Date: 2010-08-01
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Warwick, NY
Miles today: 348.5

Wow, it's really been a while since I've updated. Since my last update I've completed Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey taken a break for Kathryn's wedding.Maryland (40 miles) was a breeze, took all of two days and was a major milestone to pass the Mason-Dixon line. The whole time we were looking forward to the dreaded Pennsylvania rocks, which definitely lived up to their reputation. PA was also a nice change of scenery from the southern states. Lots of ridge walking with good views of the landscape, unfortunately there isn't a lot to look at in PA. We crossed the halfway point a few days into the state and I conquered the "Half Gallon Challenge" after the halfway point at Pine Grove Furnace State Park. The challenge is to consume a half gallon of ice cream in one sitting to celebrate the half way point. PA was also great for trail magic. We were swimming at the state park and a couple came up and started talking to us about hiking the trail. Turned out they were former thru hikers and invited us back to their house for the night. They fed us an awesome dinner, provided beers, did our laundry, showers, comfy bed etc... It was the best night on the trail so far. A few days later we came across a cooler stocked full of snacks and drinks and then a few miles after that there was a guy set up at a road crossing grilling burgers and making fried eggs for all the hikers. He had also thru hiked before and also done the Pacific Crest Trail a few times. He had an album of amazing pictures of the PCT that was really inspiring to everyone. I'm planning on that for after grad school. That evening a guy that was hiking with us went into town to pick up a package and had gotten a $300 gift card for Subway from a guy who had given him a hitch earlier on. He brought ten footlongs and a few dozen cookies back to the shelter that night an fed everyone dinner. Trail magic 3 times in one day, I couldn't believe it! PA has become one of my favorite states so far. A few days after that in Port Clinton there was a group of trail angels grilling out and giving out beers at the pavilion in town where hikers are allowed to camp. We fetched a ride to the grocery store from one of them and he offered to slackpack us 15 miles to the next shelter out of town. It was our first true slack and it was amazing to walk with almost no weight on our backs. After Port Clinton the rocks got really bad especially the climb out of Palmerton, which was a 1000 ft straight up rock scramble. The ridge above Palmerton was a bizarre experience because of the devastation caused by the zinc refining operation that created the infamous Palmerton Superfund site. The rocks in PA are hard to describe but they range from large bolders that you hop from top to top to small angular shards sticking out of the trail tearing up your feet. They devastated my beloved trail runners and I bought my 3rd pair of shoes in Port Clinton.Next stop was Delaware Water Gap at the PA/NJ border where I was picked up by a friend of my parents who brought me back to MI for Kathryn's wedding. Most of you reading this were there so I won't bore with the details, but for those who weren't imagine 140 people, 110 lb pig, 1 keg, 10 cases of beer and 6 cases of champagne! It was an amazing party. Ava, Emily and I went to Cedar Point on Monday and rode coasters all day. Long lines for a Monday but still awesome. I had my first Greyhound bus experience on the way back to the trail. it was similar to 15 hours crammed in the back seat of a Civic. Didn't sleep well and was exhausted by the time I got back to the trail so I stayed another night in the hostel in town to rest up. Started New Jersey the next day and was quite impressed with the scenery it has to offer. I expected a much more urban experience but the northern border of the state that the trail follows is very beautiful. It has also been my first time hiking alone since the beginning of the trail, 3 Ball went home when I got off for the wedding. I've enjoyed the solitude and have had companionship at the shelters so I'm not going bonkers. My last day in Jersey i came across a couple day hiking who unloaded a bunch of snacks on me and had just stocked a trail magic box at the next road crossing with fruit and water. The next day I met up with a group of hikers whom I had previously met at one time or another and we were all pushing for the same goal that day, an ice cream shop about 10 miles ahead. A few miles before the creamery there is Prospect Rock, the highest point on the AT in NY (also crossed the NY/NJ border) from which you can see the NYC skyline! It was an awesomely clear day and you could easily see the city at least 40 miles away. Just before reaching the creamery we met the same day hikers from the day before and they invited all 7 of us back to their house for dinner and to stay the night. I'm currently typing this from their computer while waiting for my turn to catch a ride back to the trail. Their hospitality has been amazing, something I will never forget. Its things like this along the way that really makes hiking the trail enjoyable and reminds you that there are people out there who will do so much for you out of kindness.I've uploaded all of my pictures thru the end of PA to facebook, so hopefully you can all check them out there. Enjoy, I know I am.http://derek.ohlgren.com