Date: 2016-06-25
From: Yellow Springs campsite 85/64

To: Heartline campsite
Miles today: 34.7
Weather: few clouds

This turned out to be one heck of a day. My initial goal was to just wake up early and hike as long as I could so I could get close to my buddies. But the more I hiked the more the adrenaline kicked in and I ended up with a very full day so here's the timelines.   4:40 a.m. got up for a very quick cup of coffee with hot chocolate and 2 honey buns.   5 a.m. sharp hiking on the trail.   10 o'clock a.m. it's warming up and I'm concerned about water. The streams here are all dark brown or orange and I was told that mining 100 years ago has contaminated a lot of the water sources. Just as I was about to give in and try to filter from one of these streams a day hiker approach. I used my best Yogi skills and with a little desperation asked him where I could find a good water source as I was out. He immediately reached into his small backpack and offered me a 24oz bottle of water. This was perfect, it also saved me that .7 miles round trip it would have taken to filter from the stream. Not to mention it probably would have clogged my Sawyer system.   10:30 a.m. I passed my first shelter and realize I've already got a dozen miles done, things are going well.   2 o'clock p.m. once again I'm running low on water with the midday sun and humidity really cranking up. As I was about to stop and look at my book for the next water source, out of nowhere there was a bright red cooler in the woods on the trail with a garbage bag next to it. The suspense was killing me as I emptied all my garbage into a container and then checked the cooler. I was disappointed as it felt light and empty but when I opened the lid there was one root beer left on ice. This was probably some of the best trail magic I've had in a while because it was so unexpected and needed. Grabbed that can and off I went.   2:30 p.m. I looked off to the right of the trail and there was the first thru-hiker I've seen in a day and a half. The herd of hikers has thinned out and spread out and there is much more hiking alone during the day now. He had his guidebook open so I asked him exactly where I was and how far I had to go to get to the famous 501 shelter for pizza. It was only another 10 miles.That meant I had done 20 miles already.   6:30 p.m. arriving at the 501 shelter to find that my friends decided to go further. I was stunned but had to think quick on my feet. There was no time to order pizza if I was going to try to catch them so I ordered a sub on someone else's order and within 10 minutes the delivery person showed up. I still have some energy left so I grabbed my sub and ate it while I hiked. Another five miles would get me to the campground and be my longest day of the trip. But finally at the end of the day my good luck ran out and as the sunset and the rock's got bigger and harder I knew I was not going to make it before nightfall.   9 o'clock p.m. I'm guessing I had about another mile left but it was pitch-black and as I turned my headlamp on my light was dimming quickly. Probably the scariest moment I've had on the trail   9:15 p.m. I hear voices and I'm praying that the trail is heading towards them. Normally if it was just thru hikers in the woods I could walk right by their tents and never know as everyone would be fast asleep by now. But this was a local Campground and the trail was now heading towards them. I heard loud yelling and some fireworks.   9:30 p.m. I can see a fire .My head lamps out and I'm crawling at a snail's pace not to break an ankle on the rocks. Thank God there was a full moon and I could focus on the ground. Walked up to the fire as someone was shining a light on me and heard the best words of the day. "Hey it's Terodactyle, how did you get here?" Easy I just hiked 35 miles in the Rocky terrain of Pennsylvania on a really hot day. They couldn't believe it. Frankly neither can I and I don't ever want to do it again. I have to say I am not bragging but very proud of myself. Once again these people were treating us like celebrities and immediately handed me 2 bottles of water some baked potatoes and hot dogs. Was so happy I was about to cry. It was difficult but I fought back the tears because there were too many people around. A very long day on the Appalachian Trail. $10