Mile 1,208.8
Elevation 1,545.0 feet
Miles Hiked 15.1
Once again, my “snorer” radar failed me last night. I should have known something was up when all the other hikers but two setup tents instead of sleeping in the fully enclosed shelter. Yes, the three of us that stayed were treated to some of the loudest snoring yet, which was rendered by a young guy – a stealth snorer. When we got up in the morning, he packed up quickly and left. It was almost as if he knew we wanted to strangle him.
So with little sleep, I too packed up and headed north. After about three miles, I got stopped dead (bad choice of words) in my tracks. About fifty yards ahead of me was a huge black bear staring at me. Sorry, but no pictures or video this time. I was by myself and had to think quick. I started yelling and banging my trekking poles over my head. The bear turned as if to leave but then paused. After thirty seconds, he returned to the trail and stared at me again. Now I started chanting very loudly. That did it. He didn’t like my chanting so turned and lumbered off slowly. After a few minutes, I started hiking again while still chanting. If there was anyone else around, they would have thought I was crazy. I never did see the bear again.
I continued on after the bear incident. The further I hiked, the less fond I became of the rocks that littered the trail. Rocks are insidious. You, or at least I, don’t walk on them. No, you trip and stumble over them – if you’re lucky. The Pennsylvania part of the Appalachian Trail is known for its rocks. That’s why hikers call it Rocksylvania.
I reached the shelter at 5:00 PM. Two SOBO hikers were there eating dinner. We talked briefly while I setup my bed. After their dinner, the hikers were going to go off to a campsite and put up hammocks for the night. One of the two wanted to leave his food in the shelter. Great. First they contaminate the shelter with food smells by cooking in it, and then they want to leave their food behind. In no uncertain terms, I told them no. They didn’t like that but tough. With bears active in the area, I was having none of it.
It appeared that the shelter would be all mine until another hiker, Russian Jumper, walked in. What a space cadet. He got his trail name by literally jumping off a cliff and only stopping a fall of hundreds of feet by landing on tree branches. It takes all kinds.
