Back on the Trail

After visit with Judi and Sara, Jim is back on the AT

On my way back to the AT. Jeff and his baby daughter offered to give me a ride from the Hagerstown, MD Airport to US Rt. 30 in PA where I would shuttle to Shippensburg Road for my hike resumption.
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Mike Gelinus shuttled me to Shippensburg Road where I resumed my AT hike. Beautiful countryside for my return to the trail on 12 June 07.
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Pristine forest surroundings as I hiked toward the AT midpoint just North of Pine Grove Furnace State Park. Rain was predicted for that evening, and I knew that I needed to make it to shelter somewhere.
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– My spirits rose as I approached the Pine Grove Furnace General Store – site of the half gallon ice cream competition. I didn’t place in the competition, but was offered a chance to escape the storm by sleeping on the porch of the General Store. I helped clean the area, but later decided to hike further into the park to see what other locations were available.

Pine Grove Furnace iron ore smelters and information regarding the smelting process used at this site to make cannons for the Revolutionary War.
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Pine Grove Smelter Information
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As I walked further through the Pine Grove Furnace State Park, a family, including these two young ladies, was picnicking at one of the park pavilions. The pavilions were lighted, had grills, and had electrical outlets (for charging my cell phone), running water and a privy near by – perfect place to camp for the night.
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This was my camp site for the night (for about 1 hour and 26 minutes) until I was evicted by a park ranger who told me that I had to pack and leave (in a driving rain) for a primitive camp site about a mile down the road where none of the above mentioned amenities existed. So, I re-packed my stuff and headed back to the porch of a full hostel about a half mile back on the trail and begged the manager, “Donna” to allow me and 4 other hikers (and a dog) to stay on the porch away from the rain. Donna agreed to allow us to stay on the porch under the condition we wouldn’t use to restroom facilities in the hostel. We agreed
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12 June 07 picture of our camp site under the Pine Grove Furnace State Park hike hostel porch with other hikers who were evicted from their camp area under the General Store porch by the same ranger who evicted (and threatened to arrest me) if I didn’t move to an approved camp site. These people were forever grateful for the place to stay (on the hiker hostel porch) that night out of the rain as they were wandering to the approved primitive camp site several miles away.
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Same picture from a different angle with Aussie (lady from Australia taking this picture). Bicycle Barb in foreground (lady from Peachtree City whose husband is a Delta pilot), me (Castanets preparing to jump into my sleeping bag as soon as the picture was shot), and a couple of thru-hikers with their dog ( I don’t remember their trail names as this was the only time I ever saw them). Bicycle Barb and Aussie were hiking the trail as a team and have been together since their start at Springer Mountain. I have hiked many miles with them and always will remember their positive attitude in the face of difficulties and the sign that Barb always wore around her neck which simply said “SMILE”. Bicycle Barb has already ridden her bicycle across the US (4,000 miles) in a previous year, hence the name Bicycle Barb.
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View of the hiker hostel in Pine Grove State Park and the larger than life chess board in the lawn at the hostel. Picture was taken as I left the site for my hike at 6AM in the morning of 13 June. I am now fully back on the trail and attempting to catch up with Wing Heart and Boogie who are 4 days ahead of me due to my off trail time with my sister, Judi, and daughter, Sara.

Early morning AT hike on the road out of Pine Grove State Park past the pristine pond.
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Supposed half-way point marker identifying the spot where AT thru-hikers have reached their half-way point of their trek. No one knows for sure where the spot really is because the trail is constantly changing and in a state of flux. However, it was good to pass this point as I felt I had already achieved over half of the AT distance

One of the road signs I passed near the Pine Grove Road. By this time I was hiking quite fast in an attempt to catch up with Backyard Boogie and Wing Heart.

Trees denuded by the Gypsy Moth caterpillars which were everywhere – sometimes 7 to a leaf. Their chewing was so loud that you could hear them crunching away during hikes through infested areas. Pitched tents below areas where they are destroying the leaf canopy are constantly bombarded with their green pellets and goo which stains tent covers and sleeping bags – not a pleasant site or smell.

The PA rocks are starting to creep up on us. These are Graybacks or rocks that have eroded 2/3 free of the earth below them and are slowly moving down the mountain micro- inches each year.
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We finally reached Center Point Knob area before Boiling Springs, PA. Still hiking quickly so I can catch up with Wing Heart and Backyard Boogie. Notice the PA terrain has turned consistently rocky.
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Grain fields beside the trail as I approached Boiling Springs, PA. I benefited from the cherry and mulberry trees along these grain fields which were lush with ripe fruit. I had my fill by the time I reached town and also found the area to be rampant with ticks
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Another iron smelter of Revolutionary War vintage as I entered Boiling Springs.

I stayed the night 6/13/07 in Boiling Springs at Garmond’s Bed and Breakfast so I could shower (to ensure I had no more ticks), wash my clothes, and get some re-supply food items before leaving early the following morning. I believe I was on the trail out of town by 6:30 AM the following morning heading toward more of the rocky PA trail. Boiling Springs is the home of the mid-Atlantic Potomac Appalachian Trail Club’s office. I stopped in several times to talk with folks from the club and ATC management staff. Late in the evening, I met Sara Naser who is the ATC Boundary Manager. She gave me quite a bit of good information regarding the trail that was to help me on my trip north.

Early morning and mid morning hiking scenes as I set my sights on a 25 mile hiking day so I could reach Duncannon, PA and the start of Pennsylvania’s real rocks on the Appalachian Trail.

I stopped at Scott Farm, living quarters for ATC volunteer staff and also a test area for animal habitat studies. While there having lunch, I happened to see this photo opportunity – a dead bat lying beside a plastic whiffle ball bat. I thought the two bats were worth a picture.
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Overview lookout and trailside (rock seat) scenes as I worked my way up Hawk Rock, climbing 600 feet to the top then plunging 700 feet over the last two miles of the AT into Duncannon, PA.

A group of hikers staying at the Doyle Hotel with me - L-R Dude, Stubble (first met him at Dutch House Hostel), Miracle Chicken, Just Mike, Granite and his girlfriend (can’t remember her trail name, but it has something to do with flying ponies). Food and drinks were inexpensive at the hotel.
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Leaving Duncannon, PA the morning of 15 June 07 and crossing the Juniata River at the edge of town. A special town with a lot of hiker fondness. People waved and talked to me from their porches as I walked through the town on my way out in the early morning.
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Duncannon, PA departure picture between the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers
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– View of the mighty Susquehanna river as I departed Duncannon and headed back into the rocky hills in what was to be a very interesting and dangerous day 15 June 07. As I entered the tree lined hills beyond the Susquehanna River, I caught a glimpse of two wild turkeys that were faster flying away than I was getting my camera ready for a shot.
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Believe this was part of the Table Rock overlook – a view we had to climb 700 ft to see.
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Peters Mountain Shelter where Toto (older gentleman in the middle) and I decided to lunch. We met Waffle (left in black) and Yard Sale (young man on far right) were just rising and departing for their day’s hike. These young men are extremely fast hikers who generally rise about mid-morning, hike their 14-20 miles in just hours, then spend the remainder of the day in camp resting for the following day. I hiked ahead of these young men several times and their approach from the rear makes you wonder if you are moving at all. At one point in my hike, I was able to hike up to their group and pass them, but staying ahead of them for any great distance is a real challenge.