Tag: Pennsylvania

“I’ve got sunshine, on a cloudy day

When it’s cold outside, I’ve got the month of May (ooh)

I guess you’d say

What can make me feel this way?

My girl, my girl, my girl

Talkin’ ’bout my girl, my girl” – The Temptations

Up at 7:45. Packed , blogged, planned the next 2 days, and headed out at 9:00. We have an easy day. Just 11 miles to Eckville Shelter. Humid and sunny in the upper 80s today.

Walked under the highway exiting Port Clinton. Seems appropriate given what the town is like. 

We have a big 2.3-mile ascent out of town first thing today. Should be fairly easy after that.

Dana is driving up this afternoon to spend tonight and tomorrow night with her friend Janine before picking us up Saturday evening. My shoes are trashed. Dana will drop off new shoes for both of us this evening as well as some supplies. Awesome! PA is killing our feet. 

Stopped at 11:30 and 3.1 miles for a break.

Stopped at Furnace Creek at 1:00 for water. Only 965.7 miles to go !!!

Saw a water snake. He was FAST in the  water. Back on trail at 1:40.

Took a snack break at 3:00. 2.8 miles to go.

Arrived at Eckville Shelter at 4:35. Dried out my gear that was still damp from Tuesday’s rain. Unpacked, settled in, and made dinner at 5:30. Dana should be here around 6:30. One other person in shelter so far. 2 bars of cell service. 

Dana met us about 6:30 at the shelter. New shoes are great, and the small resupply (cookies, turkey sticks, Fritos) plus cold Dr Pepper is awesome! Thanks, Dana. We will see each other again Saturday evening.

Mosey showed up around 6:00, and Tortilla showed up around 7:30. We chatted a bit and went to bed at 8:30.

Technical Notes:

• Pop-Tarts 370
• Beef bites 250
• Trail mix 200
• Beef bites 200
• Skittles 50
• Fig bar 200
• Dehydrated chicken 170
• Ramen 740
• Dr Pepper 240
• Dr Pepper 240
• Water liters 4
• Miles 15.1
• Time 9
• Elevation gain 2185
• Calories consumed 3000
• Calories burned 6000

“Little Jimmy Jackson is jackin’ up his Bronco

He’s gonna lay a little rubber later on at the truck pull

And all the girls are getting pretty, sprayin’ on the White Rain

Yeah, they’re gonna get a rowdy tonight

Down at the football game, yeah

We let it rip when we got the money

Let it roll if we got the gas

It gets wild, yeah, but that’s the way

We get down in a Hicktown” – Jason Aldean

Up at 6:00. Started raining. Packed up and ready to go at 7:00. My tent is wet and a lot of my gear is damp. Ick. 18 miles to go today. Gonna rain on and off all day. Humid and mid-80s. On trail at 7:10.

Took a break at 8:10 and 2.1 miles. Back on trail at 8:25.

Break at 10:20. 6.2 miles down. We called the hotel and there are only 3 rooms available tonight and they don’t take reservations. Shared bathroom, not private bath. If we can’t get a room, we will Uber to the next real town tonight for a room.

PA is seriously rocky. Destroying our feet and shoes!

Back is hurting a bit again 🙁

Large prescribed burn. Hiked through it for an hour.

Reached Eagle’s Nest shelter at 12:10. Filled up on water as there is no more water till we reach town in 9 miles. Back on trail at 1:00.

Stopped at 3:30 for a break. We have 3.8 miles to go.

Tough steep descent into Port Clinton. I almost fell and Overkill did fall. No injuries.

Got to the Port Clinton hotel at 6:35. Dana called ahead for us and paid for two rooms. Awesome!

Interesting little town. Calling it a town is being very generous! There is the hotel, which is more like an old-school boarding house, the peanut shop, fire station, post office, good-sized railroad yard, and not much else. The hotel has 2 shared bathrooms for about a dozen bedrooms. It’s basic and functional. The bar and food menu were quite nice. Coin-operated laundry in the basement was decent. 

