AT Day 77: Pennsylvania Pines

Daily Miles: 22.1, Total Miles: 1,089.6

The bed felt pretty good last night. I got a ride back to the trail from Soggy.

High cloudiness and cooler today which makes for good hiking. The fairly gentle gradient was also a big plus. Despite that, I had my first fall about six miles in. I caught one foot on an upturned rock and went down hard and fast. I was able to turn a bit to avoid landing face first on the rocks but got a huge bruise on my right thigh and a couple of bloody fingers. A reminder for extra care and focus. Otherwise a nice hike, mostly on a forested ridge – getting into more pine trees now. Quite a few section and day-hikers today going southbound.

I had a late afternoon snack at the Quarry Gap Shelter, the cutest, cleanest and most inviting shelter I have seen. I met a nice couple there that are flip flopping the AT. First hiking Harpers Ferry to Maine, then returning to Harpers Ferry and hiking south to Georgia. They said there is a freeze warning for tonight and somehow managed to set up their tent inside the shelter. I hiked on for about two miles to a tent site that could probably hold three tents but I don’t expect anyone else tonight.

New birds today: Yellow-throated Vireo, Hairy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, Mourning Dove and I think a Wild Turkey.