Date: 2004-07-25
From: Route 501 Shelter, PA

To: Have We Hit The Rocks Yet?
Miles today: 23.0

Among hikers on the Appalachian Trail, Pennsylvania has a reputation for excessively rocky conditions. The reality is that only part of the trail in this state is rocky. But what part is that? During the last few days, a common question uttered by hikers is, "Have we hit the rocks yet?"Some hikers had been predicting that the rocks begin after Port Clinton, further up the trail. Other hikers claim they begin after the Route 501 shelter, the start of my hike today.It is the belief of me, Gather, and Wipeout that the concentrations of rocks become a significant impediment just north of Duncannon, an area we have already hiked through. After that point, the concentrations increase in frequency.Hiking on rocks is a miserable experience. It requires a hiker to constantly place his feet on angular and blunt surfaces. This kind of stepping creates pressure points on the soles of the feet. It forces a hiker to frequently place his foot down at awkward angles. As a result, the feet become sore.When I began hiking today, it started to lightly rain. I switch over from my hiking shoes to sandals. The rain stopped but the sky remained overcast, so I kept the sandals on. I wore these sandals for several hours through numerous rock concentrations. Between the concentrations of rocks, the trail was easy to walk because there was little variation to the elevation. For the most part, the trail followed along the top of a level, wooded ridgeline.I felt a pain in my skin below a couple of toes. I took off my sandals and socks to figure out what was wrong. It was hard to view that part of my body. A small cut had developed, possibly from a splinter of wood. I hiked a few more miles, and then detoured off the trail to a spring in the woods. I placed my bare foot in the stream which the spring fed into and washed out the cut. The spring fed water was exceptionally cold and less apt to contain bacteria that could infect the cut.While visiting the spring, the sky appeared less threatening, so I put my hiking shoes back on.Yesterday at the McDonald¢s restaurant, I had used a sink in the men¢s room to rinse out a pair of sweaty socks. Today, those socks¢one of my two heavy duty pairs¢remained damp. I picked up a forked branch, put the socks on the forks, and carried the branch while I hiked. This technique hastened the drying of the socks. My plan is to wear this pair of socks at the start of tomorrow's hike. For the sake of my feet, it is important that I keep my socks as fresh as possible during this rocky portion of the journey.Late in the day, the concentrations of rocks became intolerable. My feet were aching worse than ever before. I have made camp at a spot in the woods just before the ridgeline descends into the town of Port Clinton, PA. The town offers a free camping spot under a pavilion, but I would prefer to camp up on this wooded hill. I can hear the sounds of vehicles moving on a busy road and assume the din would be louder in the town. Also, I am not sure if I could string up my hammock under the pavilion.It seems incredible that I managed to hike 23 miles today, given the concentrations of rocks along the way. Tomorrow, I will re-supply in Port Clinton and resume hiking. I have been told that the worst concentrations of rocks on the trail in Pennsylvania are situated north of Port Clinton.It is after dark as I compose this journal in my hammock. I am using a headlamp. The light has attracted mosquitoes that buzz a few inches from my face above the bug netting. My left ear is itchy; it must have been touching the netting and provided an opportunity for a lucky mosquito.