Pennsylvania ROCKS ! and The Sun is Shining!

Thats right believe it or not today is a beautiful day. Maybe that is nothing new for y’all down south or around the world but it is a great relief here. It has rained something like the last 12 of 13 days I’ve been on the trail. We even got hail a few times and can see our breath every night and morning. I keep trying to explain to my yankee friends that this is not normal for the end of May and I try and remember how hot it is in the dirty south right now.

Also PA is not a very fun trail. Decent views every now and then but the trail is rough. It is either bog, jagged rocks that shread your feet and knees, forest roads that bore you or giant boulders you have to leap to and fro. I’m not complaining. Well yes I am. Everyone is complaining. The shelter registers and everyone you meet on the trail are talking about the rocks. I don’t want to sound like a weenie but it is just much different than what we are used to. One register entry recommended glueing rocks to your shoes so you just constantly stepped on rocks. Lucky for me I only have 15.5 miles left of this state (which I will complete this afternoon) and then it is on to jousey (thats the spelling with the accent).

This weekend is supposed to be a good one which means the trails will probably be crowded. Hopefully my 2 month streak of not having to set up my hammock won’t be broken. Hiked a couple of days with Strides who I met before and after Harpers Ferry. Spent the last 5 or 6 nights with Dynamite. He wakes up and leaves before me and hikes faster than me but he counts on me strolling in late in the afternoon. We are currently in town right before Delaware Water Gap. It is easier to resupply here than there so we just have to carry our RIDICULOUS food bags 15 extra miles. He saw a bear the other day but I didn’t have such luck/misfortune (depending on how you look at it). I did however have the scare of my life.

If you honestly worry about me. Stop reading. I’m serious you will wish you had. Okay I warned you.

So about two days ago I had just talked to Roundhosue and my dad and was even lucky enough to catch a call from Romain and got to talk to all my old French buddies. I spent a little too long at lunch and still had 10+ miles to go, so I was bookin it. A decent jog, nothing too crazy. I get to some big rocks and have to start boulder jumping. Near the top I place my foot down on the ground next to a boulder and something catches my eye. Something out of place. Oh yeah, thats right a Copperhead snake. (For those who don’t know this is the only venomous snake in PA besides rattlers) It’s curled up and my foot is about 6 inches from it. Upon realizing this, I instantly jump back (no time to look and be safe. This thing is poisonous). What does it do when I jump back? It strikes at me. Oh yeah, talk about a big WOAH! Luckily I don’t kill myself on the jump and luckily it doesn’t get me. It did come within two inches of my leg. It took me a minute to get my legs to quit shaking but I was eventually able to bypass it on my second attempt and keep hiking. Pretty intense huh? I bet some of you wished you hadn’t read that but thats trail life.

For +12 and Charlene I ran into Don Juan last night. He and 2 other guys rolled into the shelter a little before dark. There were some sectioners there so they decided to pitch a tent. We left at 7 this morning and they were gone so we might see them in DWG tonight at the hostel. Only doing 20 point something today but left early so we could get Mc’Ds for breakfast. Umm.

Okay been in town for too long. Came to K-mart for socks and found free internet. Got distracted. Can’t upload pictures here. I have some good ones so hopefully I’ll be able to get them to you soon. Thanks to all that are keepin up.

-Trill

(oh yeah saw the braves are a game and half back. thats good to hear. And for those that are wondering: The beard continues to amaze me and everyone I meet)