Eckville bunkhouse on the A.T.
M=15.7; C=1202.2
The bunkhouse is populated by nearly everyone in our crew: Model T, Sherbear, Jettbutt, Magoo, DreamCatcher, Memphis and Sourball. Wet gear was hung from every point in the shelter - all of the rafters had boots balanced or hanging pinata-like from laces, liners, clothing and sock dangled from strung paracord and cross members. Eight folks in a six-man bunk house! Fun times, except for the ice tea dripping from my nose. Dreamcatcher read her story of the rock (would be great for my niece Jeanie).
And so we crashed.
Register entry: Captain AT of '92 writes, 'stopping by while heading southerly with a THRU-HIKER ALERT: I be reading da 'Dan's Pulpit' register and I be seein' that several of you north bounders be complaining about the steep hill and rocks. Ha! You guys must be forgettin' Wesser, Sweetwater Gap, Shuckstack, Roan High Knob, Three Ridges, etc.! You 'pear to be gettin' soft, or maybe, spoilt! You wannabe Thruhikers listen up! There ain't no mountains in the sylvan state, just some big hills. I'll admit, there is a kinda steep place up the next hill, but it's short. You best be running up these hills 'cause you ain't seen nothing yet.
Now, we all know the Souther end of the A.T. is the best, but there's some pretty good stuff ahead. Our southern mountains are long and tall, but generally come with switchbacks. These dumb as a stump New Englanders have never heard of that word.
And rocks, Lordy Lordy; New England has a considerable rocks! You know the difference between PA rocks and N.E. rocks? PA rocks are made like flights of steps and aren't very big. N.E. rocks resemble washing machines, chest freezers and small houses, jumbled together and stacked on top of each other out of sight into the clouds. Instead of walking up them like the PA steps, you climb them like a ladder. Don't forget your rope!
'What's your point?', you say? My point is - just take it step by step - it's just keeps on gettin' better!!! Happy Trails!'
Papillon Duo: ' So what's so special about B+J ice cream, anyway?
I ate a pint, that. I don't understand.
So I ate another.
I think I'm beginning to understand.
I think I'll try another...'
-Eckville Shelter, 7/12
Photo, clockwise: Model T in bunk, BadDNA, Memphis, JettButt, SherBear.