Day 6 - 13.4 miles - William Penn Shelter

This storm front has just got to move on soon.  Everything still damp from yesterday and of course it starts to pour as I cross an open field.  At least my shoes and socks are only wet and not sloshing.  My first obstacle of the day is a stream that I need to ford.  I dutifully take off my gear, pull out my crocks and change foot wear to cross the stream.  Later that night at camp I learn that there was an easy walking detour just round the corner. Hmmmmm!



Devil's Raceway



Two hikes up to ridges made for some sore muscles.  On the last ridge of the day, I had to cross what they call the Devils Raceway.  Being PA this could only mean a long stretch of unstable rock boulders to hop along on.  They have a different definition of fun in PA.  Well as soon as I got through that, the sky grew very dark and lighting and thunder started with pounding rain. (well I was almost dry).  Started to do my counting between lightening and thunder.  It got within a mile and a half and I was getting ready to retreat down the ridge when it turned.  Now my boots were swimming pools.  Still three miles to get to Penn Shelter.  One nice surprise was to come across a totally bright orange salamander sitting on the trail and enjoying all the rain.  Really cool to see how bright orange it was.

The next storm at least held off until I got to the shelter, got my water supply and had dinner.  Then it rained like there was no end to it.  At least I was under a roof.  Trouble was that roof had very busy mice living there.  Could hear them rattling around in our packs all night and had one run across my head about 2:30am.  Better to be dry and suffer a little bit of a disturbed sleep.

No personal pictures today - it was just too darn wet.