START LOCATION: Toms Run Shelters
FINISH LOCATION: Alex Kennedy Shelter
TODAY'S MILEAGE: 19.0
TRIP MILEAGE: 1,108.1
MILES TO GO: 1,071.0
The rain cleared up overnight. I got up around 4AM and the stars were
brilliant. My tent was soaked, but with nice weather today and the
next day, it's all good. Smoke and I toted with pushing beyond 20
today, but we didn't break camp until 9:30 with all the wet clothes
and gear we were handling.
Like I mentioned, gorgeous weather this morning. We hit the AT halfway
point in about 4 minutes after rolling out. There was about a dozen
older day hikers all gathered around the sign when we arrived. They
were pretty thrilled to witness a couple thru hikers hit the halfway
point at that moment. It was nice for us, because we had someone to
hold the camera. They were really cool, wished us congrats and we
headed on down to Pine Grove Furnace State Park.
PGFSP is a really nice park that has an old Revoltionary War and Civil
War smelting furnace, along with some other historic Civil War
buildings. We loved it because it had a general store. Smoke and I
gorged on food while we dried out our gear in the sunshine. Subs, ice
cream and a whole litany of junk food were eaten. We also visited the
5 day old Appalachian Trail Museum. The museum opened on Saturday
after 12 years of donation collecting, red tape and construction. Nice
memorabilia and photos from Earl Shaffer, Gramma Gatewood and Gene
Espy's thru hikes from the 40's and 50's. Google them if you're
interested... They are all AT thru-hiking pioneers.
Smoke and I motored the next 8 mile stretch to the James Frye Shelter.
But, when we realized the water at this shelter was 0.6 each way off
the AT, we decided instead to forge another 1.4 up the AT where
another general store was right off the trail on PA-34. Do the math...
Hike 1.2 roundtrip non-AT mileage for just water, or bang out 1.4 AT
miles and have a burger and more snacks, ice cream and soda. Hmm, no
brainer. So, we gorged again.
We left that general store around 4:45 with 7 to go. The 7 was rather
tough... Full stomachs and a mini-rollercoaster with lots of rocks. We
were thoroughly beat when we hit Alex Kennedy.
There were some very cool sectioners here we mixed it up with tonight.
They are doing a 3 week stretch from Pen-Mar Park to the NJ border...
All of Pennsylvania. Good times.
We have a nice flat stretch tomorrow and a convenient late lunch stop
in Boiling Springs planned. Nice weather tomorrow too... Should be a
great day and sets us up nicely to meet up with my good friends in
State College by way of Duncannon on Saturday.
-natedog
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