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| Daughter and Dad |
Well, getting back on the trail was a delight; I had not hiked since May (see last blog post). My plan has been to hike for about a week (100 m) at least once per month, but circumstances do not always allow for such an indulgence; family needs trump all. I want to hike for longer periods because doing so allows one to really "get into it" meaning that you begin to develop a trail rhythm and feel. Thru-hikers talk of "getting your trail legs" after about three weeks. On the last day of my last hike, I felt so good I could have just kept on going, so I have had a foretaste of what they are describing. The more regularly I hike the less adjustment my body and mind need to make and the longer I stay on the trail each time the more I will experience the rush of long distance hiking. I love doing this! So to the specifics of this trek.
Date: Aug. 7 - 10, 2012, Who: Hank and eldest daughter, S
Date: Aug. 7 - 10, 2012, Who: Hank and eldest daughter, S
Where: Mason-Dixon Line near Pen Mar Park to Sheet Iron Roof Rd, 1 m east of Mt. Holly Springs, PA off Rt. 94
Weather: Mostly sunny, warm days, moderate nights, rain last day and cooler.
Length: 48 m (D1 - 9, D2 - 12, D3 - 13, D4 - 14)
Elevation: Bounced around 1000' to 2000' with some mildly challenging ascents.
Day 1: After a Baltimore rendezvous we took two cars out to PA and arranged our shuttle. I have told the Maryland kid-couple that the AT in PA is theirs and that I will reserve that portion to hike with them. May sound gracious but as a practical matter the distances to the trail from Baltimore are reasonable for shorter hikes and having two cars (and two or more hikers) makes the logistics predictable versus solo hitchhiking from the ending trailhead to my starting point. S & J hiked with me through MD and S wanted to continue the plan (hubby had to work) before school cranked up. With a 10:00a start, we enjoyed a shorter hike (8 m) and had no difficulty. Limited views and buggy with notorious trail impeding PA rocks present in moderate amounts. There were a few short distance hikers out. We arrived at the shelter around 3:30p to find Richard ensconced in one of two mini-shelters (compared to VA) labeled Snoring; we opted for the Non-Snoring one on the right. I was pleasantly surprised and impressed with the shelters we used on the three nights. The PATC group here has done a fabulous job of creating functional, attractive, and desirable places to overnight. We had some new equipment to try out which always adds interest to a trek; is there a limit to how much a retired engineer/educator will spend on fine-tuning his gear?
During dinner we struck up some conversation with Richard, a homeless man traveling with his dog, Lil' Miss. Both were a bit scraggly but friendly and open. We spoke of those things that really matter in life (and death) and found some common ground in the importance of seeking (and ultimately finding) inner peace. Then after a bit of reading, we settled in for the night on our own. During the night a waning moon brought a warm brightness to our surroundings and made that jaunt to the the privy (if one really went that far) a piece of cake.
Day 2: With 12.2 m ahead of us we finished our oatmeal and were out of camp by 8:00, a bit leisurely but OK given the circumstances. Ascended 1000' steeply at the beginning but then enjoyed an easier trail for the most part. There was a section of that notorious PA rock strewn path where one finds themselves picking over them in a scramble both up and down. Encountered a few thru-hikers both NoBos and SoBos (figure that out for yourself). It is pretty late for folk starting from GA to finish before Baxter State Park, the home of Mt. Katahdin closes for the season, mid-October if they are just starting PA. Stopped in Caledonia State Park hoping for a camp store for a change in snack. Upon our arrival we discovered the there was only a snack bar associated with the swimming pool and for some reason no one had come to man it. Bummer! We found a shady spot, rested, watered, snacked, and chatted with some local folk before heading out. As we passed the snack bar and found it to be open; the attendant, a flustered teenager with a bad case of car trouble, did serve us up some delicious Hershey hand-dipped ice cream that made the stop more than worthwhile. The Quarry Gap Shelter was even finer than Tumbling Run with tent platforms and hanging baskets of impatiens. Met up with a father/son group form Baltimore we had encountered earlier in the day. We were in by 3:00p so had some more time to relax, enjoy the scenery, read, chat, rest, eat and sleep. Food on this trip was my standard menu: b'fast - oatmeal and instant coffee; snack - trail mix, Cliff bars, beef jerky; lunch - p'nut and jelly on whole wheat sandwich rounds; dinner - Mountain House freeze-dried meal-of-the-day and mini-chocolat bars. Next time out I am going to spice things up a bit; I will let you know what the new menu is like after I try it.
