Date: 2016-06-24
From: The Pinnacle

To: Bake Oven Knob Shelter
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: scattered clouds

WHAT'S YOUR DAMAGE, PENNSYLVANIA?!The poison ivy--it's all over the trail. Try to go to the bathroom? Careful! Lean your trekking poles against a tree? Careful! Walk through brush to hang a bearbag? Careful!The ticks--everyone is pulling a few off a week. Verge had Lyme disease! I've heard of others having to get off the trail for a bit because of it!The heat--so much sweat. I didn't know I could sweat this much. I didn't know it could be possible to have every inch of your body be dripping. The heat (like I've mentioned) made me lose my appetite, made me nauseous, and made me feel faint. The bugs--they constantly (no matter the weather) swarm your face--especially your eyes--and make it so that you can't see. When you're eating, they just attack your body. I found six in my bra after one minute. Six! I killed nine one day just from blinking them out of my eyes! The lack of water--ten mile stretches of hot rock-walking with nowhere to refill water. If you accidentally pass one water source...backtrack because the next one probably isn't for at least another six miles.The lack of trail maintenance--sorry if this one is harsh, but it looks like no one wants to go near the trails in Pennsylvania to maintain them. I don't blame them. The ferns are nice but totally grown into the trail, the prickers on bushes are out to get me. I look like I've been attacked by a cat. Or multiple cats. The blazes are not clearly marked and many times it's difficult to see which way the trail goes.The rattlesnakes--I hate snakes. There are so many. I hate snakes. I saw two in one spot just today (a little Boy Scout claimed he saw eight in that same spot...)The rocks--I mean, it's nicknamed "Rocksylvania" for a reason. They weren't kidding. I love rock-hopping and all, but some of these stretches are just so hard on the body. My shoes are...obliterated (pictured above). Don't worry I'm working on getting new ones...but man, my feet hurt. They're so tired and sore.The mindset--you'd think that when people reached the halfway point that spirits would be soaring? Think again. It seems the majority of people's spirits have plummeted! I'm so excited to be in a new state...and further north...and over halfway...but each 100 miles isn't as exciting anymore...and most people wanted to be done with Pennsylvania a couple miles after entering it. Even some of my most positive friends are getting mentally worn down. Pennsylvania took the Appalachian trials to a whole new level. It hit, and it hit hard. Here I am, my sister and I had a huge, possibly trail-altering fight, my dad hurt his knee and is worried about finishing, some of my friends are depressed about the trail and some have even dropped out from injuries, I need to deal with getting new shoes from Salewa, the grace period on my student loans is officially up in less than one month and they won't realize that they need to re-defer until I'm actually back at school in the fall, I haven't completely finished enrolling in all the classes I need to, and I need to actually keep up high mileage to even finish in time for school. Pennsylvania...why ya gotta be so stressful?On a happier note (finally), Verge and I did talk today and have worked things out, we'll have a rest day in Delaware Water Gap in a couple days, less than 50 miles left of Pennsylvania, and I get to see my buddy Kate soon! I'm so excited! (Oh and we got amazing trail magic today just before the shelter after hiking 22 miles. Then some guys came and added their trail magic to the original trail magic! Thanks for the honey buns and soda and hot dog buns and yumminess!)