Category: June 1 – June 28

Day 79 Boiling Springs, PA to Footbridge Campsite (18.2 miles) 1139.8 miles total

Happy Fathers Day to all dads, especially mine! Got you some good crop pictures as a gift, Dad. Enjoy!

Today we hiked at very low elevations (400 – 600 ft) for first 14 miles. Scenery is much different. Walked next to and through many farm fields as opposed to being 4,000 feet higher and looking down at them. Made for fast hiking. I think Boiling Spring is at base of mtn on right.

Went through a lot of private land today. Glad it wasn’t sunny and hot as the hike was much more in the open as opposed to usual forest.

Saw about as much wheat being grown as corn.

I am pretty sure on of those strips in background is flax. Had a light blue tint to it.

Got back up to more normal terrain last 5 miles of hike. Was thinking of going all the way to Duncannon today while walking through the fields. Changed my mind up here!

Found a nice campsite to celebrate Fathers Day Eve (my favorite holiday). Had mad, crazy fun in middle of nowhere by myself! Polished off that water bottle, enjoyed the bench (no back), and even made a campfire.

A little over 7 miles to Duncannon. Will be there before noon tomorrow and be ready for final round of US Open.

Happy Fathers Day and…

Happy trails!

Day 78 Pine Grove Furnace SP to Boiling Springs, PA (19.6 miles) 1121.6 miles total

Feels real good to be past midpoint and on home bound leg.

Love slack packing. Pack weight was probably 10 lbs compared to normal of about 35 lbs. You can really fly. Especially when trail is like this!  

Hiking at low elevations so not many views but the hiking is easier.

Starting to see berries getting ripe. The bears and I will be battling for these the next few weeks!

North out of Boiling Springs is flat for 12 miles so that’s good as supposed to rain most of day tomorrow. Hoping to make Duncannon, PA on Sunday in time for final round of US Open. 26 miles so should be doable.

Happy trails!

Day 77 Rocky Mtn Shelters to Pine Grove Furnace State Park (22.5 miles) 1102.0 miles total

Been on the trail for 11 weeks now and crossed half way point today.

We’ve raised about $28,000 so far for the charities I’m hiking for. Amazing! Thanks so much for your support. It means more to me than you can imagine.

I hope you’re enjoying the adventure. Please feel free to get your family, friends, and co-workers following along as well. Remember we still have 1090 miles to go!

Long hike today but went by pretty easily/quickly. I was pretty focused on the halfway point. Feels good to have half this adventure behind me.

Did I mention that PA is known for being very rocky. Still a couple days from where it gets real rocky and I’m thinking this is bad. Big boulders aren’t bad as they have big landing spots for your feet. Small rocks are OK too as they will move/conform to your foot. It’s the gazillion medium-sized ones that hurt. My steps have become much more precise over last 1100 miles!

PA and MD have had some really nice, newer shelters made with laminated wood. The Quarry Gap Shelters had flowers and chairs (with backs).

Not sure what this bush/tree is but they are really blooming around here now.

This is the AT half way marker. The actual spot varies each year as length of trail has some slight changes each year. This marker is maintained by AT Museum which is 7 miles up the trail from marker.

When you hit a big milestone, you should celebrate. Not the H.O.T. Spot but wasn’t bad.

Staying in Mt Holly, PA tonight and tomorrow night. Tomorrow I’ll slack pack 19 miles to Boiling Springs and then get a ride back here.

Happy trails!

Day 76 Pine Knob Shelter to Rocky Mtn Shelter (14.8 miles) 1079.5 miles total

Today is wedding anniversary 31 for Kris and I. Tells you something about her that she is supportive of this crazy adventure. Believe me, 31 years is a lot of “Pete being Pete”! Thanks, Kris. Love you.

The AT through PA is known for being very rocky. It has already proven to be that and the rocks don’t really start getting bad for another 100 miles. Slow progress.

Hiking is almost all below ridge line so views are minimal. This pic was taken from the path of a gas pipeline.

I’m 15 miles from half way point. Should make it there tomorrow. Pretty exciting!

Happy trails!

Day 75 Pine Knob Shelter to Pen Mar Road (18.1 miles) 1064.7 miles total

Finished MD today. Very difficult last 5 miles. Extremely rocky and not well marked. I was pretty tired by the time I got to Waynesboro, PA.

Now about 30 miles from real half way point. Hope to be there Thursday.

Happy trails!

Day 74 Keep Tryst Road to Pine Knob Shelter (20 miles) 1046.6 miles total

Not sure what temperature was today (90’s) but heat didn’t bother me. Was in shade 75% of time. Just needed more water breaks.

The march through Civil War history continues. Crossed a couple places right on the Civil War Trail (driving). I believe battle of South Mtn referenced below was right before Antietam.

We lived in Maryland for 7 years and the amount of farm and horse land there still surprises me. Some beautiful country.

