Date: 2007-05-27
From: Econolodge Calisle, PA

To: Doyle Hotel, Duncannon PA
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: broken clouds

I meant to start at the crack of dawn, but I stayed up too late at the Econolodge watching tv (even though there was nothing on). I got back on the trail at 0600. The first few miles were still on the flat farm lands of the Cumberland Valley. Then it was up Blue Mountain. There was a really nice stone bench built at a point where you could overlook the valley but it was so muggy and hazy that the visibility was not great. I was going really slowly and taking lots of breaks because of the heat (high 80s) and humidity). A ran into a few southbound weekenders and dayhikers. Also, I ran into 2 couples doing trail maintenance -on a sweltering Sunday of Memorial Day weekend ¢ bless their hearts. I ran into the 2nd couple right before Cove Mountain and the guy told me his buddy had ended his hike by trying to go up a mountain in 100 degree weather. But my thermometer never went above 89 so I figured I wasn't in any danger. I knew that once I got on top of the mountain I would be following the ridge for about 5 miles and I was worried that it would be a rocky exposed ridge. It turned out to be well shaded so it was fine. Once I got on the ridge I could hear thunder to the west that got closer and closer. I had been planning to go to the Cove Mountain shelter and make dinner to have the energy for the last 4 miles into Duncannon. I got to the shelter and got some water ¢ I went to the first spring which was a sludge puddle -found out later there was a better one. Then the storm hit. I found out I lost my fuel bottle during the day- so added some cold water to Idahoan mashed potatoes in lieu of the hot dinner I had been planning. The last few days there have been a lot of caterpillars hanging in the path. Today there were tons and my face and arms were covered with webs. But Cove Mountain shelter was the mother lode - there were 100s at the shelter- I am not exaggerating. 4 different species with some inchworms thrown in. I was picking them off me, my pack, amusing myself my bumping their butts to make them move fast. After the thunderstorm passed, I got back on the trail at 1730 with 4 miles left to go to Duncannon. The first 2 miles were on the flat ridge. I got to hawk rockwhich had a view of Duncannon. I thought it would give me a 2nd wind to see my destination, but it looked rather far away. I was following the atc PA section guide, which said I would cross a rock slide and then get on an old road, which would lead to another old road. Apparently, the trail has been relocated since the guide was written. It was a sharp downhill on wet rock and leaves or mud. After risking my neck like that for a while, the trail went sharply upward. Aaaagh!!! Who was the bright spark that thought of that relo? I reached the Doyle Hotel at 1945, 15minutes before it closed. I finally got that pint of Yuengling that I had been dreaming about all day. When I got a room there, the bartender went thru her spiel - this building is 102 years old. The water is very hot. If someone flushes a toilet or the washer goes into a rinse cycle while you're in the shower, step out of the way. I hung out on the balcony with Coach K, Cracker, and Slowstepper.