Date: 2013-07-08
From: Duncannon, PA

To: Hamburg, PA
Miles today: 71.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Good morning dear readers, Well, this was a long 5 day section. Not necessarily in miles and trail conquered, though I did pass both the 1200 mile mark and the point where I have less than 1000 miles to go (double yea!), but rather from gear failures, annoyance with a jungle-like trail, swarming bugs, unforgiving rocks, and rather boring trail. Did I mention the hot and humid weather? And feeling rather lonely and missing my stick buddy, Blackhawk? Sigh, let the pity party commence!   Despite this depressing beginning, I promise to try not go whine too much. Hiking out on the 4th of July was somewhat odd. I kept thinking about home, missing the parade in Lakewood, and salivating over having a cookout. Starting a new section on the trail always feels like the beginning of a new week, regardless of what day of the week is, and it feels somewhat like going to work on a weekend when it falls on a holiday. Rocks, rocks, and more rocks. Perhaps this is why I didn't see as many weekenders or day hikers out today, which on a long weekend I expected the trail to be crowded. Perhaps it was the high heat and humidity, too. I had planned a short day out of town to have another easier day since I didn't zero, and reached Peters Mtn Shelter before 3pm. Wonderful breeze on that ridge, so refreshing! I had a great conversation with a day hiking couple, who also provided much appreciated trail magic in the form of a peach, I hope they aren't appalled at how quickly I devoured it. The hike down the cliff to the water was necessary and definitely longer than the 0.1 miles listed in the guide - oy. The diamond of the day was hearing distant fireworks from my tent, while watching a wonderful firefly display amidst the emerging night sky - I love having my tent fly halfway off! Day 2 was dominated by swarming bugs. I finally remembered I had thrown my head bug net in my pack when I visited home last month, and not a moment too late. I wrote in a shelter register that the net seemed to enrage the swarm, mwah-haha (evil laugh) . Today, the jungle started in earnest. When I can glance up from my feet and placing them carefully between rocks, everything is just overgrown and encroaching rapidly on the narrow trail corridor. 3 snakes were spotted early on, we're clearly in Timbler rattler territory right now. Thankfully, no up close and personal encounters yet, especially considering a conversation the group had at the shelter last night - essentially we're SOL if a snake bite happens out here. Camped at Rausch GapCamping area, which was not allowed by the shelter itself due to PA game land regulations. Spent a lonely evening, hiding in my tent due to the bugs, though several other hikers eventually showed up.   Really missing Blackhawk's humor, he never fails to get me out of a foul mood when things stink. Day 3 was more of the same (bugs, rocks, heat, etc) though I had some adventure early in the day when my right trekking pole broke, in spectacular fashion with the bottom third literally snapping off with a mighty crack, but during the most anti-climatic fall ever. I wish a picture could have been taken of my face at that moment - I was shocked that I actually fell on my tush on that tiny little descent, I'm convinced from the pole collapsing beneath me. Mom gallantly answered my mayday message to send my other set of poles STAT, and I have to admit being quite annoyed that I now have to lug the broken pieces of the 1 pole until I can call about the warranty on a business day - just dead weight. I nearly ran out of water on the ridge line, despite having lugged 3L with me from camp. Enough was enough - with a mosquito bite also reacting on my leg, I decided to call a shuttle and go in to Pine Grove, PA for the night. Air conditioning and ice, here I come!   Had a great hiker trash moment doing my laundry in the back corridor of a Pilot Travel station - sat on a crate in my town dress, just a tad conspicuous, even more so dodging traffic at the I81 underpass exchange getting there. Of course, my door lock at the Econo Lodge also didn't work, and I had to be let in by the front desk, just classic. Back on the trail the next morning, I mentally set myself up for a good day, knowing I had 1 more night to camp and only 1 day and a half of hiking before Port Clinton and my 2nd planned mini vacation from the trail, for the Trail Dames Summit. This day went by much smoother, despite the jungle eating part of my pack towel, hanging to dry from the side of my pack. Amazingly enough, the snap hanger got ripped off, but the towel itself wasn't lost! I made it to the Eagles Nest Shelter right before the sky went abruptly black with a storm, tent went up just in time! It didn't rain for long, and I eventually meandered back down to the shelter and watched others build the biggest camp fire I've seen out here! Ahh, hiker entertainment, fire is so mesmerizing A quick hike into Port Clinton this morning was marked by an almost fall on the rocks, and the an actual fall. Luckily enough no major injuries, though my leg got scraped up a bit. Oh, I hate to admit I'll be happy to finish PA. Cabela's offers a free shuttle pick up to their store in Hamburg, which was as large as I remember in Michigan - a true "destination", as sad as that is.   Entering the store amongst all the normal people, I was conscious of all of my dirt and stink! Ahh, vacation. My feet are cautiously happy, and hopefully the scrapes and the plethora of bug bites will have a chance to heal. I'm planning to meet back up with Blackhawk, who just got back on the trail after his own mini vacation, and if I have to jump any miles to do so may come back this autumn and slack pack them. Will I still feel like a thru hiker if I don't? Uhh, somehow I think I will!