Stopped at Washington Monument (near Boonsboro, MD). Was in a bit of a hurry but pretty sure this is one of, if not the, first monuments erected in honor of Washington. VA must have been a little slow in honoring their native son! The view above is from other side of monument.

When I stopped for lunch today, I had cell service. Doesn’t always happen. Had a text message from a friend and neighbor in Ponte Vedra Beach (Dale). His wife, Debbie, has a brother who lives within 20 miles of trail and, if I let them know where I’ll be tonight, he’ll bring me out a 6-pack of Bud. Obviously I replied immediately.

Mark showed up with beer (and cookies) about 6. Had a great chat. He is very knowledgeable about Civil War. He even has numerous artifacts that he has found at various battle sites (bullets, ammo tins, pistol, etc.)

Great time. Thanks, Mark!

Hope to make Waynesboro, PA (18 miles) today.

Happy trails!

Day 73 Keys Gap Campsite to Keep Tryst Rd (7.0 miles) 1026.6 miles

Finished VA and WV today. 5 states down…9 to go! Staying in Knoxville, MD at Knights Inn.

I like American History so while heading into Harpers Ferry I was imagining John Brown and his boys sneaking in to raid the national armory there. Then I got to the bridge that guessing they didn’t use.

Harpers Ferry is the mythical halfway point of the AT and the home of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. They have a hiker lounge with chairs and sodas. Take good care of hikers.

I was NOBO hiker #1391 leaving Springer Mtn, GA. Hiker #737 passing thru Harpers Ferry (includes SOBOers). The staff said that’s a lot for this early in year.

Below is picture at Jefferson Rock overlooking the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers. Jefferson got to stand on top of rock in right of pic. People not allowed up there these days.

Next stop is Waynesboro, PA. 38 miles so 2-3 days depending on how heat wave goes.

Happy trails!

 

Day 72 Bears Den Rocks to Keys Gap Campsite (16.4 miles) 1019.6 miles total

Decided to tent just short of Harpers Ferry. Hotel rates there get jacked up on summer weekends and I am actually getting comfortable sleeping in tent. Not that comfortable but enough to pass on a $140 hotel room! Plus I was able to have burger and a Bud at bar 2 miles before I camped!

Finally almost out of VA. Pretty sure trail is right on VA/WV border now. Will finish VA and WV and be in MD tomorrow…and I’m only hiking about 7 miles!

Finished the Roller Coaster today. It was about 10 up and downs of about 400 feet each over 13.5 miles. Not extremely difficult but a rocky pain in the butt.

If you really want to get away to some privacy, here’s a house for you! 

Gonna do a short hike today. Air conditioning this afternoon when supposed to be mid 90’s.

Happy trails!

Day 71 Signal Knob Campsite to Bears Den Rocks (17.2 miles) 1003.2 total miles

It’s been a while since the last trail magic I was fortunate to receive but today there was a couple grilling hot dogs at a crossing and they had chairs…with backs!

Most of this group I’ve been hiking near for a few days. Grumpy Old Man is in lower right. Don’t know why he’s called grumpy because always laughing. Little Bad Ass and Bam Bam are next. Ontario is across by cooler and next to Homeward (our host and 2016 thru hiker). Prepping her hot dog is Goddess. Not all could pull off a name like that but she can. Manning the grill is Peggy (hostess).

Spent about a half hour there and then it was on to The Roller Coaster. 13.5 miles of tightly packed ascents and descents. Not many signs posted along trail but beginning of Roller Coaster had a warning sign ensuring you know what you’re about to get yourself into.

Lots of steep, rocky ups and downs. Picture below loses a bit of the steepness but you can get an idea.

1000 miles!! That’s a lot of steps! Not much of a celebratory spot in the midst of the Roller Coaster.

Hoping to make Harpers Ferry, WV tomorrow. Weather should be nice before heats up to low 90’s Sunday to Wed.

Happy trails!

Day 70 US 522 to Signal Knob Campsite (16.4 miles) 986.1 miles total

Been hiking for 10 weeks now. Will hit 1,000 miles tomorrow…and still not half way there. Crazy.

Walking through much lower elevation since leaving Shenandoahs. Was between 800 and 2,000 feet all day. Unfortunately still a lot of ups and downs!

Took a break on a bench sitting along trail in clearing below. One of the things you really appreciate out here is a chair with a back. Rocks and logs are not that comfortable for seating.

In serious Civil War territory now. Will be passing within 5 miles of Antietam and 20 of Gettysburg during next couple of weeks.

Going to try to keep mileage between 16 and 20 per day up through PA. It’s about 310 miles to Delaware Water Gap. When I get there, it is about 40 miles from Lake Hopatcong, NJ where we lived for 5 years and have many good friends. Assuming I can arrange rides, I plan to slack pack about 10 to 15 miles a day around there and be back to Mason Street Pub for happy hour!

Happy trails!