Date: 2019-05-16
From: Pogo Campsite 1051.6

To: Mount Katahdin, Maine 
Miles today: 27.1

Woke up this morning to rain pelting my tent. At about 4:15 it let up and I took the opportunity to pack up. I hit the trail with much anticipation as today promised to be another exciting day. The rain continued on and off until about 7:30 and was more a nuisance than anything. It would stop long enough for me to remove my rain jacket and kilts then start up again. The trail in Maryland was great with the exception of a few rock fields and boggy sections. The elevation ascends and descends were challenging but fair.At 1120 eastern time, I crossed the Mason Dixon line and officially entered Pennsylvania, another high mileage state with 229 miles, and in comparison to Virginia, it¢s not that intimidating. Pennsylvania is well known for the abundance of rocks. When in Harpers Ferry, I purchased a pair of super feet insoles. With a couple of days of use they appear to be helping with mitigating the rock exposure to my feet. I also purchased a pair of dirty girls. These are gaiters similar to the pair I got a couple hundred miles ago, but they kept sliding up the heel in the extreme mud. The dirty girls anchor to the heel with Velcro, and they have also performed well. When I reached PA 16, I began to walk the two miles into Waynesboro for my resupply. Although I attempted to hitch hike, no one picked me up and I had to walk the distance. In reality, I don¢t know if I would pick myself up given my looks. While in town I ate then went to the Walmart to resupply. I had everything needed and was in the produce department when a gentleman circled me, then came back for another look. He asked if I was a thru hiker and I replied yes. I guess my pack and trekking poles in the basket, combined with my looks and body odor gave it away. After talking for a bit, he offered me a ride back to the trail. I waited by the door until he finished his shopping and then we were off. Turns out, Joe spent a lot of time in Louisiana as H&E was an equipment distributor for his former employer.  I was going to look for a place to shower and do laundry, but I wasn¢t going to let my ride back to the trail get away from me. Once back on the trail I had a spring in my step after checking off another state and pressing on. Later in the afternoon, I detoured to the Chimney Rock Overlook. Unlike March and April, I am now walking in a forest that has found spring and the foliage is so dense there aren¢t many views.Eventually I made it to Snowy Mountain road and walked to the South Mountain Hotel. I read where they had a hiker shower at the bar. When I arrived, I drank a beer and went outside to shower while my hamburger was being cooked. The shower was a simple three sided cinder block construction with no roof, door or shower curtain. As good as it felt, I hurried because I was exposed. I then washed my shirt and a pair of underwear while showering. When I returned inside, my hamburger was ready and I had another beer. This was a celebration of entering Pennsylvania, accomplishing a resupply, getting a shower and doing my laundry all in the same day while achieving good mileage. A guy at the bar gave me a ride back to the trail and my clothes are hanging in the tree. If they aren¢t dry by the morning, I¢ll just hang them on the back of my pack. I finished the day with 27.1 miles and am stealth camping on Snowy Mountain at mile 1078.7.