Keeping the trail safe..?

My morning was damp, as expected, but also loud. Everyone was jolted awake by someone on a bullhorn in the distance yelling "Good morning campers!". For some, this was the end of sleep, to them I say Zzzz. I could feel the wet air through my liner, and did not want to greet the day. Of course eventually I did, and the only people remaining in the shelter were Jukebox, Slim Shady, and NPR (still asleep).
I hiked out at 10am, which seems to be becoming my start time. I had 18 miles to go, with little water, and no shelter along the way. Not only was there no shelter for lunch, but the shelter typically located at my end point is under renovation, so the day would end with a good nights tent.
I divided the day into 3 separate 6 mile hikes, with a break between each. The first section ended at a spring, where I could finally get a morning drink. I slaked my thirst and filled my waterskins for the dry road ahead.
Another 3 miles up and I came to a campsite with rock chairs built around the fire ring. It was also of particular note, since I found a rattlesnake cut up and staked to a tree. I entertained myself for a moment by flicking its rattle with my trekking pole, and then continued up the trail. There's something a little unsettling about seeing animal skins strung up by the campfire in the middle of the forest. So 3 more miles and I sat down to take another real break.
I found another stone throne to lean back on, and dug into my feed bag for a while. Once back on my feet I made short work of the final 6 miles. The hike ended in a nice rolling glen of pine trees along a small stream. That's where I found a perfect flat campsite to lay stake at. It was a tenth of a mile before the tent site at the renovating shelter, but that was located a third of a mile off the trail. I opted to skip the shelter, just to shave those two thirds of a mile. Plus, it really was a perfect campsite.
Switchback and Steady Yeti arrived, and departed. They were continuing on another 6.2 miles to the next real shelter. Kudos to them. Jukebox and Slim Shady arrived next, and decided to set up camp. Long after I had finished my dinner, NPR hiked down, said hello, and decided to hike up to the shelter. By this time I was in my tent, preparing for a night of forest sounds. The cicadas are out in full force, and along with the rushing sound of a burbling brook, it's bound to be a loud one. The 18 miles were manageable, but still took it out on my lower back. I think it's time to make some pack adjustments of my own. I believe tomorrow will end with my at a motel, so I can clean up and make gear alterations there. After all, simple tasks are so much simpler without a swarm of gnats around your face.

A Bridge Over Susquehanna

Sleep was a wonderful thing last night. Somehow being directly across the street from a train line that runs every 30 minutes had no impact. I vacated my room before the 10am checkout, and crossed the street to pick up some breakfast. I ordered a dish that came with 2 pancakes, but these pancakes were the size of 4.. each! I had to leave some of a pancake behind, my hiker hunger having been defeated. I then did a very quick resupply at a Quick Shop, and waved goodbye to the Doyle.
I started out, the first couple of miles, just following the trail through the streets of Duncannon. After crossing two long bridges, one over the Susquehanna, I was able to get under tree-cover. Back up into the hills, I eventually came across my lunch shelter. I was surprised to see Slim Shady and Jukebox both hanging out, and learned that Jukebox got poison ivy and they had gotten off the trail for a week. They moved on, but we were headed to the same shelter, so I relaxed, snacked, and watched an episode of Louie on my phone.
It was only another 6.7 miles to my final destination for the day, so I was able to hike a pretty leisurely pace and still arrive at 5:30pm. Slim Shady and Jukebox were already there, but soon after we were joined by NPR, Switchback, Steady Yeti, and 2 SoBos. It would have been a full shelter if this one didn't happen to have a second story and room for 20. It's as fancy as it sounds.
Everyone got under cover just before it started pouring rain. The rain was so heavy, and the wind so strong, that even tucked way back into the shelter I can feel a wet mist hitting my face. I'm bracing for a damp morning. Until then, and the 18 mile day that waits, I'll dither away the time with some Nerdist podcast, and maybe an episode of Wilfred.

The Doyle Rules!

I slept in until almost 10am, completely wiped from the day before. If I had known that the rocks would start in earnest today, I may have slept in a little later. It was immediately apparent to me, upon standing up, that I had overdone it yesterday. My hamstrings, in particular, felt like over-tightened drumheads behind my knees.
It would be 12 miles before I reached Duncannon, and the last 7 of those would be almost entirely rocks. At first I wasn't impressed by the challenge of the terrain, but slowly the volume of rocks increased. By the end, hiking down out of the hills, I was stumbling down a sheet of loose rocks and boulders at an uncomfortably steep angle. When descending a steep slope, sure-footing is always on the top of my list of priorities. There was none of that to be found here. Although I did find a massive rattlesnake on the side of the trail. Few things prick your ears up faster than the sound of that rattle.
Regardless of the challenge, I made it into town unscathed, although hurting. I had planned to eat lunch, restock, and hike 5 miles out of town to the next shelter. That was out of the question, as I was now limping my way up the street. After a massive lunch at the local pizzeria, I decided to follow suit with the other hikers and hole up in the Doyle hotel for the night.
I got a small single room in this beautiful dump, an enjoyed dinner in the downstairs bar. It was only around 4:30pm when I got there, so I enjoyed a long evening of relaxing, napping, reading, and catching up on some tv (on my phone, as the room doesn't have a TV). I also spent a lot of time stretching, and believe I've helped my hamstrings and lower back out immensely.
It was a wonderfully relaxing short day, after the pain had been slogged through. I hope to do another 12 miles tomorrow and work my way back up from there. That'll of course be after a quick resupply, and jaunt through town for breakfast. Here's hoping the rocks don't put me through the ringer.

The Doyle Rules!

I slept in until almost 10am, completely wiped from the day before. If I had known that the rocks would start in earnest today, I may have slept in a little later. It was immediately apparent to me, upon standing up, that I had overdone it yesterday. My hamstrings, in particular, felt like over-tightened drumheads behind my knees.
It would be 12 miles before I reached Duncannon, and the last 7 of those would be almost entirely rocks. At first I wasn't impressed by the challenge of the terrain, but slowly the volume of rocks increased. By the end, hiking down out of the hills, I was stumbling down a sheet of loose rocks and boulders at an uncomfortably steep angle. When descending a steep slope, sure-footing is always on the top of my list of priorities. There was none of that to be found here. Although I did find a massive rattlesnake on the side of the trail. Few things prick your ears up faster than the sound of that rattle.
Regardless of the challenge, I made it into town unscathed, although hurting. I had planned to eat lunch, restock, and hike 5 miles out of town to the next shelter. That was out of the question, as I was now limping my way up the street. After a massive lunch at the local pizzeria, I decided to follow suit with the other hikers and hole up in the Doyle hotel for the night.
I got a small single room in this beautiful dump, an enjoyed dinner in the downstairs bar. It was only around 4:30pm when I got there, so I enjoyed a long evening of relaxing, napping, reading, and catching up on some tv (on my phone, as the room doesn't have a TV). I also spent a lot of time stretching, and believe I've helped my hamstrings and lower back out immensely.
It was a wonderfully relaxing short day, after the pain had been slogged through. I hope to do another 12 miles tomorrow and work my way back up from there. That'll of course be after a quick resupply, and jaunt through town for breakfast. Here's hoping the rocks don't put me through the ringer.