Thursday, June 23

Reporting in from Lynn’s house in Jonestown, PA. Thought I
could do some posting from my phone but it’s acting stupid right now. So I can
only post pictures periodically.

With the help of vitamin I (Ibuprofen) we walked 57 miles northward
from the Maryland-Pennsylvania border at the town of Penn Mar to the town of
Boiling Springs. Our options for camping or lodging were not great at Boiling
Springs. The weather report called for thunderstorms with hail and a
possibility of a tornado. Since a good bit of the next leg would be in the open,
and not really wanting to deal with frozen chunks of water falling on us, we
opted for the better part of valor. We called my sisters call for a ride and decided
to take today as a zero mile day.

We did some fairly tough walking with way overloaded packs.
Initially we thought we would be out for seven days and we packed enough food
for seven days. My starting pack weight came in at 48 pounds. Way too much. So today
gave us an opportunity for some planning and to readjust what we need to carry.
We figured a route that will allow us to do two days, and then be resupplied
with food for the next three days. Along with jettisoning unneeded equipment I
got my pack weight down to 37 pounds, including water. Still too heavy for the minimalists,
but a bit more tolerable.

Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.I think the pack weighed more than I did. (Rich Schools photo)

Trail time has been interesting. The AT is very accessible, so
you meet a whole range of people on it. The first question usually is, are you
a through hiker or a section hiker? Naturally there is a lot more cachet to
being a through hiker. Deservedly so. Just doing Pennsylvania, Rich and I are
section hikers. But at least we have chosen a fairly tough section to do. Pennsylvania
has a reputation for the rocks one must deal with. I remember reading a number
of years ago that boot manufacturers tested their new styles on this section. Some
places amounted to rock scrambling with a 45 pound pack.

Speed bumps on the AT.
(Rich Schools photo)

Rock scrambling.
(Rich Schools photo)

The part of the trail we have done so far goes fairly north.
The mountains run generally southwest to northeast. So we did a lot of going up
one side, then down the next. Once we cross the Susquehanna River in a couple
days the trail tends to align along the ridge lines. You do a steep uphill, hike
along the ridge for 15 or so miles, and then do a steep downhill. Then repeat.
Not much in the way of switchbacks. It’s usually straight up, then straight down. There was a time in my life that I could do 20 – 25 mile days without too much bother. I think 15 is
more the order now. Endurance wise it isn’t too bad but the body doesn’t quite
like the beating anymore.

Up. This is actually one of the easier ups.
(Rich Schools photo)

Rich, living the dream with the aid of cold cloths and Ibuprofen.

So the routine is get up eat a quick breakfast, walk, eat a
quick dinner, sleep, repeat. Not much time for photography. Rich has his cell
phone handy for quick pictures but mine doesn’t want to take pictures. Anita has
loaned me her lightweight camera but I have to take my pack off to use it. I’ve
gotten in some birding but it’s all audible since I don’t have time to bird or
want to carry binoculars. But, I have gotten whip-or-will and summer tanager for
the year. Also, a cooperative wood thrush at one of the shelters.

Wood thrush.

Oh, and apparently Tuesday, June 21, was National Hike Naked
Day. We did have an adherent come through. Wouldn’t have bothered me at all to
never have seen that.  There’re some
people on this planet that I wouldn’t mind seeing them hiking naked. He wasn’t
one of them. And no, we didn’t participate. The world has enough problems without
Rich and me hiking naked to add to the burden.

Naked hiker.
(Rich Schools photo)