Tag: 2024

“Now it’s the same old song

But with a different meaning since you’ve been gone

Now it’s the same old song (same old song)

But with a different meaning since you’ve been gone

I, oh I can’t bear to hear it” – The Four Tops

Up at 6:30. Walked across the street to Goodies for breakfast. Finished packing up and last-minute chores at the hostel. On the trail at 8:30.

Crossed the Juniata and then the Susquehanna rivers. About 2-mile road walk from the hostel across the rivers and railroad tracks before entering the woods.

Stopped at Clark’s Ferry Shelter for a break and to load up on water at 11:30. We have 14 miles of no water this afternoon. 

Texted with Ed Byrd. He will meet us on Tuesday at PA 183 and take us to resupply. Thanks, brother!

Snack break at 1:55. 10.2 more miles to go. Back on the trail at 2:15.

Stopped at Peter’s Mountain Shelter at 4:00 for a break. Huge two-story shelter. Water is .2 down a nasty hill, which we are not tackling. Back on the trail at 4:45.

Weather is okay today. Breezy, clear, not terrible humidity, high 80s.

Ordered new shoes. Dana will bring them when we meet in Wind Gap, PA, on Saturday.

Got to camp at 8:12. We are camping in a thick stand of pines, so it’s already dark. Camp setup and chores done by 8:50. Dinner in the dark at 9:15. My food can just live in my tent tonight. 

In the tent at 9:30. It’s muggy with no wind. Ick.

Technical Notes:

• 3-egg omelette with sausage 600
• Toast 170
• Oreos x5 300
• Chomps beef stick 90
• Zero-sugar sausage 120
• Oreos x3 180
• Skittles 75
• Oreos x3 180
• Skittles 50
• Trail mix 170
• Trail mix 170
• Skittles 50
• Skittles 100
• Peak Refuel pork n rice 800
• Fritos 500
• Water liters 5
• Miles 18.4
• Time 11:30
• Elevation gain 2650
• Calories consumed 3200
• Calories burned 6800

Up at 7:30. Slept like a log for a solid 10 hours. Nice, quiet, cool bunk room. I think there are only 5 of us in the hostel, and there is room for 15. 

Worked on blogs and route planning till 9:00, then walked a block to Goodies restaurant for breakfast. My family will be here about noon. 

Worked on blogs till my family arrived. We drove 20 minutes to REI to get my new pack.

I got an Osprey Atmos AG 65 large. This is about 7 liters bigger than my previous pack and on a larger torso frame. The guy working at REI was very knowledgeable, and we talked about why I was changing packs and did a new set of measurements. I’m right on the edge between the small/medium and the large/xl packs. After trying both with 33 lbs weight, we both agreed on the large. This style pack weighs about 5.5 lbs versus the 2.7 lbs I was wearing. That gives me a MUCH beefier hip belt. Heavier back frame (still internal), beefier shoulder straps, and a lot of different pouches/compartments. For the total weight I’m carrying and my age, the ultralight packs just won’t suffice. Now I need to learn how to pack this thing and how to properly wear it.

After REI, we went to a diner for lunch, then my family dropped me back at the hostel in Duncannon. Thanks, Rex, Shelley, and Mom!

Spent the afternoon blogging and packing my new pack. Had dinner at The Doyle hotel. Not bad at all. Back to the hostel and in bed by 9:00. The dog, Tilly, slept with me all night 🙂

We have made up about 3 days of schedule in the past 6 weeks. I think we can make up 3 or 4 more days from now through Vermont. More if my back cooperates. Not too shabby!

Technical Notes:

• Not tracking on town days
• Water liters 
• Miles 
• Time 
• Elevation gain 
• Calories consumed 
• Calories burned 

“Driving in to Darlington County

Me and Wayne on the Fourth of July

Driving in to Darlington County

Looking for some work on the county line

We drove down from New York City

Where the girls are pretty but they just want to know your name

Driving in to Darlington City

Got a union connection with an uncle of Wayne’s” – Bruce Springsteen 

Up at 7:00. On trail at 8:20. 106 miles to go to Duncannon. Mid-70s clear and getting humid.

