Almost finished…..

Still Hiking

 As I crossed into Pennsylvania today I realized that I’ve been out here a freaking long ass time. I’ve been living out of my pack, sleeping in a tent and wearing the same clothes for just over 6 damn months! Have I had a great time?? Yes, but at some point I’m ready for different clothes and my own stuff!  I won’t go on about the things I miss most but other than my husband….hot water is high up on the list! We take so many things for granted at home. Hot water, electricity and laundry plus real food. The list is endless! Anyway it boils, haha, down to I’m ready to be finished with this.  We joke on trail about lack of showers, clean clothes and stinky gear but we are so used to it that we don’t care anymore. Shower? Why bother when you’re putting dirty clothes back on afterwards.  Laundry….ahhh clean socks are the best!! But it’s not always available so those socks dry out at night and go right back on feet. Cold wet socks and shoes are the worst thing in the morning, what a wake up that is to your system especially if it’s still raining or wet.  

Water

 This morning is cloudy. It will be cloudy all day which is great since the lack of water sources in Pennsylvania is insane! Cloudy days make for less sweat loss and less need to guzzle water. This area is always really dry any time of the year but now it’s critical. Trail angels usually leave water caches at trailheads and in the bear boxes of shelters but as September moves onto October people forget that there are still hikers out here. If anyone is close to the trail here in Pennsylvania, New Jersey or even New York please consider leaving water (pick up the empty jugs, please!) as we soooo appreciate it!

Rocks

Who knew that “Rocksyvania”, the nickname for Pennsylvania really starts in New York??!! I’m sure that the geology folks will say, of course due to the blah blah blah…. It’s freaking rocky and difficult to navigate through the day.  The trail is littered with rocks and roots normally but we tiptoe around and find the dirt areas or the flat rocks to hop on and move forward. Now the rocks are bunched together and we are literally walking on points of rocks! Sounds like fun? Nope it’s crazy hard to do and many a hiker has twisted an ankle and fallen. Flying through this state is painful to say the least! 

 I’ve slack packed a couple days here in Pennsylvania. Makes all the difference when your pack full of gear isn’t throwing you to the ground every time you stumble.  I’ve fallen a couple times over the last few days. No real injuries but some bruises to remember the trail here. I’m moving down the trail faster without my gear, almost to normal speed but those damn rocks…..have I mentioned the rocks?? 

Photo above is a trick one….no rocks just a camp site. 

SOBOs 

 As I write this blog the southern part of the trail has been devastated by the hurricane and flooding. Towns that I stayed in or passed through are left without water, cell service or outside help. The trail in many areas is closed currently and will be closed to hiking for a long period of time. Trail maintenance is not going to happen when the roads to those areas are flooded or the bridges washed away.  I am unable to adequately describe the situation in the south at this time.  The Appalachian Trail Conservancy has asked that hikers stay away from those areas until further notice.  I am so sorry for those southbound hikers.  My thru hike will end in Front Royal, Virginia, a town unaffected by the hurricane.  I’ve seen the videos and photos of Erwin, Damascus and Hot Springs, all trail towns that I stayed in and hiked through this year.  The southbound hikers are being asked to leave the trail. It is impassable in those areas. I am so sorry for those that started their hikes only to not be told they are not able to finish through no fault of their own. I’m not sure what the ATC is going to do about this situation but once the power is on and things slowly return to normal I hope that some of those areas can be hiked again. 

The End is in Sight

 I have my exit plan all set. I know how I’m going to do the miles of the trail. I have mileage figured out and I’m ready to get it done.  My only obstacle is over a hundred miles in the state of rocks. I’m doing my best to get it done. I can taste the finish! I’m so ready for it that I literally dream about being home which I haven’t done in months!! If all goes as planned I’ll be home in less than three weeks. I can’t wait! But until then it’s hike every damn day and keep trekking along the trail.  More to come folks….it ain’t over until this skinny woman, crosses that finish line!