Opted to linger at the hostel while the hostel hosts shuttled other guests to "slackpack" (essentially day hike) other trail segments with no packs, then bring them back to the hostel for the night. Not a bad approach, but I'm a bit of a purist.
Craig took me back to the PA 183 trailhead by 11am, took my picture for their guest album, and I ambled my way towards the Eagle's Nest shelter, less than six miles but there were swampy sections (pictured). Along the way, I ran into Red Squirrel, Bangles, Johnny Walker, and several other women hiking south that Craig dropped off in Port Clinton early that morning.
I debated whether I should have started hiking earlier and camped at the pavilion in Port Clinton, but it was 2pm already and another nine miles would be a hard push.
I thought I might have missed the side trail to the shelter and had to bring up my GPS and AT app, but found the shelter by 3pm (pictured). Not that I needed it, but a new privy was still under construction and the old privy was gone (pictured). Poor planning in my opinion. Another hiker left a note in the shelter log that he would come back to help the local AT hiking club because they need it! The right attitude - be part of the solution.
Quite bored waiting for sunset and bed, made me think again that I should have continued to Port Clinton.
I had the shelter to myself that night, with the exception of a noisy rodent rustling around. Quite a bit of wind, too.
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