Taking Mushrooms on the Appalachian Trail

Bama➡️Baxter Day 111&112 

Day 111: 25 miles

This morning we woke up in the 501 shelter and got packed up. Then we set out to get back to the trail. I had thought that Boosted and Sweet Pea were just ahead of me, but it turned out that they went the wrong way leaving the 501 shelter. So they actually wound up behind me which was pretty funny.

The 501 shelter.

Squirrel and I hiked together for about 5 miles before we arrived at a water source. The trail was super rocky so we hopped along, jumping from bolder to bolder for a while. We still made good time though. At the Hertline Campsite and Creek we decided to take a quick break and eat something.

I had packed out a piece of pizza so I ate that which was killer. Gotta love some pizza on trail. Then I ate a pouch of mountain house granola and blueberries that I found in a hiker box back in Harpers Ferry. I’ve never tried one of the backpacker granolas before and was pleasantly surprised that it was delicious.

Boosted and Sweet Pea caught up and joined us there. We stayed there for a little while before we began walking again. About a half mile or so after we continued along we started to have a feeling that we weren’t on the AT. The path just didn’t seem right. And when we checked our Far Out we realized that we were right. We had accidentally kept going straight when the actually trail had veered off up a hill. When we backtracked and realized where we had gotten off trail it actually wasn’t surprising at all. The AT had veered off sharply and it wasn’t super obvious if you weren’t paying great attention.

Reaching the AT 1200 mile marker!

Then we got back to trail and continued along from there. We did a big chunk of miles after that and were making great time. Our next break we tried not to hangout for too long. Just long enough to eat something and get some stretching in. Then we kept on going. The trail was unbelievably flat for most of the day. The walking was nice and easy and time was flying by. There was only one brief climb which lasted about a quarter mile. But it was super steep! It kicked my ass for a couple minutes but then was over in no time.

Up at the top Squirrel and Sweet Pea were stopped taking a quick break. I joined them and sat down. We hung out there for a few minutes to get a break in. There were only 5 miles to go to get into the town of Port Clinton which the trail went right by. The trail was mostly flat for the first couple of miles and then it rapidly descended to town. The last mile or so before Port Clinton was the most intense descent that we have done yet on the AT. It was honestly unreal. My knees were aching by the time that I got to the bottom. On our way down we passed some section hikers going SOBO and they were really suffering. That climb up must have been so rough.

Lovely views along the AT today.

Down at the bottom Squirrel and Sweet Pea were hanging out. We all waited for Boosted and Roxy to catch up to us. The rocky terrain definitely slows Boosted down because of the dog.

Once he caught up we walked along a bike path until we reached an area where we were able to climb up to the highway. When we popped out of the brush we climbed over a guard rail and were able to start hitching. I knew it was gonna be a super hard hitch because the road was so fast. But not a minute after we arrived at the road a guy pulled off an offered us all a ride! That was truly divine.

Getting Five Guys in Hamburg, PA.

He brought us over to the Five Guys in Hamburg, PA which is right by Port Clinton. We chose to go into Hamburg rather than Port Clinton because there is a Walmart next door. At five guys we all got a mountain of food. I got a big ass burger, fries, and a milkshake. And I devoured the burger so goddamn fast. After we ate we headed over to Walmart to resupply. I got everything I needed there which was great.

Going to the holy land! A Walmart.

Once we finished up our resupplying we wound up ordering an Uber over to Shartlesville, PA where we could get a room for the night. All of us were eager to get a shower in and do our laundry. The motel was nice enough but we got in pretty late. So once we got to the room everyone showered and we started a load of laundry. Then we watched some TV and chilled out before calling it a night.

Roxy in bed at the motel.

Day 112: 18 miles

This morning we all slept in a bit at the motel in Shartlesville. Then we got up, packed our things, and walked over to a nearby McDonald’s for breakfast. I got a classic sausage egg and cheese McGriddle and a coffee. We sat inside to eat and then I was able to call us an Uber to bring us back to the trailhead! It seemed like a pretty tough hitch and we didn’t want to waste our time.

When we got back to trail the day began with a pretty long climb. Yesterday we descended immensely to get into Port Clinton. So we knew that today we would have to do a big climb out of town. Though the climb was pretty steep it was certainly nothing in comparison to yesterday’s descent. We were all very grateful for that. After a couple of miles the trail flattened out and we were able to cruise along for a bit. It began to rain lightly about an hour into hour morning. We all got bundled up in our rain gear because it was pretty cold out. Then we continued along to the Windsor Furnace Shelter.

A sign for Katahdin, only 965 miles away now!

When we arrived at the shelter we were all able to dry off and take a nice long break. I had service so I filled out all of some forms thats I’ve been meaning to complete. The massive medical bill that I received for my ER visit on the Pinhoti Trail still isn’t resolved. In order to get the bill covered I have to fill out about 12 pages of information. But it will certainly be worth it once it’s all said and done.

