Catch-up for 23-24 April.

Catch-up for 23-24 April. While I was waiting at Ironmasters Mansion hostel at Pine Grove Furnace, I was joined by Gizmo, a section hiker from Colorado who started his #AppalachianTrail hike at the James River footbridge almost 350 miles south. We chatted quite a bit while waiting for the hostel to open at 5pm. Gizmo got his trail name on this trip because he carries several gadgets, including an InReach satellite messaging device and a GPS watch.

We both got into the hostel (the only two who stayed that night, actually). Nice to get a shower, and the Innkeeper served us pizza for dinner. I also did my laundry.

Gizmo decided it was time to return home to his family, and a friend in Maryland agreed to pick him up the next day.

The Innkeeper provided a nice breakfast of scrambled eggs, toaster waffles, toasted bagel and orange sections. I also drank several glasses of OJ - very thirsty!

Gizmo decided to hike north and back on the AT before his afternoon pickup. He got started earlier than I, so I didn't see him again until he was returning about eight miles along. We said our farewells and I continued on to the Alec Kennedy shelter, my longest hike yet (15+ miles) finishing with some steep climbs. It was a rather gloomy hike with rain expected, but I did stop at Green Mountain store at noon and got a big turkey, ham and bacon sub with a quart of chocolate milk to wash it down (pictured). Did you notice the food theme developing?

I made it to the shelter (pictured) shortly before the rain started. Had the place to myself. It was nice to be warm and dry while the rain continued all night.