Once we got out of the trees, we wandered through fields for a few miles.

Stopped to fill up on water at 10:00. We have our nasty climb up next.

Stopped for a snack after finishing the climb at 11:15.

Very rocky 6 miles into Duncannon. Welcome to Rocksylvania. I’m having lots of back issues today, which is slowing us down.

Nice view down onto the Susquehanna valley and Duncannon.

YouTube video of a Duncannon 

Got to Kind of Outdoorsy hostel in Duncannon at 3:15. Looks nice at first glance. Duncannon itself is about as rundown as I remembered.

We showered, did laundry, planned our resupply, and got dinner. I also joined my friend’s Friday happy hour Zoom call for the first time in a month. Good to see everyone! Dinner was multiple appetizers and adult beverages at a local pub. Very unhealthy but very filling and enjoyable! Back to hostel and asleep by 9:30 on a Friday night. Woo hoo!

Looking forward to a day off tomorrow. Will be good to see my family, and my body needs a rest. Getting my new backpack as well!!

Technical Notes:

• Pop-Tart 370
• Pop-Tart 370
• Skittles 50
• Zero-sugar sausage 120
• Skittles 75
• Peanut butter crackers 250
• Trail mix 270
• Zero-sugar sausage 120
• Zero-sugar sausage 120
• Trail mix 170
• Skittles 100
• Dr. Pepper 150
• Dinner 4000
• Water liters 4
• Miles 10.6
• Time 7
• Elevation gain 1272
• Calories consumed 7000
• Calories burned 5500

“Working on the highway, laying down the blacktop

Working on the highway, all day long I don’t stop

Working on the highway, blasting through the bedrock

Working on the highway, working on the highway” – Bruce Springsteen 

Up at 6:00… everything is wet from rain last night. Still drizzling this morning but should stop any time, partly cloudy and mud 80s today. We want to get to Boiling Springs by 9:00. Looking forward to coffee and breakfast. Will find a place to dry out tent and clothes in the afternoon when the sun comes out. On trail at 7:15.

Started hiking through farmland at 8:20. Very different vibe. 

YouTube video of farm walk

Reached the outskirts of Boiling Springs at 8:50. Lots of train traffic here, hence why we DID NOT camp here last night. 

Ate breakfast on the patio at Cafe 101. Wonderful. I’ve been here before and love this place. We had company as well.

Stopped at the old and now abandoned ATC building to rearrange packs and fill up on water. We have a 14-mile stretch with no water ahead of us. On trail at 10:25.

Stopped for a break at 12:20 at mile 9.2 for today. Just over halfway. Nice easy hike through farm fields most of today. Sun is mostly staying behind the clouds, but it is humid, could be a lot worse. Back on trail at 12:50.

Today is an odd mix of farm fields and major highways. 

Crossed the PA turnpike at 1:30.

Crossed US11 at Carlisle, PA.

Mile 12.8 – Mennonite farm stand with Gatorade and fresh fruit. Yum.

Crossed I-81 again at 2:55. 

Hiked through more fields and pastures.

Stopped at the Scott Farm Work Center, an ATC facility, at 3:40 to dry out our tents from last night’s rain. It’s an old farmhouse, barn, and various outbuildings used by the ATC and the local AT club for maintaining the trail and holding events. 

We have 4.1 miles to camp and the last 2.6 are nasty. I know from experience as I section hiked this area last fall. Should be at camp by 7:00.

View near the top looking south at Carlisle and I-81.

Got to Darlington shelter at 6:40. The last mile up was very tough as we were each carrying 4 liters of water! It’s dry out here!!

Overkill is tenting and so far I have the shelter to myself. It’s a big shelter with bunks and room for 10. Got a clothesline set up and trying to dry clothes from today and last night’s rain.

Ate dinner and dried clothes. Read till 9:30 and then tried to sleep. 

Just 10.6 miles into Duncannon tomorrow. One big climb and one nasty rocky descent into town. Plan to sleep in a bit so should be in town by 2:00.

