Daily Miles: 3.6, Total Miles: 1,149.6 Just after midnight last night I was awoken by a new bird, an Eastern Whip-poor-will. At first, a cute, very distinctive call. An hour later, it was downright annoying. Back on the trail this morning, I stopped at Hawk Rock with fine views of Duncannon PA along the Susquehanna River. I picked my way down the rocks into town and straight to breakfast. I am now a fan of Philly sausage with my eggs…
Daily Miles: 13.6, Total Miles: 119.5 I slept well on a comfortable bed in Carlisle PA. After the mediocre hotel breakfast, got away about 9:30am and returned to the Harrisburg Pike overpass and climbed back up to the trail. Continued down/up the Cumberland Valley Crossing soon joining, then following Conodoguinet Creek, more like a river, for about two miles. Blue flowers were erupting along the trail and riverbanks. I left the valley, climbed up to Cove Mountain and followed the…
Daily Miles: 22.8, Total Miles: 1,132.4 Big day on the trail started with long stretches of “rocky ridge” walking leading me to Boiling Springs PA. A nice little town with a river running through it and a trout-filled small lake with lots of fishermen. Not to mention a hot springs. Got no further than Cafe 101, where I enjoyed a huge quesadilla with chicken, rested my weary legs and chatted with folks at nearly outdoor tables. The server even filled…
Daily Miles: 20.0, Total Miles: 1,109.6 Chilly night and morning, close to freezing for sure. I wore my possum gloves for the first time. A pleasant day on the trail hiking through the pine and hardwood forests. The hardwoods are all budding out now. I’m getting a taste of the infamous Pennsylvania rock but I know it gets worse and more plentiful further north. Passed by some nice streams that I would bet hold trout. I know parts of PA…
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…
Daily Miles: 6.0, Total Miles: 1,067.5 Light rain off and on all night but clearing skies in the morning. Mostly downhill off the rocky ledges to Pen Mar Park and shortly thereafter, the Mason-Dixon Line and the Maryland- Pennsylvania border. I reached the Pen Mar Road and walked to the Rouzerville PA post office to pick up my resupply box. Next stop was a breakfast sandwich at Sheetz, and finally the Cobblestone Hotel. Early check-in not yet possible so washed…
Daily Miles: 17.9, Total Miles: 1,061.5 I woke up to a cooler, overcast, misty, and drizzly morning and it stayed that way the whole day. I left camp about 7am and quickly arrived at the Washington Monument State Park and refilled water bottles. I made a short detour to the monument itself, a stone obelisk built in 1827. This was nearly 60 yrs before the more famous monument in D.C. I would have had good views there if not so…
Daily Miles: 17.1, Total Miles: 1,043.6 Both flights were on time yesterday and Mark (Strings) got me from Dulles to Harpers Ferry and Towns Inn. I had just enough time to run across the street to the Rabbit Hole for a burger and IPA before they closed. Walked up to the AT Conservatory Office and got my 2024 AT tag. Got quizzed again on Leave No Trace principles. The AT rep would pantomime the correct responses so it was at…
On this day last year, I headed off into the Smokies from Newfound Gap on what was probably my favorite day on the trail for the first half of the AT. After a couple of cool, rainy days, the clouds slowly lifted and were swept away. This left a crystal clear, absolutely gorgeous day with beautiful views from the Smoky Mountains ridgelines. I’m still on track for my second-half start from Harper Ferry on April 18. Walking around the neighborhood…
I’m still about two months out but itching to get started. Preparation is going well, most food and sundries purchased but waiting a bit before I prepare individual meals. I did finish my resupply plan so I can get my resupply boxes put together. A few other future plans in the works. Mrs. Haze will meet me at the end and we’ll drive back together with a few stops on the way. Also looking at a trip to Scotland where…
