Dates ........ SUN APR 25, 1999
Miles ........ 11.1 miles
From ........ Toms Run over SOUTH MTN and thru Pine Grove Furnace SP
To ............. Tagg Run Shelter
Weather ... 25 to 70 degrees, sunny, bright

SUN APR 25, 1999

Another very cold morning, pretty and very fresh - spring in the woods refreshing. There are massive amounts of POISON IVY vines along the trail just starting to come out. Called home from Pine Grove Furnace SP. I have been lonely. Pack gets lighter as food is consumed. Now taking breaks every 2 to 3 hrs to dry feet and treat blisters. Must prevent infection. Tagg Run shelter is beautifully constructed and has a modern marvel of a composting privy. But:

BAD NEWS. Tagg run shelters are near 2 commercial campgrounds. At first I am all alone in the seemingly remote shelter. I do laundry (ziploc bag and dish detergent, wring out and line dry) and cook supper. Group of 5 rough rednecks come by, makes fun of laundry, take over picnic table, smoke dope and drink beer. Very uncomfortable, from a distance I make a pretend cell phone call using my compass, while they are looking my way - they drift off only to be replaced by a guy in long pony tail, camo clothes with a cooler of beer, his wife and 3 year old child. They drank their beer and left. I piled up a large bunch of sharp softball size throwing rocks and drifted into a fitful sleep, finally alone at the shelter. Dogs barking and highway traffic could be heard all night. Very lonely. Glad to get going in the AM. At least I had clean clothes.