Technical Notes:

• Pop-Tart 370
• Large latte 230
• Large latte 230
• Large OJ 240
• Breakfast 1500
• Skittles 50
• Combos 240
• Combos 240
• Gatorade 140
• Skittles 50
• Dehydrated chicken 170
• Ramen x2 740
• Cookies 420
• Honey Stinger 140
• Water liters 5
• Miles 18.6
• Time 11:30
• Elevation gain 1925
• Calories consumed 4760
• Calories burned 6800

“A better rain

The kind that comes in off the coast and paints the sky

And lets you know that God’s alive

A better rain

That’ll wash me from your eyes so you can smile again

And be all right again

In a better rain” – George Straight 

Up at 7:10. On trail at 8:15. We have 15.5 miles today with a resupply break at mile 8.5. We also have our first BIG rock scramble late in the day.

Mid 80s, humid, 35% chance of rain mid-afternoon.  We NEED the rain badly!

Stopped for a quick break at 9:40.

Stopped for a break at 11:15. Back is hurting.:(

Got to Green Mountain store at 12:40. Lunch, coffee, small resupply, and a takeout sandwich for dinner. Somebody ran a car into the building last week and took out the front steps.

Got about 6.8 miles to the shelter for tonight. Saw the extended tramily leaving the store as we were approaching. We will all be at the same shelter tonight. Back on trail at 1:45. Nice break.

Stopped for a break at 2:40. Nice logs.

Trail magic at 3:00!!!

Tough vertical up to a big rock scramble. Fun!

Stopped to get 4 liters of water .1 miles before shelter. Hustled to shelter and set up tent trying to beat the storm. I got my tent set up just as the rain started. Roughly 6:30. 

Ate my chicken cheesesteak in tent while heavy rain came down. It’s like a sauna in the tent. Moved to shelter to hang out till dark. Still raining on and off but hopefully it will cool off and the breeze will kick up.

Very full shelter. Hung out till about 9:00, then back to the tent to get settled in for the night. I’ll definitely be using my fan tonight. Fortunately, I have full battery banks thanks to the hostel last night.

We have 4 miles to go to get to Boiling Springs. Hope to be there for breakfast at 9:00 a.m.

Technical Notes:

• Pop-Tart 370
• Pop-Tart 370
• Skittles 75
• Zero-Sugar Sausage 120
• Skittles 75
• Ham, Egg, Cheese Sandwich 600
• Twix 440
• Coffee 40
• Reese’s Cups 400
• Body Armor Lyte 15
• Beef Stick 150
• Chicken Cheese Steak 650
• Skittles 100
• Pringles 370
• Misc 225
• Water liters 5
• Miles 15.6
• Time 9
• Elevation gain 2528
• Calories consumed 4000
• Calories burned 6500

“I have *had* it with these motherfucking *snakes* on this motherfucking *plane*!” – Samuel L. Jackson

Up at 6:50. Packed up and on the trail at 7:50. We have 2 miles to get water, then another 9.6 to Pine Grove Furnace. 

Clear, no wind, heading up high 90s.

Got to Birch Run shelter at 8:35. Very easy, slightly downhill walk. Loaded up on water and headed out at 9:00.

Stopped at Dead Woman’s Hollow Road at 10:00 for food and water. It’s getting quite hot out here 🙁

Reached the halfway mark at 10:35. Wooo hooo!!!!

At 1:15, we reached the 1100-mile mark.

Another day, another rattlesnake. WTF! This is 3 days in a row. This guy was stretched out about 2 feet off the trail and rattled when I walked near. 

Reached Tom’s Run shelter at 12:05. It’s seriously hot out. We are going to break for a while with fresh water and shade.

This is the way.

Arrived at Iron Masters house / hostel in Pine Grove Furnace at 2:30.  Checked in, changed into dry clothes. And walked next door for our first dinner. Good 1/3 lb burger with a fried egg, bacon, and a fried onion. Back for our second dinner later.

Did laundry and researched new backpacks. I know what I need to buy, I just haven’t been able to bring myself to do it. For the weight I’m carrying and the age of my body, I need. To move away from the ultra-light packs (under 2.5 lbs) and move to a beefier pack (4.5 lbs) with a more robust internal frame and a much heavier hip belt. Fortunately, there is a REI near where I will be on Saturday, and I have family visiting, and that REI has what I need in stock. I’ll be moving to an Osprey Atmos AG 65.

