Date: 2005-05-31
From: Doyle Hotel - Duncannon, PA

To: Peters Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: few clouds

Miles hiked today : 11.511.4 AT miles + 0.1 mile of side trailI woke up this morning around 7:30 a.m. and promptly took a 30 minute shower, which was most refreshing. After my shower, I took my time reorganizing my gear and set aside some books and documents that I didn't need in my pack. I then walked to the post office and sent some books to Ammo and Mason, and sent the documents and another book back home. Back at the hotel, I sat and read part of an outdoor magazine for about 30 minutes, then finished packing up.Before checking out, I walked to the local tattoo/piercing studio to get a new bead for my lip ring. I'd removed the original bead the night before I flew to Atlanta, as I wasn't sure whether my lip was going to heal properly. Without the bead, I knew the lip ring would be much easier to take out if necessary. Now that my lip has healed, the absence of the bead is a nuisance, as the ring sometimes comes out when I'm sleeping or eating and can be difficult to put back in. Unfortunately, the tattoo/piercing studio didn't have much of a selection of body jewelry, so I left empty handed.My next stop was an Italian restaurant for lunch and I had two sandwiches. Then it was time to depart Duncannon. I'm glad that I'd arrived early yesterday, as I certainly enjoyed my stay. Despite the rumors and poor word of mouth, the Doyle Hotel was more than adequate and I'd certainly stay here again.Leaving Duncannon at 1:00 p.m., I had to cover a 1.9 mile road walk to reach the woods, after which I had a steep climb of 860 feet over 1.9 miles. The steepness was punctuated by the high 70s temperature and the weight of all the food I'd purchased in town. My pack was way too heavy and was making my hike difficult. I finally reached the Clarks Ferry Shelter at 3:15 p.m. and stayed for a 35 minute rest break.I left the shelter with Dad's Grin and moments after leaving, we came across a 4~5 foot snake laying across the trail. Dad's Grin said that it was a black racer and taunted it with one of his trekking poles. He got it to coil up and rattle its tail in an excellent mimicry of a rattlesnake. After I snapped some photos, he ushered the snake off the trail and we were on our way.I hiked with Dad's Grin for a bit, though eventually picked up the pace a bit, leaving him behind. I reached the pedestrian bridge over PA225 at 5:25 p.m., having covered 3.9 miles in 1 hour, 35 minutes. That was considerably better than the time it had taken me to cover 4.6 miles from Duncannon to the prevous shelter.Keeping the same pace, I passed Wingit and then Doc, reaching Table Rock at 6:10 p.m. I sat on Table Rock for a 30 minute rest break and was soon joined by the others. After my break, I covered the remaining 0.9 mile to Peters Mountain Shelter, arriving at 7:00 p.m. I was in need of water, so I descended the 800 foot side trail, which was composed of 270 rock steps, according to the AT Companion book. I climbed back up to the shelter and made dinner before settling in to journal.As I journaled, I found that the shelter was infested with unrelenting large black ants, as well as various other insects, so I was forced to pitch my tent. Other hikers in the shelter had actually pitched their tents in the shelter. I tried to locate a tent site, though it was too dark to find anything except patches of rocks and a fenced off area, probably set aside for recovery. As such, I followed the lead of the others and pitched my tent in the shelter, placing water bottles in my boots to anchor the tent at my feet and a stack of magazines (left in the shelter) to anchor the tent at my head. This should do the trick!Bedtime at 10:15 p.m.