T+6 Preaching from the pulpits

​T+6 (Mar, 24,2020)

Got a surprisingly good night of sleep last night. The rain subsided around dusk and after the sky cleared out so I could see some stars.

Luckily my last minute worrying paid off in spades yesterday. The bag I purchased for the hike is made from DCF (Dyneema Composite Fabric) and is supposed to be the most water resistant pack material available. Initially I had it in my mind that I would skip on buying a pack liner, but about a week before hitting the trail I had a change of heart. My thinking was: they're light and quite cheap, so why not - just in case. Well, I'm here to tell you that DCF is indeed water RESISTANT, not water PROOF. If it's out in the rain for 8+ hours water will get in! I was glad I didn't have to suffer through the ~30°F night with a wet sleeping bag and clothes!

That being said, I REALLY didn't want to put on my wet hiking clothes & boots in the AM! I did everything to avoid this, so got on the trail late again: 11 AM. The goal heading into the day was Windsor Furnace Shelter 16.4 miles down the trail. My late start certainly put that in jeopardy.

In the end, hiking along old Jeep trails for the most part in the afternoon saved the day and I was indeed able to make the mileage and camp for the night at another shelter. I'm always anxious of meeting a large group of people at the shelter, but apart from the first stay in one I've had the places to myself. Staying in them does save time and energy of erecting the tent, which part of me feels guilty about “cutting corners” but the trail weary part can easily overrule that part of me.

On to the hiking for the day! Just south of the shelter is one of the most wonderfully attended sections of trail I've ever hiked. Some group of people has taken the time to rearrange the PA rocks into almost an Avenue.

​It was quite a thing to see and ponder when some archeologist 10,000 years from now would think of the avenue. If they're anything like modern archeologists they'll probably chalk it up to an ill defined "ritual". I guess in a way one could consider the-hiking the AT a ritual, so they may not be too far from the truth!

Right after that section of trail was a rocky outcropping completely covered in what looked from afar to be Ivy. That is until one realizes that in truth it is all some sort of lichen. I found the extensive growth of this stuff quite remarkable. If anyone knows what it actually is, please leave let me know in the comments. Whatever the name, its remarkable that they've been able to nearly completely cover the rocks. I wonder how many centuries it took for them to do this!

Appalachian Trail Avenue

Ivy lichen covered rock pile

Ivy lichen

​About 3.5 miles into the hike I came upon Dan's Pulpit overlook. Actually, I nearly passed it up. There was a couple of women snacking there and I didn't want to bug them. That is until I got a glimpse of the view. Most of the views I've experienced so far have been pretty obscured (or obscured by cloud / fog), so when I got a glimpse at the last minute I just had to turn around and take it in proper.

Dan’s Pulpit. Preach on brother, I’m listening!

While there I had a nice chat with the two ladies. Both were locals out enjoying time "away from their adult children". Apparently, they go on day hikes frequently and are quite familiar with the section of trail I've traversed thus far. They informed me that the most rocky bits of PA are indeed now behind me. They were also surprised that I went over knife's Edge yesterday in the freezing rain. Well, to be honest, I'm not sure that surprised is the right word. Stunned? Horrified? (Maybe too strong of a word that one.) All in all a nice chat while adjusting my equipment and snacking.

After Dan's Pulpit its downhill to Hawk Mountain Road. On this downhill I met another local and we had a chat. A recently retired, former physical therapist. He seemed genuinely worried about the situation and his choice to retire early. He never said anything outright but if I were a belting man I'd wager that he has a good chunk of his savings in the market...which has really pooped the bed. I try not to think about it! In spite of everything, he offered to help me in any way he could. A ride, food, a shower. I politely declined and we eventually went our separate ways.

I hit Hawk Mountain Road around 2. Meaning 7.4 miles down, ~9 to go to make it to Windsor Furnace Shelter. After Hawk Mountain Road the trail runs along a series of old jeep roads, so I got to make up some time, The ladies I had spoken to earlier in the day informed me I could look forward to this (and I did look forward to it!). So, the plus of traversing such "trail" is that you can make quick work of it. The negative is that others out looking for an easy day hike will be attracted to it. I probably passed 20+ people, mainly kids in their teens and 20's, out day hiking. Not great for social distancing. Though we do pass quickly and I try to take a big breath and hold it for as long as possible after I'm passed them.

​Made it to Pulpit Rock around 5:45. Beautiful views and only one other person there. That's in contrast to the Pinnacle, which is where all of the kids were headed. So I skipped that one. Glad I did! The view was essentially the same from Pulpit Rock and I avoided people, success!

View from Pulpit Rock. Why all the pulpits in the area?

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​After that it was another 1.8 miles downhill to the shelter. On the way down ran into a rock outcropping that appeared as if it had been photocopied from one in the White Mountains.

Is this Pennsylvania or New Hampshire?

I managed to successfully make my target destination, make camp (including sweep the floor of the shelter), filter water, and start cooking dinner before sunset. Still don't know how I managed to do it with the late start, but it happened!

For those keeping up at home T+6 adds an additional 16.4 miles for a total so far of 69.9 miles.