Date: 2003-07-10
From: Duncannon, PA - Port Clinton, PA

To: Duncannon, PA - Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 70.0
Weather: heavy intensity rain

Duncannon, PA - Port Clinton, PA70 miles (1201.5 total miles)We hung around Duncannon for most of day 95. It was too hot to go outside. But as the evening shade rolled in, we packed up our stuff to leave (with a stop at the ice cream stand). By the time we crossed the Susquehanna River to leave town, it was 8pm. Are we crazy?It was a short but steep climb to the ridge. We managed to get there before dark. But from there we needed our headlamps. Night hiking can be fun, but night hiking in rocky Pennsylvania can be frustrating. But it was worth it. We could see the lights of Duncannon below, and where the bridge crossed the river. And althogh there we no official fireworks in town, we could see them on both sides of the ridge. It was a cool way to spend the 4th of July after all. We got to the shelter before 10pm.The forecast on day 96 called for 98 degree heat, and humid. After coming in late, I wasn't particularly eager to get going, but I knew it would only get hotter as the day went on. I was out by 6:45. Again, the miles were fairly easy, but tiring. I hit a shelter at 11:00, and found a bunch of thru-hikers laying around. Obviously I wasn't the only one feeling the heat. The water source for the shelter was 800 feet straght down the ridge. It was a rediculous climb on an otherwise easy hiking day.We stuck around the shelter for a long time. More and more hikers came in and crashed. We cooked dinner, and welcomed Kodiak back to the trail. Finally we hiked out at about 5:30, and did about 4 more miles. We found a nice place to set up tents for the night.Day 97 was a tough one. We started hiking down into the gap. It was humid. We stopped for water, but the mosquitos wouldn't let us linger. I was frustrated. We hiked on past the road crossing, and up to a stream. Someone left a bag full of sodas. Wow, I needed that.The day got easier as time went on. We hiked around and down into the shelter. We got there just before the thunderstorms. We waited it out and ate dinner. From there it was a quick up and down to a spring where we camped out. I fell asleep to thunder and lightning.Day 98 was my hardest on the trail yet. I was constantly drenched from sweat and humdity. The rocks were killing my feet. My watch broke. I lost the trail in a boulder field. I fell twice, once into a big poison ivy patch. I was having a very hard time. But I got into the shelter once again just before the thunderstorms hit. I was grateful that my timing always ends like that. I had seen 2 turtles that day, which made me happy. And a typo in the handbook promised an extra 800 foot climb that didn't exist. Jack of the Mountain bought me a handful of wild raspberries. So maybe the day wasn't all bad. We had also passed the 1000 mile mark - counting down! Less than 1000 miles to go. No problem!It was 4 more mostly easy miles to the 501 Shelter. There was a caretaker cutting down some trees that had fallen during the afternoon storm. The shelter was basically a free hostel. There was an enclosed building with 12 bunks and a solar shower. We ordered pizzas. It was a fun, pleasant evening.We had to resupply on day 99. We got a ride into Pine Grove from a local trail angel. He drove us to McDonalds, then to the grocery store. We got another ride to a restaurant, where we hung out for a while. Last Minute found an insect in his bag and chased it around the restaurant for 10 minutes. He then said he would buy lunch for anyone who would order "chow chow" no questions asked, and eat whatever it is. No one agreed (I wouldn't experiment in any restarant that has scrapple on the menu). We later found out it's a mixed vegetable dish. The caretaker was in town, and he gave us a ride back to the 501 shelter. I took another shower and hiked out. It was 5.5 rugged miles to a lake and camping area. I found some trash while hiking, and couldn't pass it by. I was angry to be carrying my own pack weight plus someone else's trash. But less than a mile later I pased a ridgerunner who was out cleaning the trail, and he took the trash for me. I am so grateful for AT volunteers! I spent a peaceful night camped by the pond. I welcomed the overcast and light rain on day 100. I left camp at about 7:30, but still felt exhausted. It was about 10 ridge miles to the shelter where I stopped for a late lunch. Once again, a bunch of us sat and waited out a rain shower. Then it was another 5 miles to a spring for the evening. It rained hard all night.I hiked out early for the last 4 miles into Port Clinton. It rained the whole way. It was 3 flat miles, and a very steep descent into town. It was very hard hiking down the wet rocks. But there was breakfast in town.I am looking forward to leaving Pennsylvania. The rocks are killing my feet. I am taking it very slow, and many hikers are passing me. But I am still on a good pace. I am down to 971 miles left. I am ready to go.