Day 22: short miles, 90 degrees and the best view on the PA AT

Summary
May 17th

Windsor Furnace to Ecksville Shelter

NOBO mile# 1232.6

Tolmann’s daily miles 9.1

Tolmann’s total miles 208.9
Visited this morning with section hikers Lesley and Lorraine over breakfast, and met Mona Lisa (Deb) who is flip-flopping. Good people, fun conversation. 

The hike started with a rigorous ascent. 

I caught up to Tilly and Hops at the top at an overlook called The Pulpit; maybe my favorite view from the trail so far, at least rivaling the view from Hawk Rock above Duncannon. We spent a fair amount of time looking out and talking.  

Then it was move on time again but we met up again just as we were approaching The Pinnacle, which I guess is thought of as having the best view from the AT in Pennsylvania. Personally, I’d cast my ballot for The Pulpit. 

We spent a fair amount of time on the ledges at The Pinnacle, just chatting and munching on snacks. 

It was getting pretty warm by now and I was drinking a ton of water, so I planned on grabbing water at a pipe spring a few miles on. When I got there, Firesocks was there filtering water and having lunch. Tilly and Hops pulled up, and we all took our time getting water, “cameling up” (a term for drinking as much as you can to avoid carrying additional water weight). 

Even with the leisurely approach to the day, the heat was getting to folks, and the group of us all intended to do short miles to Eckville Shelter. 

With another 3 miles to go, I pushed on as strongly as I could. I tried finding a place to sit and rest, but ended up on log that was too low and slanted back. When I used my trekking poles to help me up, I heard a crunch and one of the poles bent at the joint. So I’m down one trekking pole. That’s going to prove problematic in the days of rock scrambling ahead. 

So eventually I came to the road the shelter is on. When I got there the caretaker was passing out ice cold bottles of Powerade (meaning “throwing them across the yard”). Mona Lisa and Firesocks were already there, drinking their own Powerades. 

People started rolling in, and sitting on the picnic table in the shade was so comfortable, we all just hung out and talked. I pulled out the guitar and sang for a little while. The shelter has a solar shower, and folks took advantage of it, although the hot water didn’t really last past the first person. 

Finally, I went to scout out the tent sites for a hammock spot and found a single tennable spot. It’s been so warm I set up without the tarp; I’m hopeful it’ll stay dry tonight.

Supper was an instant potatoes and spam concoction. 

Now the sun is down and it is cooling off somewhat.