Sign outside of Quarry Gap Shelter
Patches filtering water
We came we saw - we went - Maryland is behind us. W VA and MD was good to us - so are our new boots - no rain for 3 days - very nice easy hike - we are in PA now (we have 230 miles of PA). Water sources are for away from each other - we must carry our water with us now. PA is low elevation - very rocky - with rattlesnakes.
We have read and heard about 2 incidents in the past few weeks - hard to believe but is true - hikers suffer bad:
Just before Harpers Ferry we read story about a rabid skunk that attached 3 hikers - 2 hikers sharing a tent heard something (5:30 am) looked outside the tent and saw the skunk and tried to chase it away - did not close tent and the next thing they knew the skunk was in the tent and sprayed them- another hiked started running up the trail and the skunk chased him - the hiker sprayed it with pepper spray, but it did no good - the skunk bit the 3rd hiker on his leg - he had to go off the trail to get rabies shot. Sad but true
Another story we read in shelter was about Raccoon attack - a 19 yr old hiker climbed up a tree to get food bag and the raccoon bite him in the face - this young man also had to leave the trail.
It is not the bear or snake we have to fear - enemies are in all sizes and shapes here on the trail.
I have to confess.....The last 2 days I started to section hike the trail - which works like this - We meet for lunch at a nice spot or shelter were there is water - then we meet up at night were we camp - the rest of the day each hiker is own his own. After 3 months of hiking your body knows when it is close to lunch/rest time.
Well... Wednesday the June 25 I got to this road and knew the shelter must be close - so I look in my book just to see the shelter is before the road - so I turn around went back up this rocky hill about 1 1/2 miles - took my cap off just to make sure I did not miss the sign - no shelter - turn around - ran down hill by now Patches must be worried (lucky he was with Mofo & Sita that helped him to stay put) - in my hurry I fell - very mad at myself - try to jump up fast - I did not see if I fell in poison ivy or what - lucky it was a OK spot. Came to the road again still mad at myself - just to find the shelter not even 1/2 mile after road crossing (hiked that section twice)
Today I made it to lunch and had some nice espresso coffee - happy hiking on cross rd's - saw a south bound blue blaze - sign very high up in tree - did not look around for north bound sign - just carry on my merry way in my own world - then hear "Talitha" - look back - Patches is running - I asked him "Did I just pass your tent" - he answered "Yes, a mile back - did you not see the blue blaze" - (I section hiked that part twice to) Patches said the only reason he ran after me was for the water filter and he wanted to see if hiking had change his running speed - IT HAS!
Today I did not mess up. New state and it rained on us. We are at camp early and in our tents.
Have fun - We do...........
We have read and heard about 2 incidents in the past few weeks - hard to believe but is true - hikers suffer bad:
Just before Harpers Ferry we read story about a rabid skunk that attached 3 hikers - 2 hikers sharing a tent heard something (5:30 am) looked outside the tent and saw the skunk and tried to chase it away - did not close tent and the next thing they knew the skunk was in the tent and sprayed them- another hiked started running up the trail and the skunk chased him - the hiker sprayed it with pepper spray, but it did no good - the skunk bit the 3rd hiker on his leg - he had to go off the trail to get rabies shot. Sad but true
Another story we read in shelter was about Raccoon attack - a 19 yr old hiker climbed up a tree to get food bag and the raccoon bite him in the face - this young man also had to leave the trail.
It is not the bear or snake we have to fear - enemies are in all sizes and shapes here on the trail.
I have to confess.....The last 2 days I started to section hike the trail - which works like this - We meet for lunch at a nice spot or shelter were there is water - then we meet up at night were we camp - the rest of the day each hiker is own his own. After 3 months of hiking your body knows when it is close to lunch/rest time.
Well... Wednesday the June 25 I got to this road and knew the shelter must be close - so I look in my book just to see the shelter is before the road - so I turn around went back up this rocky hill about 1 1/2 miles - took my cap off just to make sure I did not miss the sign - no shelter - turn around - ran down hill by now Patches must be worried (lucky he was with Mofo & Sita that helped him to stay put) - in my hurry I fell - very mad at myself - try to jump up fast - I did not see if I fell in poison ivy or what - lucky it was a OK spot. Came to the road again still mad at myself - just to find the shelter not even 1/2 mile after road crossing (hiked that section twice)
Today I made it to lunch and had some nice espresso coffee - happy hiking on cross rd's - saw a south bound blue blaze - sign very high up in tree - did not look around for north bound sign - just carry on my merry way in my own world - then hear "Talitha" - look back - Patches is running - I asked him "Did I just pass your tent" - he answered "Yes, a mile back - did you not see the blue blaze" - (I section hiked that part twice to) Patches said the only reason he ran after me was for the water filter and he wanted to see if hiking had change his running speed - IT HAS!
Today I did not mess up. New state and it rained on us. We are at camp early and in our tents.
Have fun - We do...........
Labels: Journal Notes - June 26
posted by Appalachian @ 3:11 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home