5/27/99 Partnership Shelter   Miles Today : 10.2 Miles from Springer : 516.2

OK, I was a big slacker today. I hiked an easy 10 miles, got here by 1:00 and quit for the day. The morning started off great, with a perfectly clear sky and temps warm enough so that I was wasn't freezing. As I got going, the day started to heat up and the trails were great. I got to Partnership Shelter for lunch, and let me say that it is the nicest shelter on the AT so far. First, it is large, bigger than every shelter I have seen so far save for Overmounain Shelter and possibly the Fontana Hilton. The bottom floor can easily hold 8 people with tons of legroom and cooking space. The upstairs, with 2 windows, can easily hold 16 hikers. There were hooks and pegs placed everywhere to hang your stuff, and the construction was good enough to keep the mice from running everywhere.

The shelter also has a hot shower and a scrub sink out back. It is located behind a ranger station which is why it has running water. The biggest benefit though it that the ranger station is within distance for pizza delivery. That's right, when I got here Prince Albert and Medium Rare were chowing down on a hot peperoni pizza. Between that and the 50 cents soda machine, this place was hiker heven.

Prince Albert and Medium Rare had planned on staying at the Trimpi Shelter last night, but on a whim decided to night hike to here. They moved on the 12 miles to Atkins today. Cobra and No-Worries got here just after I did but decided to trod on the another seven miles to the next shelter.

I sat here with Huck Finn for a while. He is from Atlanta and has been hanging here for a few days. He has some money problems and is getting off the trail for a little while. He and I hitched to Marion to pick up some snacks and beer. Much to my delight I got a 6-pack of Sam Adams, REAL beer at last! When we got back to the shelter, Steve and Sally had arrived ( they were also at the Wise shelter when I was there ) along with Dannon and Yoplait. More food was delivered, more beer was drank and a fire was built. All around a great day.

HOME WORKSHOP: Getting a shower on the AT isn't always easy, but when the opportunity comes along, you take it. However, a free shower on the AT is not quite what you would get when you shower at home, and like everything else out here, can be a chore. First, adjust your shower at home to the perfect temperature and pressure. Now, make the shower a few degrees colder and decrease the pressure by a third. Next, throw away your soap and shampoo; there are neither of these in a free shower! You may use only whatever soap scum or residue that you can scrape off the soap dish, floor or walls. Now, turn off the shower and drip dry, after all we don't carry nice, plush towels out here on the AT. You may, however, use the 6" by 6" dish towel from the last excersise or any items of clothing that you will be wearing.

OK, that's it for now. I am looking forward to another short day tomorrow and to seeing my girlfriend for the first time in over a month. Oh happy day!

-Chomp

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