Checked in, showered, did laundry, and had a real meal. Dried out my rain fly in the room overnight. We chatted with Tortilla and Mosey for a while at the bar. Chatted with Dana. In bed about 10:00

Technical Notes:

• Pop-Tarts 370
• Chips Ahoy 160
• Chips Ahoy 160
• Skittles 100
• Chips Ahoy 160
• Chomps beef stick 90
• Peanut butter crackers 220
• Beef bites 350
• Trail mix 270
• Chips Ahoy 160
• Chips Ahoy 160
• Trail mix 200
• Dinner and drinks 3500
• Water liters 5
• Miles 18
• Time 11
• Elevation gain 1616
• Calories consumed 6000
• Calories burned 7000

“Something happens and I’m head over heels

I never find out until I’m head over heels

Something happens and I’m head over heels

Ah, don’t take my heart, don’t break my heart

Don’t, don’t, don’t throw it away” – Tears For Fears

Up at 7:00. Part of my quilt is damp from rain. That’s bad as it all goes in one dry bag and the entire thing will be damp. I’m trying the clothes dryer on air only for 20 minutes or so.

It’s supposed to be mostly cloudy and low 80s and humid today. Rain the next 2 days. On trail at 8:20.

We have 17 miles to go today to a tent site. That was a lot of rain last night so it will be slippery on all the rocks. We have a good-sized 2.5-mile climb to start the day. Ed Byrd is meeting us with a small resupply at mile 11.4 around 2:00.

Crossed under I-81.

Took a break at 9:46. It’s humid and overcast today. Rocks are slippery!

Took a good fall. My head ended up below my feet in the rocks. Got very lucky I did not crack my head. Scared Overkill. And scared myself.

Arrived at William Penn shelter at 12:35 for a break and to fill up on water. Large 2-story shelter. Back on trail at 1:10.

Ed met us at 3:00. He brought us cold beverages, water, and a few key resupply items (cookies and beef bites). We hung out with Ed until 4:30. Thanks again, brother!

Nice view not long after leaving Ed.

Nice view at 6:15.

We crossed the 1200-mile mark. This means we have LESS than 1000 miles to go!

Got to campsite at 7:30. Set up camp and made dinner by 8:30. In bed at 9:20.

Technical Notes:

• Hot pocket 300
• Pop-Tarts 370
• Body armor 150
• Cookies 180
• Trail mix 170
• Trail mix 200
• Turkey sticks 120
• Trail mix 170
• PayDay 240
• Gatorade 190
• Root beer 150
• Snickers  250
• Orange 300
• Turkey sticks 80
• Skittles 150
• Peak Refuel Pork ‘ n Rice 800
• Pop-Tarts 370
• Fig bar 200
• Water liters 5
• Miles 17
• Time 11
• Elevation gain 2505
• Calories consumed 4500
• Calories burned 6500

“I was a dam builder

Across the river deep and wide

Where steel and water did collide

A place called Boulder on the wild Colorado

I slipped and fell into the wet concrete below

They buried me in that great tomb that knows no sound

But I am still around

I’ll always be around and around and around and around and around and around” – The Highwaymen 

Up at 6:00. Out of camp at 7:05. We have 24 miles to go today. It’s going to rain on and off all afternoon and evening.

Short food break at 8:05. It’s really humid today.:(

Took a break at 10:30. 4.9 miles to the next shelter and water. Should be there about 1:00.

Got to Rausch Gap Shelter at 1:10. It started raining lightly about 30 minutes ago. Enough for me to put my umbrella up. Plenty of thunder as well. Good water at the shelter. 

Carefully made our way across a flooded area due to a beaver dam. Balancing on slippery logs for about 2 football fields.

Crossed I-81 again.

Got to the Stay at Swatara hostel at 5:30. We decided to call the day early. Plus it’s too tempting to stay once we saw the resupply, soda. Pizza, pizza, etc. We are splitting half of a 4-person Coleman tent for $25 per person, which includes laundry and shower. Not bad! It’s going to rain more this evening and tonight.

Did laundry, resupplied, planned out the rest of PA. Talked to Dana for a while. Headed to bed at 10:00. 

It’s raining again all evening. Yuck.

Technical Notes:

• Pop-Tarts 370
• Cookies 120
• Trail mix 170
• Turkey stick 220
• Cookies 120
• Cookies 120
• Cookies 120
• Slim Jim 390
• Skittles 150
• Cookies 360
• Pringles 210
• Body armor 200
• Body armor 200
• Tasty cake 225
• Frozen pizza 1500
• Water liters 5
• Miles 17.4
• Time 10
• Elevation gain 2307
• Calories consumed 4475
• Calories burned 7000

“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