While we sat at the shelter the rain began to lighten up. So by the time that we got back to walking we no longer needed to wear our rain gear! Leaving the shelter we wound up following the Furnace Creek Trail which is a blue trail and went down by a reservoir. Sometimes we let to spice things up to keep ourselves entertained. It’s nice not being a purist, because you can just do whatever you want every now and again.

A vibrant little salamander on the trail.

We did a handful more miles after that before taking our next break. It hadn’t rained since earlier at the shelter so that was great news. By the afternoon it had actually turned into a really nice day. The trail crossed Hawk Mountain Road and just down the street off trail was the Eckville Shelter. It’s a fully enclosed 6 person shelter which sits on a private residence just behind the main home. It seemed like the perfect place to stop off and take a lunch break.

The Eckville Shelter.

While we were there I got to meet a hiker Sunshine who is doing the ECT! I’ve heard about her multiple times but was never sure that our paths would cross. It was funny to meet someone who I didn’t actually know but we had both heard of each other. She was super cool and really down to earth. Recently she got injured and had to slow down her mileage a lot which is too bad. That would be really disappointing after having come so far.

Roxy laying in the lawn at the Eckville Shelter.

After staying at the Eckville Shelter for a while we decided to continue on. But we didn’t plan to go too much further. All of us were looking forward to doing a short day. We wound up just doing 2.5 more miles and stopping at a really nice tent site up on a ridge.

Just before we got to the campsite all of us decided that it would be a nice day to take some mushrooms. We were getting to camp nice and early and it was such a beautiful day. All of us couldn’t resist. Squirrel had wonka bar mushroom chocolates that he got a couple weeks ago at a hostel. The funny thing about the chocolate is though that you digest it super quickly. Especially all of us who are hiking so much and burning so many calories.

We were only at the campsite for 15 minutes by the time that I could feel the shrooms coming on. I just barely had time to get my tent up and get fully situated before the wave came over me.

The four of us spent the rest of the day laying around at the camp site. I watched the trees and their leaves and listened to the beautiful sound of birds nearby. It was a really lovely rest of the day. Later on in the evening it began to get dark so we all put our things away. Then I finally ate a bit of food before I decided to get into my tent and call it a night.

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Comments 35

  • Amanda Waldron : Jul 30th

    I love reading your adventures. So happy I found your blog.
    Safe and happy hiking!!

    Reply
    • DJK : Jul 30th

      Gotta do them while actually hiking. I hiked a half day on the AT after eating them at lunch and I, and everyone that did them with me, thought it was one of their best days on the trail. You don’t feel the miles and everything looks extra amazing. I don’t do a lot of drugs, don’t even smoke weed, but I love some mushrooms every once and awhile. Granted, I wouldn’t suggest doing them everyday you hike, but I’d definitely do them on the trail again if I get the chance.

      Reply
      • Pete : Jul 31st

        Drugs are bad

        Reply
        • JP : Aug 1st

          Mkay

          Reply
      • Daniel LEMMENS : Aug 3rd

        Mushrooms are a dangerous game if you don’t know exactly what you are doing. Where did you take your mycology course?

        Reply
    • Richard Thruston : Aug 30th

      Is it safe on the AT, it’s kinda scary especially for solo hiking, I believe having a weapon would be good, a dog would be safer

      Reply
  • Shane : Jul 30th

    Love your content, love a shroom and ganaj adventure, but just one concern… Since you aren’t completely anonymous on here, it might not be the best thing to post about ganja and shroom usage. Stuff like that can come back around to haunt you, especially of you ever needed a federal clearance or something. Never know…

    Reply
    • Hatstaxx : Jul 30th

      I miss the pure rich experience of drinking in the trail. 3 friends and I used to hike along the Tennessee and north Carolina border on the Appalachian trail in high school. 40 years ago and fond memories still remain. Best shape of my life! Sore is an understatement on the trail. Well worth every moment. Keep posting

      Reply
  • Phil : Jul 30th

    Dude! I’ve been following this website recently and just wanted to tell you that 1. You’re very physically attractive 2. I envy you guys because I like walking in the woods for hours, but I could never go 2 days without showering.

    Also that guy that got that dress from the thrift store is rocking it!

    Mushrooms are weird. I like their taste above all else.

    Peace out Sista!
    -phil

    Reply
  • Phil : Jul 30th

    I saw an ad for Amminta Muscara gummies today. Those mushrooms I wouldn’t eat. They make my stomach qweezy. Anyway shrooms are good, but if you ever had fresh ones, they are a total different experience, like night and day from the dried ones.