Day 3: With some good miles behind, we decided to head out a bit earlier to accomplish the 13.2 m facing us. We really made good time over relatively flat terrain, encountered some more thru-hikers and had a very good day of it. We arrived into Tom's Run Shelters at 2:00p with time on our hands. We debated hiking further since Pine Grove Furnace State Park was just 3.5 m down the trail. The AT Museum and a hiker hostile named the "Mansion" were part of the park along with a General Store (ice cream?). S was inclined to push on, pay the $25 for dinner, room, and breakfast, but for some reason I was intrenched in my original plan and resisted. I have yet to stay in a hostile or eat off the trail since I began my AT quest, not to say I am a purist, I just like being on the trail or at a campsite or shelter. living out of my backpack. At some point I know I will indulge myself in this part of the trail experience, but I just wanted to stay put, eventhough we would have 14 m to go tomorrow, our last day. I did not pack a tent so we were pretty much restricted to overnighting in the shelters and the distance breaks just worked out this way. In the future I think I am going to pack my tent more often to give me (or others as hiking companions) more options for adjusting the itinerary of the hike. Were it not for staying put we would not have met Conor, a Dubliner, touring the US. He proved to be a delightful young man with an easy temperament and peaceful presence. We talked about books, gear, thru-hiking, kilts. When we arrived at the shelters (there were two) we dropped our gear at the lower one and took a refreshing mini-dip in the nearby stream. Later a different father/son pair arrived at the front of the shelter occupied by us with that quizzical look that says, "Got room for us?", which, of course, we did, given that the trail guide rated at as a 4-man abode. So with threatening rain they piled in as well. After we had eaten, Conor showed up with that same quizzical look and now we had 4 guys and my gal, S ensconced. Conor and I were chatting at the picnic table and he was perusing some photos he had taken that day, when a very familiar image passed across the camera display. I reacted by saying where did you take that picture knowing full-well its origin. He said that he saw the assortment of decals pasted to the back window of a truck parked just adjacent to the trail and found the collection intriguing. He happened to have taken a picture of the rear window of my truck parked on Sheet Iron Roof Road near Mt. Holly Springs. S was off taking care of something and when she returned Conor told her he had a picture he wanted her to see. Being a good sport (you never know what you may encounter on the trail), she took a look at the picture, then at me, then at the picture again and then back at me, recognizing that, sure enough, that was the back of my truck. Go figure! Conversation persisted until about 9:00p (darkness descended), then the group of three on the right of the shelter: S, Dad, then Conor in the middle (the father/son duo on the left) employed those highly useful head lamps to read into the night. Exhaustion took over and slumber came easily.
Day 4: Last day and we were ready to face those last 14 miles, so we were out even earlier than the day before and we maintained a speedy pace beyond what we had previously. The adrenalin was pumping routinely, and we just felt good. Started in light rain, but not enough for gear, so we just plowed ahead. At Pine Grove Furnace SP we did regret somewhat not taking advantage of the area, especially the AT Museum which did not open until 12n. We did bypass the marker identifying the precise midpoint of the AT, a moveable post and sign that can be relocated as adjustments to the trail alter the overall distance necessitating a movement of the marker. We powered up hills, and quick-marched through some lovely flat areas and arrived at the truck at 1:15p to a swarm of mosquitos. Thanks goodness we only encountered such bugs at the very end of our trip.
