Date: 2010-06-26
From: Boiling Springs, PA

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 25.7
Weather: broken clouds

The countryside outside of Boiling Springs is a scenic change of pace from my normal forested path as the trail traverses either directly across farmland (mostly corn and wheat) or skirts the edges via a corridor of trees adjacent to these fields. The variety is welcome and I get the feeling that I'm seeing more of PA by this route as opposed to my normal wilderness submersion.I'm startled around 9:35a when I hear shotgun fairly close to my right. I've heard gunshots along the trail before but always far in the distance, not the stones throw from where this shot sounds like it emanated. My first thought is that an errant hunter is nearby, unaware of the proximity to the A.T., and I'm tempted to call out to let him know someone is close. I pause to consider though and think maybe this will just piss him off to have his deer startled by some crazy yelling hiker (as if the gunshot didn't startle every woodland critter in a 2 mile radius) . A minute later I hear 6 or 7 shots go off in succession and now think a shooting range must be nearby until suddenly I hear what sounds like a cannon followed by more sporadic shooting. All of this very close and yet I can't see anyone or anything. Amidst all the craziness I consider another option, the supposed canon fire now added to the equation, that a Civil War reenactment might be taking place. I glance at my watch but can't think of any relevance between the date and a reenactment. Shortly I pass a couple of southbounders who confirm it to be a shooting range and they actually heard someone yell, "Pull". Mystery solved.In the 'it's a small world' category I pass 2 other southbound hikers after the gunfire and strangely these cats look familiar. I can see a bit of recognition on their face as well at seeing me and we simultaneously share the 'Aha!' moment of recognition. I'm meeting section hikers Mister Starbuck and his buddy for the 2nd time on my travels, the first meeting occurring what now seems ages ago on the day I exited the Smokie Mountains. Mister Starbuck and I chatted for a while at the Standing Bear Hostel that long ago evening and he has been following my travels via my journal since. We chat for a few minutes on the trail and he tells me that they're just day hiking today but only have a short section left in Maine that they hope to tackle in late August to finally complete their section hike of the entire A.T. I'm looking at an early or mid-September completion myself but a lot can happen on the trail and it's possible we may see each other a third time at the end in Maine.The rest of the day is hot and uneventful as I push for a 25 miler. The trail turns rocky over the last 7 miles finally confirming the status of Pennsylvania as the rockiest state on the trail, which has otherwise been mild, flat, and mostly rock-free to this point. One of my less favorite trail conditions, the rocks now pepper the path forcing a constant head down approach that is both physically and mentally exhausting. After Maryland though I'm ready for it and make the mental and pacing adjustments necessary for me to navigate this minefield without losing my sanity. I still have at least 8 more days in PA and expect a lot more of the same over this stretch. Walk on!