Ensign Cowall Shelter 1057.6 to Pen Mar Road 1067.4 (9.8 miles)
Last night I spent sleeping on just enough of an incline that it had me sliding down my tent a tiny bit all night. I also couldn’t fall asleep till 11:30 for some reason. All the other hikers seemed kind of tired today, too, though.
Fortunately, after I packed up my tent and bag (only 30 minutes today) and walked down to the shelter for breakfast, the weather forecast had become less ominous. It looked like storms from 11-4 now, and I didn’t see a tornado warning anymore, but there was still a chance of damaging winds and hail. Turtle and I figured we could get to the Mason Dixon Line by lunchtime.
She had been planning on staying in Waynesboro, PA for an evening to shower and do laundry and sleep in a bed. I was on the fence today and yesterday if I would stay too or not.
I knew I needed to resupply, but wasn’t sure if I was ready to stay in town yet. Town can be a vortex I learned last time, and I want a successful and more efficient hike this time. But with the weather, and hiking a 17 mile day yesterday and 10 miles to town today it seemed to make sense, especially as I’m still easing into things.
Turtle assured me she gets back on the trail by morning and I thought it would be a good idea to have someone show me the ropes of an efficient resupply. Last time there was a lot of picking up resupply boxes at the post office, but this time I am going to buy my food along the way.
Zeus and LB were going to be hiking further up than us, but we hiked the first quarter of a mile with LB before he hiked on, gearing up for a bigger day than us.
The day started out absolutely beautiful, with a few fields of tall grass (checking for ticks along the way) early in the day, and a low mist that blew away with the sun early on. My favorite hiking of the day is the first part of the morning, when my body feels fresh and strong.
We spend the first mile of the day in an ascent that wasn’t too steep or rocky, with a couple nice water crossings as well. There were a few ups and downs, before a pretty steep ascent up to Raven Rock Shelter. That was five miles into the day and I was feeling hungry, and it was getting rockier.
The shelter was absolutely beautiful, and we took a long lunch with Zeus, who had caught up to us a little while back. We were trying to wait out the weather, and it finally seemed to have gone around us. For an hour and half, we ate and talked, and stretched.
Continuing on, the trail had a small incline for a bit then a side trail to a view, which we skipped this time, trying to make sure we had good time to avoid bad weather. After that things became very rocky.
Just as rocky as the day before, with a steep but short decline. For about two or three miles it was rocks on rocks as the trail went up and down, and many times nothing resembled a trail so much as a jumble of rocks with white blazes. Pick your path to the next blaze over sharp rocks, wobbly rocks, big ones and small ones.
We were expecting it, because a section hiker had warned us yesterday, but it was slow going. Fortunately, the rocks were not wet like yesterday, so not slippery on top of being a little treacherous to navigate.
Going too quick on then it is easy to get a small or big injury to take a hiker off the trail for a few days or for good. I normally might not be so cautious, but because Turtle had sprained her ankle on a rock shortly before I met her, I figured it was a sign to be careful.
Once we hit Pen-Mar Park, things got easier terrain wise and we were able to hike faster in to the park, where we found a pavilion with views, a couple section hikers, a NOBO named Rabbit, and Zeus, who had been right behind us.
Another .3 brought us to the Mason Dixon Line, the official entrance to the northern half of the country, and state border between MD/PA. We snapped some pictures and walked to the road right beyond the line and texted for a shuttle.
Zeus continued on, going to head another five miles to the next shelter. We said goodbye, not expecting to see him again as he was finishing his hike with big miles the next two days. Coasty and Pesto stopped by for a second and hiked on. They are a NOBO pair who were getting an AirBnb in Waynesboro and a ride at the next road a mile up.
Mazhar picked us up and drove us into Waynesboro, but as we were getting a couple miles away from the Days Inn, Zeus called Turtle. He had turned his ankle almost a mile in from where we saw him, and needed to get into town.
He was having trouble walking and needed a shuttle. We checked in quick, then Mazhar dropped us at Walmart to resupply while he went to pick up Zeus. It was another reminder to be careful on the rocks.
Since it was my first real resupply, I let Turtle lead the way. We got (somewhat healthy) chocolate, Larabars, Clif Bars, breakfast essentials with extra protein, tuna, ramen, trail mix, tortillas, cheese, and pepperoni. I also got a Mountain House meal of beef stew and cheap running shorts to wear so I could do laundry.
Mazhar picked us up with Zeus and Rabbit as well, and dropped Turtle, Zeus, and I back at the motel. Zeus was going to cut his 1/4 section hike a couple days and about 36 miles short and head home the next day to make his ankle is okay.
From there, Turtle and I showered, did laundry at the laundromat, got dinner at a Mexican restaurant with Zeus, repackaged and divided our shared food items, washed our dishes, repacked our bags and, finally, around 10:30 laid on our beds and relaxed. It was well earned.
I am a person who likes to budget, and it was great being able to split the cost of the room, shuttles, and food. Altogether, this trip to town cost me $137 ($48 of it was food for about 4-5 days). Not bad if I only do that once a week or so.
I am really excited to have completed my first full state, Maryland, while out here. I hiked around 45 miles since I have started, which is not bad for four days just starting out.
I am very much enjoying hiking with Turtle, we have discussed a lot of things about our lives over the past 20 or so miles. We both were in sales before the trail, and have similar experiences in many ways.
It’s been a blast meeting the other hikers and seeing them at different points up the trail. A lot of times I never know if I will see a hiker at the next shelter or never again. That’s the nature of the trail, and it makes it easier to appreciate whatever time you spend with someone, and is also the beauty of Hike Your Own Hike.
I also feel myself becoming less guarded with people the longer I am out here, which is both a scary feeling and a nice one as I let my walls down and I feel my humanity come back. I am at home with hikers, and it has been so fun to share my prior trail stories with them.
It’s an interesting feeling to be both new but also seasoned to the trail. I’m learning new things as I go, but feel I have such a better handle on everything this time around. Other than the rocks, I am excited to see what Pennsylvania brings.