A Thursday morning had us back on Route 70 heading to the trail head parking I have used so many times. There was rain in tomorrow's forecast, but these honey badgers don't care. We go when we go and we prepare for whatever weather will greet us.
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| Young May apples on the way up the ridge |
We arrived at the parking lot at 1030. It wasn't too crowded. They appeared to have expanded the lot some since we were last there. We started up Pine Knob on South Mountain and about 10 minutes in we saw two hikers coming towards us. I recognized Joanne from the museum and her husband Fred. We talked a bit then moved on. It was really cool seeing them again. Joanne was one of my volunteers of the year when I worked at the AT Museum.
It was a little surreal. As we drove to the trail head and started up the mountain, the trees had leafed out pretty well. They still had that light yellow-greenish color to them, but spring had fully arrived. As we climbed up the 500 feet to the top of the ridge, we seemed to go back in time. The trees up there were only starting to sprout. Spring was still trying to arrive up here.
We stopped at Annapolis rocks for a break and to check out the view. We talked to a trail maintenance crew for a bit who were taking a break a the caretakers table and then headed to the overlook. It was a little hazy, but nice.
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| View from Annapolis Rocks |
We continued on, passing sobo hikers along the way. We stopped for lunch around 1300 before the rock scramble and took a break and got water at Ens Cowell shelter after coming down off of the ridge. We were feeling pretty good and the day was nice. We seemed to constantly talk about tomorrow's weather, like we were psyching ourselves up for a wet day of walking. A lot of the hikers we talked to along the way also would mention tomorrow's rain. After a while I started to think we were trying to anti-curse ourselves. Like, if we constantly invoked the nasty weather, it may not arrive. (take note)
A nobo Thrube passed us as we were heading into the shelter. Of course, he was moving fast and was out of sight quickly. No matter how long I'm on trail, I never develop a very fast pace. That's how I roll.
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| LoGear doing some of the rocks in this section |
Next was trail I hadn't been on since 2011, so it felt new. Last year, I wanted to do a MD Yo-Yo, but weather helped change that plan where this next stretch up to the Raven Rock shelter was the only section I didn't hike twice (or even once) in 2018. A couple of fields and some good climbs had my sweat flowing.
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| Field crossing |
During the last climb, I was dragging and we stopped for water at the cascade. I drank a lot of water before filling up and that was almost a mistake. The cold water was sitting in my fat belly like a lump of lead. I fell way behind LoGear as we finished the climb, but wasn't too far behind when we arrived at the shelter.
We arrived at 1811. 13.8 miles for the day. We found some good spots to hang our hammocks, ate dinner at our own table, then went over to the fire one of the other hikers had built and hung out for awhile.
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| LoGear's set up and the setting sun |
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| EarthTone's set up |
The wind kicked up on the ridge as night settled around us.
I had a restless sleep as usual on my first night out. My legs and feet kept cramping up all through the night and I had to pee a lot because I knew I was dehydrated during the day and had drank a lot of water. The moon was bright all night, so I saved battery power in the headlamp when I had to get out. The wind kept up through most of the night.
I was up just after 0600 and we were on the trail at 0720. Today's hike would be solo for both of us. LoGear went north and I went south. It was actually a good hike today since I knew what was coming in reverse. The climbs were a little easier this way and I made decent time. Of course, the forecast was still calling for rain, sometimes heavy through most of the day.
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| View that I had skipped the day before |
I got back to Ens Cowell around 1000 and ate an early lunch after getting water. Ya know, because it was going to start raining any minute now.
I got water again at Pogo campsite and the rain still hadn't started yet. It didn't start until I had about a mile left in the days hike. I actually welcomed the cooling effect.
Meanwhile, LoGear had made her way north, crossing into PA and heading for the nicest shelter in PA (in my humble opinion), Tumbling Run.
I got back to the truck at 1421, wet but happy. I had about a 30 min drive to up near where LoGear had stopped for the day. Luckily, there was a small parking lot a short distance south of the shelter at the last road crossing. I stopped at a Sheets and got LoGear a donut and me a sandwich and then stopped at a liquor store for a sixer and some fireball and then found the parking that was .3 from the shelter.
It was still raining as I packed up and headed out. I came into camp, found LoGear and set up. She had done another 13.2 (27 total) and I had done 14.1 for the day. I had to put my tarp up first as the rain was still coming down, but not too hard. I had humped that six pack and hot shot in that last .3 and it was totally worth it.
We went over to the covered table for dinner. The shelters had some boy scouts, a family of four and one of the hikers who had been at the shelter last night. LoGear's fuel tank went empty during dinner, just as we were hoping. Mine was almost there. I had these almost empty fuel containers down in the basement for a while now, too little fuel left to take out long term, but perfect for a couple days to finish them off.
I needed water, which was across the creek and I fell twice trying to cross the creek on the wet rocks. My shoes were already wet from the rain, so it wasn't a big deal, but I felt out of sorts crossing on those big rocks. Yes, they were wet and a little slippy, but I seemed to be extra clumsy at the end of this day.
Our camp was in the group camp area, a bit away from the shelters, but it was nice to be away from the others. I could change into my dry clothes right in the middle of the camp, not that I ever care if anyone sees my fat body when I change, but I wanted to spare them the disgust.
LoGear had developed a couple blisters and was feeling some pain. We hung out, each in our hammocks as the forest dripped and sputtered the rain of the day. It had turned out to not be such a horrible storm as we where hyping all the day before. I got wet yeah, but that is all a part of being out here. You take each day as given and hopefully prepare yourself for whatever The Mother throws at you.
I drank my beers as darkness once again arrived at camp. We each retired into our hammocks and did some reading. I would sleep a little better this night, with no cramps to speak of and LoGear reported a perfect night's sleep.
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| The perfect ending to a day's hike. Worth the weight. |
In the morning, the rain has passed, but the forest was still pretty wet. My fuel canister went dry as I heated some water for coffee, just as I had hoped. The water was just warm enough to make the coffee enjoyable.
We packed up and had a decision to make. The plan was for LoGear to hike another 10 miles north to connect to one of her other hikes. I was going to drive to the end and hike back towards her. I had brought a small day pack in, in case she wanted to do a slack pack, but in the end, she decided to save those last 10 miles for the next trip. Her blisters were making walking difficult and even though she could have toughed it out, there was no need. The trail would wait for next time.
We headed back to the parking lot where the boy scouts were also ending their six day hike and threw our packs into the truck.
We headed home where a nice shower, then a hot tub soak awaited us. We went out to lunch after that then both took a nice nap. LoGear had to go to work that night.
It was a good hike. We had upped our total mileage from the last hike and I once again got to experience some type-two fun and get reminded of the pain I will be feeling every day as I head out at the end of May to finish this Quest.
Until next time... Peace.
EarthTone and LoGear
