asked if there was any cell reception: nada. So no pickup for me. I set up my hammock, then visited for a little while with the Boy Scouts and the girl and her dog, before changing into dry clothes and cooking up my supper. 

It’s a quarter to eight now, and still getting colder. I hope I stay comfortable tonight. Gonna sleep with my electronics and my water filter to protect them from the cold (batteries discharge quickly when they are cold, and when a water filter freezes, throw it away)… 

Tomorrow I hope to get to Pine Grove Furnace Park, home of the half-gallon challenge. Praying for a dry day!!!