Saturday I picked up in Pine Grove Furnace and headed south towards Caledonia State Park, a 20 mile stretch I had not previously hiked. After a “quick trip” completely out of the way to REI.
The past few hikes I began having trouble with my right knee, especially when going down hill. To date I had not hiked with trekking poles but was noticing the more I read about hiking the more popular they became, nearly all long distance hikers were using them. By reducing my pack weight from a staggering 35+ lbs last year, to a base weight of 15 lb, I know that will help as well. I finally conceded carrying 2-4 beers at a time just wasn’t worth it. Maybe Santa will bring me a Backcountry Beer kit! I end up getting a good deal at REI on a pair of Black Diamond Z-poles Ultra Distance. I’ll admit they are kind of awkward at first. Trying to figure out a rhythm and how to properly use them took a little bit of time for me. But with anything, practice makes perfect and in no time I went from a trail bumbler & stumbler to a trail ninja. My arms could now help me pull my feet uphill. As quick as I could move my poles I could move my feet and climb hills with ease. I also added an additional mile per hour to my speed. I took a pretty decent slip on Sunday and had I not caught myself with my pole my ankle would have been a pile of spaghetti. I also noted at least 90% of the people I passed or met on the trail were using trekking poles as well, clearly I was now one of the well informed.
I made it to the Birch Run shelter in plenty of time to relax before the sun went down. As I approached I notice a group of 7 already sitting on the porch. Mostly college aged kids with gigantic backpacks. 5 of them were together in one group, the other was a pair of hammock campers. As we spoke the group of 5 said were heading out shortly to camp closer to their car after a 7 day trip. They were unprepared at best. Each had their own pack full of food and water, their own hammocks and 1 tarp between them. 4 had yoga mats and one was with without a yoga mat or an under quilt for his hammock. He complained of cold sleepless nights. thanks captain obvious. He was also wearing a pair of jeans and a recently found sweatshirt with a large burn hole on the back. He is going to be an engineer after graduation. He already is an idiot. Aside from their 5 hammocks they also carried a 4 person tent which they apparently had yet to use. The idea of stacking hammocks in trees was “cooler” than keeping warm in a tent. If they had spent more time planning their trip in regards to actual safety instead of safety meeting supplies(which they still had PLENTY of) they might have gotten some decent rest.
I was joined by two other hikers in the Bird Run shelter that night. honestly they were pretty nice guys, both recent college grads, one debating which law school he was going to attend. They were both generous with their offering of food or water. However hanging a pair of hammocks in the middle of the shelter is a bit lacking of courtesy to others. the group of 4 men had set up shop across from the shelter by this point and weren’t interested in fighting for shelter space. I thought it quiet odd that the hammock guys thought it prudent to hang their food bags on the bear bag pole shortly after making banana pancake’s in the shelter, and spilling pancake mix on one of the bunks. Although genuinely decent folks, this is why we can’t have nice things.
Sometime in the middle of the night another hiker slid into the shelter and pulled out his bag. I spoke to him in the morning and he explained he was at the last road at sunset and decided to push on. He passed no less than 5 campsites to get to the shelter. He was wearing gym shorts and insulating bottoms. Admittedly he froze the entire night. He set off to warm up in his car another mile and a half down trail, after declining a hot cup of free coffee.
I made my breakfast, enjoyed a pair of vanilla cappuccinos and left the shelter by 8.
I met Rev C and Shakedown Cruise a few hundred yards from the quarry Gap shelter where they had stayed the night prior. They’re on their first half of their flip flop heading NOBO our of Harpers Ferry. We chatted mid trail for about 20 minutes before I wished them luck with their hike and good health. They had short attainable goals for the first few days/weeks. Based on their attitudes alone, I know they will finish their hike successfully. I told them I was jealous of their adventure and we parted ways.
As spring is arriving I am beginning to see more hikers on the trail which is a double edged sword. More folks to talk to but also more people to watch out for. If there’s one thing I learned this weekend it is how unprepared some people really are for the chilly nights. If any one of those people would have gotten wet they would have been in some serious trouble. It was below freezing Saturday night on the mountain. Trade the hippie lettuce for long johns kids.
I’m a person freedom guy. Its your body, it’s your choice when it comes the hippie lettuce.
Trip miles: 20
AT miles YTD: 84.3