Date: 2007-04-30
From: Toms Run Shelters

To: Garmanhaus B&B, Boiling Springs, PA
Miles today: 23.1

Got another great start @ 0715, TODAY is the BIG DAY. We cranked out the 12 miles by 12noon despite temps increasing to 76 and humid.Took a couple pics at the marker for the half way point. Kinda cool to know you hiked 1087.5 miles!!!Ready for the half gallon challenge. We stopped at The Green Mountain General Store as the other tradition Pine Grove Furnace State Park is only open weekends til Memorial Day-and we aint waitin!!HERSHEY's Ice Cream! Good Brand at least. I selected Maple Walnut, Guthook Andes Mint Chocolate. Boy is it hot. Eatin outside on the picnic table in the blazin sun.170 calories per 1/2 cup. 100 calories from fat. Not as many as the Ben & Jerry's we ate at the Bear's Den (~1200 per pint!!) but it'll do. 1600 calories from fat! 2720 total calories!! Yikes! Guthook's even more!That's lotta ice cream. The first quarter went easy. Then the second a little slower. Got pretty full durin the 3rd quarter. But the hiker appetite lingered. I somehow finished it. 34 minutes and a few seconds. Wow. So full.Guthook did well, considering he thought for a while he was lactose intolerant. Surprised he chanced it at all. Especially given his coworkers similar challenge that ending in lots -o - puking. You don't forget such a memory!Anyway, it was a good lunch. Hope the oppressive heat doesn't make me puke when we resume hiking (right after). No time to waste still gotta crank out a bunch of miles to get to town and our B&B.Climbed up and outta the valley to some much bigger rocks. This is what Pennsylvania is famous for. Lots of jagged rocks to walk on that eat boots. Those suck. They kill yer feet. The bigger ones at least are kinda interesting. And different. You literally have to climb with your hands up/around/over some of them. Trekkin poles kinda useless. Guthook was lovin 'em. The heat was killin me with a full belly. So I liked them, but would not have minded easy walkin. Stopped at Alec Kennedy Shelter for a break and immediately took off my shoes and stuffed my smokin feet into an icy stream. AHHHHHHHhhhhhh!!! COLD!! But it felt SOOOOOooooo GoooooD!!   Took a 45 minute break and finally pulled out my frostbitten feet. But they felt so much happier. And they thanked me. I also iced my full hydration bladder which had become pretty warm and yicky tastin. We have to carry much more water now since northern VA. Very few streams and springs means carrying enough water for 10 or even 14 miles at a time. Been carryin 3 Liters now. Which sucks. Used to carry 1.5L to save weight. Then Increased that to 2L. Now 3 L. 2.2 lbs PER LITER!Finally hit the farm fields we heard were coming. For several miles the trail runs zig zaggin thru farm fields which you mostly can't cut corners cuz of the crops. It sucks when you can see far ahead (Guthook walking 10 or so minutes ahead at times) but can't shortcut it. I did however "Tito" one of them quite happily. [Tito told us on his last day how he cuts across downhill switchbacks if they're easy rather than zig zag back and forth endlesslty, so we have ceremoniousy "Titoed" a couple downhill switchbacks in memory of Tito.]Anyway, FINALLY got into Boiling Springs to the "hiker-friendlier" of the two hostels, the Garmanhaus B&B. WOW. Not so friendly. Cash up front. Gotta keep our packs outside on the fire escape. Had to use the back entrance via fire escape. Can't walk past kitchen/laundry room with smelly hiker clothes until we shower. Beds were nice, but the "breakfast" turned out to be fresh fruit & cold muffins with OJ. Tasted good and filled us up, but not exactly the Bed & Breakfast we had expected. Oh well. We did catch a decent dinna at the Italian Pizza place, Lasagna,salad, chicken tenders,etc. And I did partake of the B&B $1/bottle beer-Sam Light. Mmmmmmm. Tasted So good.On to The Doyle tomorrow. A very hiker friendly Old Style Hotel in downtown tiny Duncannon, PA. Can't wait.FedEx