Date: 2011-07-03
From: Appalachian Trail RR Station

To: Appalachian Trail RR Station
Miles today: 425.8

So much has happened since my last entry - four states and over four hundred miles. Left Harpers Ferry and entered Maryland briefly. The day we left was our hottest day yet - 95 degrees. Luckily most of our hiking is in the much cooler woods. Finished Maryland on the morning of our third day and entered Pennslyvania, another long state with over 200 miles of trail. Passed the real halfway point in the beginning of PA. I then successfully completed the thruhiker half gallon challenge. It took me 70 minutes to eat a half gallon of peanut butter cup ice cream. In hindsight, peanut butter cup was the absolute worst choice of ice cream, but they didn't have mint chocolate chip which I'm sure I could have finished in half the time. Sage finished a half gallon of strawberry twirl in 20 minutes, putting me to shame. We both got tiny wooden spoons for becoming members of the half gallon club. PA was my toughest state yet. The trail in central and northern PA is very rocky and your feet are sore and tired at the end of the day. We stayed at the Allenberry Resort and Playhouse in Boiling Springs for only forty bucks a night for thruhikers. It had nice rooms and a great pool and jacuzzi. Unfortunately, we were there on Monday, the only day when they didn't have plays. Took a day off at the Delaware Water Gap on the border of PA and New Jersey. Met my mom and dog there. We have been lucky with the weather and have rarely been rained on, but it started pouring on us and lightning right above us as we climbed down into town. The trail turned into a stream. I told my mom she should be happy it rained on us because we hadn't showered in nine days, the longest I've went without showering on the trail. We spent the entire zero day laying in bed, eating, and watching movies while it rained outside. Perfect zero day. We left there and headed into New Jersey, another short state. New Jersey has one bear per square mile but we didn't see any here. The mosquitoes were terrible here, where part of the trail was very swampy. We walked across a one mile boardwalk amid tall grasses. A change from the woods is always nice, except in the hot sun. On our last day in Jersey, a trail maintainer bought me and Sage ice cream and we saw a bald eagle. Finished NJ and entered New York. The trail here has been beautiful and diverse. NY is also filled with delis in close proximity to the trail. I've eaten ice cream every day that I've been in NY, which usually slows our progression. We have had lots of trail magic here also - water jugs near roads (NY has less springs and streams), a cooler full of beer and water, and a guy named PaddyO who gave us gatorade, snacks, and told us the trail up north iis filled with piped springs and swimming holes. NY also has the lowest elevation point on the trail, located in a small zoo/museum that the trail goes right through. A couple days ago we could see the NYC skyline from the trail and today we are on the train headed into New York City for a few hours. The railroad station goes right over the trail so many hikers choose to spend a day in the city. I'm looking forward to getting there today! Thanks for the messages, will add more photos when I can. Tomorrow we hike into Conneticut for a brief 52 miles. We are counting down now with less than 750 miles to go!