Date: 2016-07-14
From: Shippensburg Road - 1093.2

To: Whiskey Spring Road, Pa - 1115.0
Miles today: 21.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Shortly after getting on the trail, we came across the official halfway point for 2016. Every year, the length of the trail changes slightly due to reroutes, the addition of switchbacks, etc. In fact, the trail is almost 60 miles longer now then it was just 30 years ago. This year, the halfway point is at mile 1094.55.   To celebrate the accomplishment, many thruhikers mark their victory by attempting the half gallon challenge! One half gallon of ice cream that is! The current record holder finished in just 8 minutes. Apparently, a 1/2 gallon wasn't enough because someone ate a whole gallon in about 20 minutes. Sherpa wasn't hungry after finishing the first half, but he was up for the challenge! The store near the halfway point carries 1.5 quart sized buckets of Hershey's ice cream. If you finish that, you get a tall cup with the other half quart to bring it up to a half gallon. Sherpa started with Mint Chocolate Chip. Porter, who chose not to participate, warned that it might be a mistake because of the chunks. Even the attendant at the front desk tried to steer him towards an easier option with "Neopolitan is the most popular choice." They were right but to no avail. Those chips were so chewy, they would have slowed down Chewbacca. The second course was raspberry, better texture, worse flavor. 53 minutes later, the deed was done.   There will be no gallon challenge in Maine. To prevent immediate onset diabetes from his 2,564 calorie snack, Sherpa quickly hit the trail to begin burning the calories.Along the trail, the shelters are noticeably nicer the further North you get. For those who are unfamiliar with the AT, there are 3 sided shelters every 5-10 miles of the trail that you can sleep in on a first come first serve basis. Most of them have a simple floor made of lumber and a roof that hopefully doesn't leak. There is also usually a picnic table in the vicinity and a contained fire ring. The last few shelters have boasted a wide range of amenities. One had a pavilion over its picnic table. Several were adorned with nice metal roofs. One boasted hardwood floors. The best by far though had an "innkeeper" and potter flower hanging baskets!   There is still one feature that deters some hikers from making use of them. Earlier, before the spring break party crowd quit, these shelters were infested with mice high on second hand pot smoke. This calms the mice down nicely as everyone is winding down, but inevitably they get the munchies after everyone is aslpeep, creating quite a nuisance for the hikers. The shelter mice are still present, although most are suffering withdrawals now as the party atmosphere has noticeably died down. Noticing a very fancy fire ring today, Sherpa stopped at one today where a thruhiker was chatting with a ridge runner named Jukebox. The thruhiker asked Sherpa three questions, "are you a thru hiker? (No backpack)" and after hearing yes, "do you smoke weed?", and after hearing no, "do you have any paper? (To roll a joint)". Sadly, the only assistance that Sherpa could offer was the emergency supply of toilet paper in his left pocket, which the hiker politely declined to the amusement of the ridge runner. Sorry shelter mice, maybe someone else better equipped will come along so you guys can have your fix! (BTW, later on we showed the hiker our commentary and he got quite a kick out of this paragraph. He then borrowed a red bull can from someone nearby and fashioned a bong).