Old Village creekside camping
Long hike in from Clarks Ferry to camp. We're creekside: Sourball, Memphis, D.C./Magoo, Jettbutt/Sherbear, Slacker and me. Another hot one, 'though a great hike through Old Village Ruins. We're south of a stream, kicking back.
Hot and long hike, as I mentioned. Saw Peter's Mtn Shelter - both the old and new versions. Old shelter was used by Earl on his hike. Remarkably primative, not more than a four foot high dirt floor shed lean-to. Earl used to have it as his namesake, but he felt the primative wilderness aspect of the Trail is being degraded by the illogical waste of resources going into the fancy McManshelters that the clubs are building now. Perhaps he's right. He was put off enough to ask that his name be removed from these shelters, so they became Peters Mtn instead. I'm not sure the mini-shed shelters of yesteryear would accommodate the thru-traffic out now. With so many hikers, the overflow of the shelters would quickly destroy the surrounding campsite plots. Environmental destruction is the main component of many civilization failures. Something so simple as concentrated housing for hikers might extend the lifespan of this frail landscape before it succumbs to being overloved.
Photo: Sourball standing, Memphis seated. Sourball is reading and sharing this tome on the geology of the Appalachian Trail -- it's the only enjoyable part of the 'rocks under foot'. No pain, no Maine. Sourball's a Mainer -- has nothing but high praise for his home state. He plays the stoner hippie on trail, but he's a helluva lot smarter than he pretends, dude.