Why are we long distance hiking the AT?
"It's an ideal weight loss program" 😊
I could have broken PA into 2 pages (North and South) but I chose to separate into 3 pages for a couple of reasons, with one of them being that at the end of any hike.....long or short....the ending has additional meaning. These last 5 days were as great and adventurous as the previous 23.....if not more so....😊
The steep ups and downs over the rocks and boulders increased and were continuous but MacGyver and I finally had our hiker legs in shape!.....but I must say, we went thru a few phases of attitude concerning "Rocksylvania":
1st Phase: Excitement! photo, photo, photo
2nd Phase: Dread about stepping on yet a million more sharp, small, large, loose rocks and over boulders.....BIG boulders.
3rd Phase: Auto pilot. You just do it, focused totally on finding the best place to place your foot.
Then of course ...... like the Garth Brooks song "Low Places"......there is always an “unofficial 4th Phase”. PA rocks ….you can kiss my ass!!😊.
All kidding aside, the hike thru PA has been quite an adventure with about anything you would expect...or not!....and we really did have fun and appreciated the challenges!! Thank you Pennsylvania!.....
Now..... MacGyver and I are currently at more then the half way mark to Katahdin so when we came across this milestone we thought we were in the Twlight Zone. But then realized this was the 1,000 mile marker....for SOBO's.
Even with all the rocks, we were still in awe of all the great views we saw!
Very cool AT museum in the Pine Grove Furnace SP
Had to do some doctoring of my right leg/knee in the field.......or I just lost my pant leg.......
Stayed in our first shelter that had 4 walls, a roof with a sky light, doors, electricity, a delux port-a-potty, a care taker named "Borderline".....and of course mice....lots of mice.....but it was nice to be inside. AND we had pizza and milk shakes delivered from a local store!
On day 23 we came across a beaver dam the trail crosses....which was more than flooded during the hurricane.....so we had to take a 1 1/2 mile detour around. That day we did 22 1/2 miles.
Made it to mile marker 1,200 on the AT! And 300 miles in this year so far!
Damn! Broke my little toe on my left foot. Good thing we only had a few more days left on the trail!
MacGyver grabbing a quick lunch before the next climb.
MacGyver trying to Hitch a ride up this steep climb....strange that no cars ever came by to pick us up! Actually we were 0 for 4 in trying to hitch a ride. Why wouldn't anyone pick up two old, dirty, smelly dudes? Don't understand it!
Some great panoramic views from the top of the "Pinnacle" at mile marker 1,230.
Well....we had to climb a bit to get to the Pinnacle, which was worth it, however the climb down was more than a bit "interesting".
The last night on the trail this year was at Allentown Hiking Club Shelter. Bitter/Sweet. A bit sad that it is over but excited about resting our weary bodies....however....the last day (tomorrow) was quite the experience we will never forget!
Our last day of hiking was anything but boring (or easy)! We tackled the "Knife Edge". And the name is self explanatory as are the following pics and videos!
Some still shots of the Knife Edge to accentuate the fun of traversing and decending!
2021 AT hike is officially in the books! 351 miles this year, at mile marker 1,252.....with all smiles.....starting to think about next year!
Latest comments
27.09 | 17:20
Hi Possum! MacGyver and I finished up on Sept.7th with 351 miles in this year. False alarm on MacGyver taking ill. He was dehydrated but recovered in about 2 days. Was great to meet you this year!
27.09 | 17:16
Hey Pinnacle! Great to meet and hike with you also! And great advice on the next section we did. Thanks!
06.09 | 16:10
Great meeting you and your Brother at Eagles nest.
06.09 | 16:07
It was great meeting you and brother at Eagles nest
Pinnacle
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Great views from the top of South Twin Mtn!
Okay....starting on June 21st we decided to do a bit of "Platinum Blazing" at the AMC Huts. It was not the plan at all in the beginning for various reasons.....but the bad weather we are experiencing and lack of camp sites in the Whites; it made a lot of sense :)
Stayed at the AMC Highland Center June 21st and it was quite a place......and we celebrated MacGyver's Birthday!
On day 11, on the way to "Lake Of The Cloud" Hut, we had some good views around, of, and on top such mountains as Mt. Webster, Mt. Jackson, Mt. Eisenhower, Mt. Franklin.....and a pile of snow!
Day 12, June 23rd's highlight was summitting Mt. Washington. Its legendary for having very unpredictable, sometime dangerous weather but we hit it on perfect day...and definitely perfect compared to what we have already been thru in New Hampshire!
From the summit of Mt. Washington to the Madison Hut (where we stayed tonight) was only another 6 miles but the rock scrambles down were brutal...but the Hut they had Veggie Pot Pie for dinner!
Day 13, June 24 we hiked up, over and down Mt. Madison! Pics to follow shortly but let me just say that this was one of the toughest descents so far. Jagged black rock proved very difficult! Made it to Gorham for the night...thinking about the pending "Wildcats" ahead!
Day 14, June 25 we did the Wildcats. That first day wasn't too bad but that did change! This is MacGyver and I enjoying our first summit......forgot to mention that the Wildcats had 4 summits! But also, some good views
Stayed at Craford Notch Hut after the Wildcats for a much needed, inside a building, rest! Also met NOBO Thru Hiker "Big T" from Mississippi.
Well....the weather had been generally bad the whole hike; but things got much worse the next days (June 26 and 27).....dangerously worse
This is not a picture that we took (because we were too busy trying to stay alive!) but almost like one of the crossings we made (but ours was in deeper rapids). We crossed a flooded Rattle River several times with one crossing getting worse than the other. Made us pause a bit.......
June 27th we slipped and limped, soaking wet to U.S. 2 in Gorham and stayed at the Barn Hostel managed and owned by Paul. But about 2 miles or so before we reached U.S. 2 we passed by the Rattle River Shelter....and it looked like this....
Of course, our initial reaction, cold and tired, was "What Kind of Long-Distance Hiker" would violate so many unwritten rules of hiking etiquette!!!
Then we found out that those staying in the shelter (for multiple days at a time) were AMC trail volunteers and State Park staff helping out to shore up the trail as best they could during the unprecedented flooding that was going on.
MY TOTAL APOLOGIZE for jumping to conclusions without know the facts. Thank you for what you do!!
Okay...coming back to The Barn Hostel.....MacGyver and I fell in love with it at first glance! Growing up in the 60's and early 70's, this Hippy vibe that we saw and felt, made us feel right at home :). In fact, I think I stayed at a place like this when I hitchhiked to Southern California in 1972! :)
Best laid plans??