Date: 2009-05-12
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Clarks Ferry Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Tuesay May 12,2009Day#11The Sun comes up @ 6am...the hikers begin to stir..."Primitive" & "ThreshHold"(NJ) are up first...they came in late last night...then the PA couple:"C-It" & "Pacesetter" (southBound section hikers).I get up...pack my bag..make some "Cowboy Coffee" while eating my Apple Cinnamon Pop-Tarts. "Jigsaw" is making his usual Tea & bagels for breakfast.The we're out of the Darlington Shelter..by 7:30am...we've got a big mile (for US) day today...16 miles...& lots of PA ROCKS in store...weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeOut of the shelter we head down..."Blue" & "EverGreen" are sleeping in(but, they'll catch me soon)...no stirring coming from their tents as we head out of camp...NOBO!...Down..down..down..to PA 850 (650ft elevation) then the climb up begins...up Cove Mtn & then by Cove Mtn Shelter (1200ft.elevation) & abt a mile later...HAWK ROCK...a nice view of the Susquehanna River Valley with Duncannon,PA in the distance...Hike down a bit further & I take a wrong turn & lose the White Blazes!....HELP!!!   (I later find out "Jigsaw" did the same thing!)I finally "bush-wack" my way back up the hill & spot a White Blaze...then carefully follow them down & down over loads of those pesky rocks...not the boulder size here...but maybe fist size & a bit larger...just beig enuff to be a real nuisance..hike over Hwys 11 &15 in the next couple hours & then down into DUNCANNON,PA & abt a mile of road walking before I find the DOYLE HOTEL...A hiker friendly place, an old hotel run by two nice folks, VIcki & Pat...I order a 1/2 lb cheeze burger & fries & a Pepsi (no Coke here)& ate a bowl of Chili while I waited...ahhhhhhh CHILI.....nice!"Jigsaw" is having a beer as I sit @ the bar & wait for my food...Other hikers have arrived: "Blue, EverGreen, Primitive & Threshhold,& Santas Helper(TN)(who's on Trail Journals updating his journal entries).We ate & left after a short rest...the rest of the gang was staying the night there @ the DOYLE...Out of the Doyle...we do some major ROAD-WALKING...outta town...The concrete walking hurts my feet more than those pesky rocks...Walk...walk...walk...then a long walk over the Juniata River Bridge & then over the Susquehanna River...probably the broadest river we've ever hiked across...the bridge (obviously) was a very long one...we crossed over US 22/322 & across railroad tracks (Norfolk Southern Railways) then back into the woods...& UP...UP...UP...Tuff climb after a BIG lunch...UP...UP...UP...lots of boulders on top of the peak...& YES...the White Blazes are on them...meaning...I've gots to do some boulder-hopping...My feet are pounding these boulders & will be so tired & swollen tonite!Up...Up...Up...to the top & I see an immediate Blue Blaze off to the left...is this the shelter?....surely not....(but, I remember the last shelter...having NO SIGN)I travel down the Blue Blaze path...down...down...for abt a 1/2 mile...shouting for "Jigsaw" a couple times...but, nothing...I turn around & hike back to the White Blaze...& travel on...thinking...if that was the shelter...I missed it & will find a tent site not far up the trail....(i hope)a few more White Blazes...& abt a 1/4 mile or so...& then I spot a sign for the CLARKS FERRY SHELTER....yea!!!only 300 yards....not bad...I hike down the Blue Blazes...& see "Jigsaw" is already here...talking with a section hiker..."Jim"(PA).. (we later give him the trailname of "Junco JIM"...being that he is a bird watcher)We all talk for awhile...@ the picnic table in front of the shelter...I decide not to cook tonite...I'm still stuffed from my huge lunch...I un-pack...check my feet...(very swollen)...will re-bandage in the morning.Probably wont see any thru-hikers tonight...the DOYLE HOTEL is too much of a magnet.We have a very short day tomorrow...only 7 miles....we wont have to hurry outta the shelter...7pm...the Sun is setting...I'm Tired....Goodnite!                              16 miles today