My hope is this will solve my back issues. At this point, I can deal with the extra 2-3 lbs of weight. Also, I ordered a water bottle holder and a phone pouch to mount on chest straps. My family will bring those on Saturday.

Second dinner was a bacon ranch wrap and 3 Gatorades. I just can’t quench my thirst tonight. Go figure.

Some major milestones today:

• Past the halfway point!
• Past 1100 miles!
• Hottest day on the trail. Hiked in 99-degree heat (104 feels like)
• Ran into my 3rd rattlesnake in 3 days.

Talked briefly to Dana. Bad connections. Got my umbrella rigged up on my Swift X pack and prepped food for tomorrow. Paid a few July bills. Not tired but will try to get to bed around 10:00.

Technical Notes:

• Pop-Tart 370
• Skittles 100
• Crackers 190
• Zero-sugar sausage 120
• Skittles 75
• Payday 240
• Zero-sugar sausage 120
• Skittles 50
• Burger with bacon and egg 750
• Sodas x3 450
• Ice cream sandwich 430
• Root beer x2 320
• Bacon chicken ranch 600
• Gatorade 140
• Gatorade 140
• Gatorade 140
• Water liters 5.4
• Miles 11.8
• Time 7
• Elevation gain 910
• Calories consumed 4780
• Calories burned 5750

“… The road is long

With many a winding turn

That leads us to who knows where, who knows where

But I’m strong

Strong enough to carry him

He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother” – The Hollies 

Up at 6:00 and on trail at 7:10. Clear, mid-90s, humid. Curious to see how the new pack and my back get along today.

Stopped at Chimney Rocks at 8:00 for second breakfast. Nice view, but nothing photo-worthy.

Stopped at 9:45 for a snack. I rearranged the contents of my pack. Still fighting back pain.

Heard from my friend Ed Byrd. He is going to meet us at Caledonia State Park in a couple of hours with Gatorade and Snickers. Cool!

At 10:50 I stepped to the side of the trail to adjust my pack straps and heard a loud rattle. I annoyed this guy. Took us a minute to actually get eyes on him. We eased past him then watched him slither away. What’s with all the rattlesnakes!

Stopped for a break at the side trail to Rocky Mountain Shelter. Had a quick snack and moved on.

Got to Caledonia State Park at 1:00. My friend Ed Byrd drove 2 hours to bring us Gatorade, Snickers, and fresh fruit. We chatted for about an hour. Ed plans to do a Flip-Flop next summer. We said goodbye just after 2:00. Back on trail at 2:10. 

Stopped at Quarry Gap Shelter at 3:15. One of the nicest shelters on the AT.

Back on trail at 3:46. 7.5 miles to go.

Finished a hard hot climb at 5:10. Very hard climb. 

Stopped for water at Milesburn Cabin at 6:30. Was able to get a liter. We have about 2 .4 miles to go.

We decided to just go the .4 uphill from the cabin and camp. Otherwise, we would not be making dinner until 8:45 or later. 

We plan to sleep in tomorrow. We have 12 miles to reach Pine Grove Furnace, where we plan to stay at their hostel and eat at the grill at the Pine Grove Furnace store. Should be there about 2:30.

Overall, it was a good day. It was wonderful to see Ed. Great trail angel! My back did better with the new pack, but the vest harness is causing me some other muscle issues. Need a few more days to really figure things out. 

In bed at 9:30 and read for a while. 

Technical Notes:

• Pop-Tart 370
• Pop-Tart 370
• Skittles 75
• Skittles 75
• Snickers 250
• Snickers 250
• Medium orange 62
• Zero-calories sausage 120
• Skittles 100
• Trail mix 200
• Zero-calories sausage 120
• Trail mix 200
• Skittles 100
• Fritos 200
• Dehydrated beef 190
• Ramen 510
• Fritos 150
• Water liters 6
• Miles 17.6
• Time 10
• Elevation gain 3341
• Calories consumed 3700
• Calories burned 7500