Cove Mtn. shelter

25.5 miles, 1133.2 total.
Last night was okay, but very buggy. Indiana Jones showed up around 8:00 so we ate together and chatted before calling it a night. Nick and Sara (from Texas and Kansas) showed up this morning just before 8:00 and we hit the trail soon after. The elevation profile looked really flat so we decided to have some fun. We were about 30 miles from Duncannon, PA, so we thought it appropriate to have our own Duncannon-ball Run. I played the part of Sammy Davis, Jr. :)
We took off at a pace somewhere between 4.5 mph and 5.5 mph, and we completed the first 4.8 miles in just over an hour. We spent an hour in Boiling Springs to rest, snack, and refill water. Then left there at the same blistering pace. Nick and Sara dropped back a bit, but Indy and I kept up the speed. Flying through farmers' fields and cattle pastures, across highways and interstates, and next to slow moving stagnant streams chased by mosquito swarms. Late in the afternoon it became apparent that we were not going to be able to complete it. sad. :(
The trail went back into the woods and straight up several very rocky sections and we (I) lost steam. Finally made it to this shelter around 7:30, just in time to set up camp and have something to eat before it started getting dark on this side of the mtn. Here with Indy and a group of recent grads from Temple U. They don't hike much and are having a rough time with their food, tents, and water.
So I failed at completing/winning the Duncannon-ball Run. Nobody won. We're all tired and sore...but tomorrow we only have 4+ miles to get to town. Nice. Can't wait to do laundry and shower. By the way, once again the weather was very nice. Forecast is for rain in the next couple of days, but I couldn't have asked for better weather for the past week. Very nice.
Later,
L.