We need to reposition our cars again, so we are out of the shelter early to go pick up Kelly's car at the Swatara Hostel.
While Kelly is organizing her things in her car, I see a group of people hanging out at a covered sitting area, so I go over to see if I recognize anyone, and I am surprised to see that I know everyone! Arrow and Sweet Pea are here, as is Tigger, Prince, and Glacier, all of whom I met back in Maryland. I enjoy chatting with them until Kelly is ready to leave, and I wish everyone "happy trails" before we leave.
Two hours later we are back at the 501 shelter and back on the trail, following the white blazes. The trail is no different to what we've been hiking the last 130 miles through the state. I think Pennsylvania is really nice for the most part, but it definitely is getting a little rocky. Pennsylvania is often called Rocksylvania, and also known as "the place where boots go to die." I wouldn't say the trail has been crazy rocky, but my feet are definitely a little sore from all of the sharp edges that I can't help but step on.
We have several mild hill climbs today through forests of ferns and beech trees. There are a ton of bushes in mid-story which I am certain are witch hazel. I take a lot of pictures and will investigate further when I get more time. I am really excited about being out here for months at a time so that I can watch the woodland plants naturally progress through the seasons, allowing me to better identify some frequently observed species that I don't get to see at home.
An hour and a half into our hike we come across two women off the trail a little ways into the woods. We recognize Ladybug and step off the trail to go over to talk. A young lady is sitting on the ground wrapped in a sleeping bag. Her name is Zia and she tells us not to get much closer because she developed a bad cold in the last day and she doesn't want to get anyone sick. I am usually not concerned about catching cooties, but I really don't want to get sick, so I keep my distance.
Zia started about 100 miles before I did. She camped here last night and packed up, only to find that she felt too ill to hike so she spread out her sleeping pad to take a nap in the woods. She's already taken some Dayquil and Kelly offers her some Zicam, which Zia gladly accepts. We say goodbye and wish her a speedy recovery so we can keep hiking.
A short while later we are looking for the next big mile marker. We just crossed the 1200-mile mark according to the FarOut app. We round a turn to see a huge "1200" made out of rocks on the side of the trail. We can cross another 100 miles off of our list!! We decide to spruce up the marker by outlining it with sticks, like a picture frame. We also add rocks to the numbers so they will stand out a little better. We are in the process of working on our masterpiece when Ladybug rounds the corner. She helps us for a couple minutes and then we celebrate with a couple pictures. Only one thousand more miles to go to get to Maine!
About an hour later we come to a rushing creek. There is supposed to be a lake with a swimming hole around here somewhere. We look through the comments on FarOut and see that it's not far away. We wait for Ladybug to catch up, so she doesn't miss the side trail. We arrive to the most delightful little spot!
There must have been a mill here at some point because there is a concrete dam of sorts across the creek creating a small pond. A couple of rope swings are fixed on tree limbs over the water. The water is bluish green, but quite clear. Although there is no way to see how deep the water is, it does look quite deep from the edge of the pool.
We take off our socks and shoes and head straight for the water. I stand in the muck up to mid-thigh until my knees are numb. It feels so good, but it's so cold! I then find a seat on a nearby rock and soak my feet a little longer.
I get out of the water fully intending to get back in before we leave. We've already decided we're making today a short one because of the heat but thankfully the temperature is not really bad yet today. I snack while I look up some plants in my plant identification books on my phone, and Kelly gives Ladybug some advice about gear. Ladybug is new to backpacking and her pack is quite large. Kelly used to work at REI, and she is a wealth of information about everything from shoes to packs to sleeping pads.
Ladybug announces she's going to jump in the water. At first, I say no way, but I finally get up the nerve to get in as well. I am fully intending to jump in after Ladybug. She dives right in but then comes up spluttering and tries to get out of the water lickity split and I lose my nerve that fast.
I decide to try to wade in and get up above my waist when I chicken out because the cold literally takes my breath away. I get out and I'm warming up. At least my wet skirt will hopefully smell a little less rancid.
Zia arrives just as Kelly and I are starting to prepare to get hiking again. We have whiled away about an hour and a half and it's already three o'clock and we've only hiked five or six miles today. Zia arrives as we're getting ready to leave. She looks improved and she says she is feeling so much better after the medications and a little nap. She's on a log away from everyone to keep us from getting her cooties. We chat for a few minutes and then Kelly and I say goodbye to Zia and Ladybug as we head up the trail.
From the little reservoir the trail goes uphill for about 500 feet before it levels out. Thankfully my skirt is still damp and wet it keeps me cool on the uphill climb. Kelly gets ahead when I take a pit stop. The next few miles are easy along rocky ridge, but I there are just enough rocks that I cannot take my eyes off the trail for a second or I could twist an ankle.
The sides of the trail are lined with blueberries, wintergreen, and mountain laurel which is still covered in blooms. Ferns fill in the spaces in both directions and the beech and shagbark hickory trees cover the forest.
We come to a forest road and Kelly is waiting for me. We start hiking and while we're chatting I look behind me and I'm surprised to see a gentleman covered in dark green quietly slipped out of the woods and is walking behind us. I ask him if he is wildlife management and he chuckles and says he is scouting for the upcoming deer hunting season.
The woods we enter next are just delightful. This has been the site of a huge burn, but many oaks still tower overhead. We walk for a few miles when we get to the campsite where we intended to camp tonight, but we both decide that we can keep on going, and with the rain that is forecast for tomorrow afternoon we would rather be closer to town.
We cross a stream and decide to stop to filter water when a young man hikes by us. We soon catch up to him and chat for a little while we hike. His name is Gambit, and we find out later he really likes to play chess.
We passed through another large section of about 2 miles of burned trees. The forest floor is really thick with blueberries and a plant that I'm unfamiliar with, but we later find out is called sheep laurel.
The most delicious scent wafts through the woods for the remainder of the hike across the burned area. It smells like peaches. I have no idea what's making it, but it is amazing! The trail through this section is extremely narrow and grassy and I have to slow down considerably because I can't see the ankle twisting rocks hiding in the grass. Gambit goes on ahead and we tell him we'll see him at the shelter.
We arrive at the shelter and see Daddy Long Legs at the picnic table. Several tents are scattered throughout the surrounding woods. We set up and I join a group at the picnic table. I don't feel like eating a full meal this late, so I snack on the last of my cheese, which is getting disgusting after 5 days stuffed in my pack, while I flip through the shelter logbook, and I'm in my hammock by 8:30 pm.
Today's Stats: 15 miles, 1,542 feet gain, 1,391 feet loss
Trail Stats: 1,211 miles, 251K feet elevation gain, 256K feet loss
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