    Reply
  • DJK : Jul 30th

    Gotta do them while actually hiking. I hiked a half day on the AT after eating them at lunch and I, and everyone that did them with me, thought it was one of their best days on the trail. You don’t feel the miles and everything looks extra amazing. I don’t do a lot of drugs, don’t even smoke weed, but I love some mushrooms every once and awhile. Granted, I wouldn’t suggest doing them everyday you hike, but I’d definitely do them on the trail again if I get the chance.

    Reply
  • Phil : Jul 30th

    Yeah man! The guy warning Peg Leg to be careful about her posts sounds like a narc from the 90’s. My point is that Ketamine is legal, shrooms are legal, and if you go to queens NY, everything is legal. Every ting mon.

    Reply
  • Phil : Jul 30th

    That dog Roxy is pretty cool too. But I dont know she looks like she needs a bath.

    Reply
  • thetentman : Jul 30th

    Great post.

    Having too much fun in PA.

    Cheers!

    Reply
  • Jill Kinkade : Jul 30th

    I love learning about your adventures, but quit talking about food. I’m not burning half the calories you are, and your making me hungry for cholesterol! Just kidding–love your posts.

    Reply
  • ZT : Jul 30th

    great read. cool people. but pretty bourgeois existence. we are on the brink of ww3 and young kids are drifting into solipsism🤷

    Reply
    • Bella : Aug 26th

      Really? Solipsism? Bourgeois?! Hiking thousands of miles and enjoying themselves is amazing. Perhaps it would be more acceptable if they were gnashing their teeth while hiking waiting for impending doom? Not quite sure of your comment or the point. Tho I agree extremely cool people.

      Reply
  • Derek Witteman : Jul 30th

    I made the same poorly marked “wrong turn” down that part of trail a week or so ago.

    Reply
  • Matt : Jul 30th

    Disappointed in the drug use. Pretty sketchy judgment.

    Reply
    • Nicholas Beach : Jul 31st

      Judging someone’s choice to eat mushrooms is sketchy judgement. There is alot you should learn about nature and the world before you would realize how not sketchy this is at all. The Risk vs Reward here is a NO BRAINER…

      Reply
      • Rick : Aug 2nd

        Psychedelic drugs are the safest “recreational “ drugs out there. Check out the evidence. No real downside. No addiction. No medical harm. Alcohol is carcinogenic & kills around 80k Americans every year.

        Reply
      • Matt : Aug 9th

        Yeah Nick. A solo female hiker taking hallucinogenic drugs on a hiking trail. You need some life experience bub. This type of behavior is the definition of sketchy. Moron.

        Reply
    • Dylan : Jul 31st

      Lol.

      Reply
    • John : Aug 31st

      I, agree, beginning to sound like aa bunch of dope heads. And the swearing is so unnecessary.

      Reply
  • Jay Kennelly : Jul 31st

    I enjoy reading the posts! Please keep them coming 🙏.

    Reply
  • Jadon : Jul 31st

    Sounds like a great day for mushrooms!

    Reply
  • Dylan : Jul 31st

    I’ve been on the PCT this year. I take .3 gram microdose every other day while I hike. It’s kinda amazing the difference it makes, sometimes i have huge days, sometimes i have these meditative days, sometimes it’s all love or something, highly recommend.

    Reply
  • Bilbo : Aug 1st

    Is squirrel from gmc

    Reply
  • Billy : Aug 1st

    I love your tits. They hang soooo low. Nice pokies too!

    Reply
    • Illek : Aug 3rd

      I don’t feel like the trek blogs are about people sexually harassing bloggers. You ruin it for everyone. How might it feel to be a young female on the trail when men choose to make remarks like yours. Presumably you have something better to do.

      Reply
      • Bella : Aug 26th

        Apparently he doesn’t. Just likes to show his narrow mentality. Probably giggling as he wrote it. Sad

        Reply
  • Clavin : Aug 7th

    Just come across your blog. Very interesting! I wish more people would try naked hiking. So far, I’ve not come across any others trying it.

    Reply
  • Richard Miller : Aug 9th

    Is your buddy named after Sweat Pea Parnell Whitaker?

    Reply
  • Prime, Amazon Prime : Aug 10th

    In 2018, Walkman and I stumbled into some shrooms 2 days after Trail Days, 150 miles into southern VA. We did a quick 10 miles in the morning…got to a shelter and set up camp…found the water source and took a couple grams. We became shelter hosts the rest of the day for all the hikers and took frequent walks into the woods. Woke early the next morning and had the best hike. It was super great.

    Reply
  • Robert B Mullins : Aug 27th

    A simple truth, many seem unaware of Federal Law. Marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, any other non-Rx ‘drugs’ are unlawful to use, possess, transport on the Appalachian Trail, or other Federal Property. Such use may never have consequence, or in the right circumstance will result in criminal prosecution.

    Reply

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