Date: 2005-04-13
From: The Doyle Hotel, Duncannon-Room 32

To: Peter's Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: clear sky

Got an early start after breakfast at Goodies, walking along High Street, past the frosty lawns of the still sleeping Duncannon, in the cold early morning. It was spectacular crossing the Clarks Ferry Bridge. I am always nervous crossing these elevated bridges, over deep and fast flowing rivers, on pedestrian walkways that often seem to have been stuck onto the side of a traffic bridge as an afterthought. No way to survive that drop with a pack on your back. Still, I suppose, the same could be said if you were crossing in a car. It is just the exposed height that scares me.   Then it was across the railroad tracks and a slow and steady climb up Peter¢s Mountain. There are some great views of Duncannon on this climb, looking back and seeing the early morning sun beginning to light up the buildings. Once on the top you can see the Susquehanna to both your right and your left, as it curves around the mountain on its south end. This is a very rocky ridge walk, with some major scrambles over some realy big boulders, as predicted by Snowbird.   I was not far past Clarks Ferry Shelter when I met So Slow, who was slack packing SOBO. Her husband had dropped her off at a road crossing, and she was slack packing back into Duncannon. She has 1300 miles of the trail covered, including everything south of here and has also hiked the 100-mile wilderness already. A few moments of conversation revealed that the similarities in our trail names reflected a similar ¢Take-It-Slow¢ hiking style.   Then it was a long ridge walk. Alternating between small rocks and smooth trail, with the sun now high in the sky and a light breeze blowing. Another perfect hiking day. I crossed over PA225 on a sparkling new ¢ 2003- pedestrian bridge and continued north, being circled by 8-10 turkey buzzards. They were perched on some old snags just beyond the road, and leisurely launched themselves on motionless wings into the rising thermals as I approached.   Just before Fumitory Rocks I met Restless ¢ a 2001 thru hiker- out for a trash pick-up hike with his wife. They maintain a section of trail north of here and he told me that my proposed 17+-mile hike for tomorrow shouldn¢t be too bad. He said that a significant section of it is along an old abandoned stagecoach road and that me is able to do 4MPH on that section. I told him that I could not do 3MPH going downhill without a pack, and with the wind at my back, but it is reassuring to know that there is at least hope for tomorrow.   I got here in the early afternoon. The trip to the spring is an 800 feet descent, much of it on the 297 steps of stone that have been meticulously placed by the Susquehanna ATC. This is an excellent shelter with an enclosed porch and has two levels. The attraction is too much and I have decided to sleep upstairs, although I suspect that everything that I will need will be on the other level. There is also a heavy canvas curtain that can be lowered over the front of the deck to keep the west wind out of the shelter ¢ an addition that I am currently taking advantage of.   I can look out through the still bare trees and see PA countryside stretching away to the west and the next line of mountains. Got a weak signal here and left a message for KT.   A great day ¢ rocky trail in places, but still a great day.Thought for today ¢   When I look back, I stumble   When I look too far ahead, I stumble   It is only when I concentrate on what is here and now, that I make good progress.