Sunday August 27, 2023. Mid-80s, 70% humidity, clear, no breeze.
Starting a 7 day 6 night section hike NOBO (North Bound) from Pen Mar on the MD/PA border to Duncannon, PA on the Susquehanna.
This is supposed to be shakedown hike in preparation for my AT thru-hike attempt in 2024. I need to shakedown my gear and my mind. The hardest part of a thru hike is the mental game, assuming you have your gear nailed down and know how to best use it all.
Total pack weight is 27.7lb with a base weight of 17.6 lbs. 2.75 liters of water.
Pitcrew dropped me off at 1:00 at Pen Mar park (mile 1067) and walked with me to the trail head. I planned this to be a short day with the mid-day start.
There were a few very steep uphills, but not a bad hike overall. Saw a few day hikers near Pen Mar, but quickly dropped to no people after about 2 miles.
The bugs were bad and zero wind did not help. I recently switched from using 100% DEET to a more friendly Picaridin insect repellent. 100% DEET is great but it can dissolve plastics and other synthetic fabrics. I am starting to think that switching was a mistake. I miss my 100% DEET!
I made it to Tumbling Run shelter (1075.6) around 5:45. This is a very nice location with a pair of shelters, a covered seating area, and a fire pit. Nice spring about .15 miles from shelter.
Mixed up water and Drank Mike’s Recovery Mix (256 calories) and had that while I cooled down before getting camp set up for the night.
Chatted briefly with a day hiker who was going up tot the summit to watch the sunset. Did not see anybody else the entire night.
Gathered 3 liters of water in my dirty water bag, filtered it with my Sawyer squeeze filter, and filled up my water bottles. Saved about 1.5 liters for tomorrow morning.
Changed into my dry camp clothes (shorts and short sleeve shirt), strung a clothes line, and hung up my soaked sweaty clothes to dry out as best possible by morning.
Dinner was a Mountain House rice and chicken dehydrated meal with more dehydrated chicken added for calories and protein (710 calories total).
Settled into a shelter with my quilt and pillow about 8:40.
Technical Notes:
- Mike’s Recovery Mix 256
- Mountain House rice and chicken 710
- Dehydrated chicken
- Water liters: 1.5
- Miles: 8.82
- Time: 4:46
- Up: 1547
- Calories consumed 1000
- Calories burned 1619
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