Day 55 – 62 | WV, MD, & PA

Day 55 Miles. 1026.7 – 1043.9 (17.2)

We were dropped off by family at the Appalachian Trail Conservatory in the morning. From there we walked into town, stopping by a coffee shop for a iced drink (it was already warm).

We meandered through the park, reading about the history of the town when we ran into an old friend, Incognito, who we last saw on Waynesboro, and her new hiking partner. Together, we all crossed the the Potomac river. The trail runs along the Potomac on an old railroad bed, so it was easy hiking and fun to catch up and learn about them. 

The day went by quickly as we enjoyed the slightly cooler temperatures. 

We camped at Dahlgren Backpacker Campground. When we went to make dinner we discovered, unfortunately, that Sassafras had lost her dinners somewhere on trail. An hour later a hiker we knew, Detour, passed by asking if we lost food (he had carried it from an earlier shelter where we stopped for lunch). 

The campground had hot shower with real shampoo and conditioner available, close enough to town that Domino’s could deliver, and a porcelain throne. Maryland sure knows how to welcome hikers. 

Day 56 Miles 1043.9 – 1068.1 (24)

We packed up later than most in the campground, at around 7:30 we were on trail.

We were lost in our conversation when a few miles into the day we crossed the Washington monument.  

We took the side trail and had 2nd breakfast there. We passed Flash whom I hadn’t seen for 100s of miles.

A few miles later we took a foot bridge over I-70, a familiar freeway for us, alibeit far from where we frequented it in Colorado. The day constituted of many road crossings and a few rock outcroppings. 

When we started to head down from High Rock Ledges, it was incredibly rocky. 

So much so that we lost trail for a bit. With some bushwhacking we were able to recover it. 

Towards the end of the day we crossed the Mason Dixon line into Pennsylvania. We ate dinner at a park and hiked the last .7 miles to a camp area. We camped with many other thru hikers including Atlas, Detour, Budweiser, and Olex.

Day. 57 1068.1 – 1085.5 (17.4)

After 2nd breakfast (9ish AM snack of bars), we were delighted by signs for trail magic. Tycoon, a former thru hiker and Gettysburg historical guide, cooks hot dogs at The Old Forge Park most days in June. We indulged with an early 1st lunch with him and other hikers. 

The day proceeded with quite a bit of walking. 

As we neared the end of the day, we had accomodations options to debate. Either stay at a hostel/church outside of Fayetteville or hike on further to a shelter. The weather showed rain, so we elected to head to the local hostel, Thru-It-All. 

We were pleasantly surprised to find out they had private rooms, and booked the “country room,” which was decorated with quintessential county decor. After a shower, we headed down for the free dinner of chicken and greens that they host for the community. We enjoyed chatting with a couple of section hikers just starting a long 1,100 mile trek. 

Day 58 1085.5 – 1108.2 (22.7)

Overnight it rained for the 1st time in a few weeks, therefore in the morning it finally cooled down. 

Throughout the day we passed many beautiful shelters. At mile 1097 we were fortunate enough to run into more trail magic! Hot dogs and burgers from a local couple. I had a burger, Sassafras had a hot dog. 

We pushed on and made it to the Pine Grove Furnace Store with the famous half gallon challenge. There AT hikers can attempt to eat a half gallon of ice cream in one sitting. In light of my lactose intolerance, we elected to split a 1.5 quart tub. I finished my half, Sassafras donated what she couldn’t finish to another hiker. We caught up to the Boyz (Olex, Budweiser, Atlas, and Detour) and camped with them. 

Day 59 1108.2 – 1132.5 (24.3)

I asked Olex “what did we do today? I am making notes for my blog.”

His celebrity guest shot answer: 

We hiked way too many miles. 

Woke up by a group of Gorillas, who made a lot of noise. Swam in creek in the town of Boiling Springs.

My continued notes:

We made it to Carlisle where we split a hotel room with some other hikers. Across the Cumberland Valley there is limited camping. 

But it makes for some flat easy terrain, including some road walking as we crossed bridges over highways. We hiked with a crew for 9 day Miles from Boiling Springs to Carlisle at about 4mph. We split a room with two of the Boyz and all hobbled over to a diner next to the hotel to enjoy dinner. 

Day 60 1132.5 – 1146.2 (13.7)

We slept in at the hotel until about 8. The Boyz wanted to go to REI in the next town over, so we parted ways. After catching up on refining the blog and eating breakfast at the same diner we were back on trail by 11. 

We were a half mile out from the shelter we targeted to camp out, it started to rain. 

We decided to stay in the shelter with Incognito and her partner. 

Day 61 1146.2 – 1161.2 (15) 

Overnight a porcupine gnawed on the shelter for about an hour, waking us up; despite the midnight intruder people started getting up in the shelter around 530, we were up at our normal 6 and on trail by 630. 

It was just a few miles down trail into Duncannon. We walked straight to a breakfast joint for 2nd breakfast. 

I enjoyed eggs, bacon, pancakes, and toast; Sassafras had hash browns and toasts. 

The diner was packed with hikers, most of which were familiar faces. 

The grocery store in town was a dangerous mile road walk, so we called an Uber to get a full resupply for 4 days. 

While hobbling around the store, a stranger walked up to us said “God works in mysterious ways,” handed us $100, and left without another word. Thank you stranger!

The trail out of Duncannon goes through the town, then across a freeway bridge to get over the Susquehenna River before making a steep climb up the ridge. 

We stayed at a large shelter 7 miles up the ridge, with the Farkle Tramily (so named because they play the game Farkle most nights).

That night it finally cooled with good breeze. 

Day 62 1161.2 – 1179.2 (18) 

With the cool breeze we slept in until 7.

I warmed up for another day of hiking by hiking down to the spring, some 300 ft of elevation below the shelter. 

Fortunately their wasn’t much elevation for the day’s hike but a whole lot of rocks. My knee started bugging me throughout the morning, so we took a long lunch to stretch. Incognito and partner caught up and we enjoyed their company for lunch. 

We finished the day by 4:30, camping with many of the same hikers as last night. It’s nice to have many familiar faces.