Date: 2007-05-27
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: Doyal hotel
Miles today: 145.0

Bears dean Hostel to Duncanon, PADay 23 Blackburn AT CenterIt started raining shortly after leaving Bears Den, so we decided to make it a short dayand go to the Blackburn Center. The caretaker, Hopeful was there to give us hot chocolate and left over treats from the nights before dinner. There is a small cabin with four bunks and a wood stove for hikers to stay in. Since we were wet and it was a chilly day, so we started the wood stove and got the place really toasty. Too toasty infact, it was damn hot in there! But allour wet stuff got dried out. Later, when Hopeful's husband (red wing) came back from chores, theycooked us a spagette dinner, with salad and brownies for desert. Dinner and stay were free, but donations were requested, so we did. Day 24 Ed Garvey Shelter, 18 mile day.This day we passed through Hapers Ferry, MD It was a nice Satruday afternoon when we got there,so lots of tourests in town. Had a meal and ice cream, bought new insoles for the boots at the outfitter. Hoped they would help keep my feet from sliding around in the boots, as I have beenhaving to wear two pairs of socks. A long and somewhat steep climb out of the river valley brought us up to the shelter, which waspacked! Ther must have been at least 30 people up there. A double decker, the top part had a Boy Scout troop camped out in it. All the tent sites, offical and unoffical, were occupied. I was able to squeeze into the shelter though. Water wasa long 0.4 mile hike down hill. Day 25, Greenbrier Sate park, 18 mile dayA fairly long, but reasonably easy day. Instead of going to the shelter, Craker and I opted forthe state campground, due to the proximity of a bar and grill for dinner and a shower. Day 26, Camped just past Pen-Mar park on Pennsylvania/Maryland boarder. 18 mile dayThis was a long day. Trail fairly easy, but still some ups and downs and assorted rocky sections.About noon, we came to a road crossing down to Smithburg, MD. We needed supplies, so hicked intotown. Turned out to be an easy hitch, into town and back to trail within an hour, including supper market stop and lunch out of thier deli. Good stop. We were going to stop at Devils Racecourse shelter, but it turned out to be in rough shape.front center post for the floor was blown out, so floor had a pronounced "V" shape to it.We went back up the hill (another 0.3 miles up hill) to the trail where there were some tentsites, but there were already people there and an outward bound group of kids near-by, so we decided to walk on a bit. Turned out to be another 5 miles and arrived at Pen-Mar just as thesun was setting. No camping at Pen-Mar, so had to push on some more and look for a place to camp in the dark. We got a little lost and ended up just stopping where we were and tented.Turned out it was about the only practical camping spot for some distance farther on. Day 27, Tumbinh Run ShelterAfter having done some miles the last few days, we did a short 8 mile day today. Noticedblisters starting on my toes which needed attention and we needed a day just to rest up a bit. This was a nice place, with good tent sites next to a nice stream. Had a good relaxing dayafternoon there.Day 28 Birch Run Shetler, 20 milesAfter the day of rest, back to the long grind. Weather still pretty good and temps mild, making for good hiking the last few days. Not much to say about today, except reasonably level trail with some modest ups and downs. Few rocky sections, but still not bad.Day 29, Private campground 17 mile dayPassed the half way point of the AT today. Store at Pine Grove Furnace closed, so couldn't get ice cream. Turns out they opened later, as someone called the owner and told him there werea bunch of hikers wanting to do the "half gallon ice cream challenge" (who can eat a whole halfgallon the fastest!) There's a hostel there, but Craker and I decided to push on again, as we had only done 10 miles so far and it was still early. We went to the private campground because they had a resturant and shower (we haven't cooked our own dinner for days!) They cater mostly to trailers which are seasonal rentals, so thetents sites were not the best. In fact, I had to tell them if they could find a decent placefor us to tent, I wanted my money back and would go someplace else. We got a better spot, butnot by much. At least the shower was nice, as its started to get hot and humid out now.Day 30, Backpackers campsite, Boiling Springs PA. 12 milesThis is the last stop before the Cumberland valley crossing. We oppted to go to this campsiteinstead of the shelter 3 miles back, so instead of having a 18 mile day, we'd only have a 15 mileday. Only problem, the campsite is right next to rail road tracks, and fraight trains rolled byevery 3 hours, all night long. Of course, they have to blow the whisle too, as there's a road crossing near-by. So, we didn't get much sleep that night. Only good thing, was able to getanother dinner in town. Day 31 Darlington Shelter, 15 mile dayThis was the valley crossing. Most of the day was flat walking, through farm fields and wooded areas. Thankfully, there was more shaddy woody areas then open farm field walking. We got up before dawn and were on the trail by 6 am, so we could beat the heat of the day. This daywas going to be real hot and humid, as its been building for a few days. After crossing the valley, we had to climb up on a ridge, and it was a good climb. By this time,it was about 1 pm and it was getting hot! Finally arrived at the shelter about 2:30 pm. A few hours later a good thunder storm came by, so we had good timing on this one!Day 32 Doyal Hotel, Duncannon, PA, 11 mile day.Up early agian, but we slept like the dead after yesterdays long hike, early start and lackof sleep the night before. Had on stiff climb today, then one heck of a decent into the rivervalley off the ridge. Nice view just before you drop down to town from "Hawk Rock"view point.So here we are at the world renouned Doyle hotle, built 102 years ago and looking like it. But what the heck, the rooms only $20 and has a bar and grill. Next stop will likely be Port Clinton in 4 or 5 days.