Reflections: Hiking with a daughter is something not too many fathers get to do - pretty special; people make up a large part of the trail experience, though I do appreciate and enjoy the solitude; be ready to share the truth at all times - you never know when the opportunity will arise (I did not have any of my personal tracts with me for Richard - see blog posting "Journey with the J-Man); time for a more interesting menu; hiking in a kilt has some distinct advantages, such as, coolness, ventilation, freedom of leg movement (like going up hill), and they make good conversation starters - I'm sold; there is something about the Irish and I am enjoying claiming some of whatever it is for myself.
Day 1: After a Baltimore rendezvous we took two cars out to PA and arranged our shuttle. I have told the Maryland kid-couple that the AT in PA is theirs and that I will reserve that portion to hike with them. May sound gracious but as a practical matter the distances to the trail from Baltimore are reasonable for shorter hikes and having two cars (and two or more hikers) makes the logistics predictable versus solo hitchhiking from the ending trailhead to my starting point. S & J hiked with me through MD and S wanted to continue the plan (hubby had to work) before school cranked up. With a 10:00a start, we enjoyed a shorter hike (8 m) and had no difficulty. Limited views and buggy with notorious trail impeding PA rocks present in moderate amounts. There were a few short distance hikers out. We arrived at the shelter around 3:30p to find Richard ensconced in one of two mini-shelters (compared to VA) labeled Snoring; we opted for the Non-Snoring one on the right. I was pleasantly surprised and impressed with the shelters we used on the three nights. The PATC group here has done a fabulous job of creating functional, attractive, and desirable places to overnight. We had some new equipment to try out which always adds interest to a trek; is there a limit to how much a retired engineer/educator will spend on fine-tuning his gear?
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| Is that a kilt? Cool! |
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| S at the trailhead near Pen Mar |
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| Hey Bugs: Just try to bother me! |
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| Packing light: S's new pack on left |
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| Tumbling Run Shelters: No Snoring Zone to the right |
Day 2: With 12.2 m ahead of us we finished our oatmeal and were out of camp by 8:00, a bit leisurely but OK given the circumstances. Ascended 1000' steeply at the beginning but then enjoyed an easier trail for the most part. There was a section of that notorious PA rock strewn path where one finds themselves picking over them in a scramble both up and down. Encountered a few thru-hikers both NoBos and SoBos (figure that out for yourself). It is pretty late for folk starting from GA to finish before Baxter State Park, the home of Mt. Katahdin closes for the season, mid-October if they are just starting PA. Stopped in Caledonia State Park hoping for a camp store for a change in snack. Upon our arrival we discovered the there was only a snack bar associated with the swimming pool and for some reason no one had come to man it. Bummer! We found a shady spot, rested, watered, snacked, and chatted with some local folk before heading out. As we passed the snack bar and found it to be open; the attendant, a flustered teenager with a bad case of car trouble, did serve us up some delicious Hershey hand-dipped ice cream that made the stop more than worthwhile. The Quarry Gap Shelter was even finer than Tumbling Run with tent platforms and hanging baskets of impatiens. Met up with a father/son group form Baltimore we had encountered earlier in the day. We were in by 3:00p so had some more time to relax, enjoy the scenery, read, chat, rest, eat and sleep. Food on this trip was my standard menu: b'fast - oatmeal and instant coffee; snack - trail mix, Cliff bars, beef jerky; lunch - p'nut and jelly on whole wheat sandwich rounds; dinner - Mountain House freeze-dried meal-of-the-day and mini-chocolat bars. Next time out I am going to spice things up a bit; I will let you know what the new menu is like after I try it.
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| AM view from Chimney Rocks |
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| Gas pipeline clearing |
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| On the ridge |
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| Yup, it's a trail - see the blaze? |
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| Entrance to Shangri-La |
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| Welcome! |
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| How cute is that? |
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| One of few meadows |
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| Can you see her reading? |
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| These guys were camped just off the platform |
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| Connor and Hank with coincidental photo |
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| Midpoint, but I have no bragging rights |
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| Still some color to enjoy |
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| A facsimile of Conor's photo |
