Day 6 - 13.4 miles - William Penn Shelter

This storm front has just got to move on soon.  Everything still damp from yesterday and of course it starts to pour as I cross an open field.  At least my shoes and socks are only wet and not sloshing.  My first obstacle of the day is a stream that I need to ford.  I dutifully take off my gear, pull out my crocks and change foot wear to cross the stream.  Later that night at camp I learn that there was an easy walking detour just round the corner. Hmmmmm!



Devil's Raceway



Two hikes up to ridges made for some sore muscles.  On the last ridge of the day, I had to cross what they call the Devils Raceway.  Being PA this could only mean a long stretch of unstable rock boulders to hop along on.  They have a different definition of fun in PA.  Well as soon as I got through that, the sky grew very dark and lighting and thunder started with pounding rain. (well I was almost dry).  Started to do my counting between lightening and thunder.  It got within a mile and a half and I was getting ready to retreat down the ridge when it turned.  Now my boots were swimming pools.  Still three miles to get to Penn Shelter.  One nice surprise was to come across a totally bright orange salamander sitting on the trail and enjoying all the rain.  Really cool to see how bright orange it was.

The next storm at least held off until I got to the shelter, got my water supply and had dinner.  Then it rained like there was no end to it.  At least I was under a roof.  Trouble was that roof had very busy mice living there.  Could hear them rattling around in our packs all night and had one run across my head about 2:30am.  Better to be dry and suffer a little bit of a disturbed sleep.

No personal pictures today - it was just too darn wet.

Day 5 - 18 miles - Rausch Shelter

If you have ever heard of the term "A bridge too far" - that was today.  I was dead tired by the time I reached the shelter.  Today's excursion included a two hour steady climb to the next ridge. To add to fun, there was a light rain most of the day.  At least that helped keep me cooled during the long pulls.  I have been taking breaks every two hours which generally equates to about four miles on the trail.  Helps to get the pack off the back.  I hiked a little faster across the rocks today and got ahead of Shakin.

Lots of mist on the trail today.  Sometimes I could only see fifty feet in any direction. A little eerie, but also a little like walking in a dream.  Slowly I am getting completely soaked by all the damp.  Look forward to getting to camp and some hot food and warm clothes.

Rain fogged the lens.  Will it ever end?

Of course when I got to the shelter it was filled with Boy Scouts.  All I could think was how much further would I have to go to find a camp site, but the Scout Master immediately directed several of his charges to vacate the shelter and set up tents.  Nice to see such consideration for the long distance hikers.  The troop was great, even offered part of their dinner.  Much fancier than my Spam and Ramen noodles.

Met three new hikers at the camp.  "The Professor" who started at the beginning of Shenandoah Park and plans to flip in Maine.  He is a recently retired Chem teacher from Johns Hopkins U.  He always seems to have a joke to tell.  Also met "Won't & Well Woman" - doing the trail in two week sections over the years.  When they retire they plan to do a thru-hike.

Day 4 - 11.3 miles - Peters Shelter

As we headed out of Duncannon across the Susquehanna  River, we found a freight train waiting for a green track light blocking our access to the trail. Could not catch the engineer's attention and we were just waiting for the train to start moving as we crossed in front of it and squeezed by it and up onto the trail.  Not the way I like to start the morning.

Tough hiking up the steep incline out of town with five days of food on board.  It's a long haul to Port Clinton.  This was my first introduction to Pennsylvania's famous long strips of rock scramble.  Seemed like it would never end and like who ever planned the route was a little sadistic.  Every opportunity they took us over rocks.

Threat of heavy rains tonight.  Thought there was only going to be three of us using the shelter that night.  WRONG.  It's a weekend night!  At 7:30PM a troop of 10 boy scouts show up.  Not bad, they were well behaved.  Then at 8:30pm a group of 10 locals showed up.  They were a different kind of camper.  From the parking lot three miles back they hauled in five children's wagons filled with their gear, beer and pot.  Needless to say it was a long sleepless night.  Got out of there quick at first light.  Didn't want to see the bedlam that was going to ensue when the two groups started to stir.

Peters Shelter is fairly new with two levels.  It replaced one of the original shelters that had a dirt floor.  That shelter is now featured at the new AT museum at Pine Grove Furnace, PA.  Earl Shaffer (first thru hiker) said that it was his favorite shelter to stay at on the trail.

Day 3 - 10.5 miles - Duncannon (Doyle)

Up early and another nice day.  Steady climb to a ridge after we crossed a small valley.  The altitude is minor but still hard on this old body.  Will take a few weeks to get back into shape.  Saw my first Lady Slipper today.

Reached Duncannon about 1:30 pm.  Going to call it an early day and get a room at the Doyle.  Looking forward to a nice hot shower.  Ah, the little things that make us happy.

 Planning to get an early start tomorrow.  Five days of rain predicted starting late Friday.  Oh, Boy!  Nothing like hiking on wet PA rock.

Day 2 - 8.5m - Darlington Shelter

Another great weather day - sunny and mid 70's.  Most of today's trail took us through rolling Pennsylvania farm country.  The trail was easy until the last two miles when we had to hit the ridge to reach the Darlington Shelter.  Got in early so we had the pick of bunks in the shelter.  Nice shelter.  Clean and fairly new.  The privy was one of the best one's I have seen yet - they named it Taj Mahal.

Thought we were going to be the only hikers there for the night but around 7pm five trekkers filtered in.  Nice to have the company and chatter.  One section hiker put in a 27 mile day.  Guess it's nice to be young enough to expend that kind of effort.  He was also the first out of camp on Thursday.

Got a nice surprise of a hiker I met in TN last year pulling into camp.  He goes by the name of "Jake".  This guy hikes all over the AT and is fast.

Well, our goal tomorrow is to reach Duncannon and stay at the Doyle (yes Tripper - the Doyle).

Day 1 - 5.7 miles

Today was the start of Part 2 of my Appalachian Trek.  Nice sunny day in the mid seventies and an easy trail.  A hiker that I met last year on the trail is hiking with me.  His trail name is Shakin and like me, he sustained an injury last year that forced him off the trail about the same area. 

We took an easy day today with a warm up hike of 5.7 miles from Old Stonehouse Rd into Boiling Springs, PA.  We walked thru many farm fields of new grain plantings that were about a foot high.  The bright green fields gave a true feeling of Spring.  It only took us just under two hours to clip thru this section, of course we were "slackpacking" (light day packs) which helps speed up the hike.  Nice way to ease into this long trek.

When we got to Boiling Springs, we stopped by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Mid-Atlantic office to check on water availability and trail conditions northward.  With such a wet Spring, its looks like we won't have any water issues.

Tonight we luxuriate in the comfort of a motel room then Sandy and Samantha will drop us off at the trail in the morning.  Now the real work starts.

Here are Shakin and me at the ATC.

That's right, your eyes are not deceiving you, the tent is up in the house.  Just a last minute check for any repairs that might be needed.