HALFWAY-THE REAL DEAL

So... We were up on the trail early and after a few miles came to the official halfway point for 2014! The length of the trail changes each year because of rerouting, trying to get less roads, and private lands.

So, even though this was the official for this year.... The better halfway sign was much cooler and 2 miles further, so we spent quite a bit of time there taking photos :)

The Halfway Gang- Crocs, me, Lyons, Right Here and Tatiana.

Then... We went a few more miles to Pine Grove Furnace where there is a store that sells ice cream and they challenge the hikers at the half way point to do ' the half gallon challenge'. Basically eating a half gallon of ice cream in one sitting. I had every intention if going for it, but when we walked up, there was a guy sitting outside eating a hamburger and I decided I needed real food instead. We did see several hikers polish it off with no problem.

The AT museum was right there also.

Very interesting.

AT museum

Above is Grandma Gatewood, first woman to thru hike in 1955 and the shoes and duffel bag that she used.

She had to be one tough gal!!!

Five of us rented a cabin at Deer Run Campground for the night. Lyons, Right Here, Tatiana, Crocs and me. Showers and laundry. The good life.

Another long day tomorrow and then... The rocks begin. Or so we've heard.

Tumbling Run Shelter to Weird Trail Guys yard

Did a long 20 something day, with a mid day break at Caledonia State Park to dry out wet gear after last nights rain. I know the rocks are coming... But so far the trail in Pennsylvania has been awesome!! Lots of flat, and not too many rocks. 

Being an artist, I have had a little bit of an obsession with the uniformity of the white blazes. They are supposed to be 2"x6". Well.... Maryland might need to be reminded if this!!!

Just sayin'...

We were going to stay at a shelter but heard about a guy who was providing burgers and beers just up the trail so we walked a little further. No burgers, but did get a beer. Anyone that knows me, knows that I am not easily offended. He managed to offend all of us, and was a little strange, but there were a bunch of us camped on his property, so we weren't concerned. Chalk it up to a backwoods, redneck experience.

Big, exciting fun day tomorrow!!

Raven Rock shelter Tumbling Run Shelter

Got up early and finished the last little but of Maryland. 6 states down!! 8 to go. 

FYI- update on Cowboy and Cornwalls attempt at the four state challenge I mentioned earlier....THEY DID IT! There are logbooks that people can sign at each shelter, and that's how we know what's going on with everyone ahead of us. 

Did a relatively short day with a break for resupply in Waynesboro, PA. Hiked with Lyons and Tatiana (haven't seen her since back in the Smokeys) today. THREE, count 'em, three women in camp tonight. Unprecedented! Pitched our tents in our 'no boys allowed' section. :)

Dahlgren Campground to Raven Rock Shelter

Started early this morning and soon came to the original Washington Monument.

Much of the trail in Maryland is flat and awesome, although there were a few very rocky stretches. The shelters through this section are really nice too. They're maintained by the Potamac Appalachian Trail Club and several are new. I got to the shelter at about 5:30 and actually opted to sleep in it instead of pitching my tent. It was big and clean and I didn't see traces of mice. I love the privacy of my tent, but sometimes it's nice not to have to pack it up in the morning. There were only 5 of us in the shelter and NO snorers! Unheard of!!

Into Pennsylvania tomorrow. Known on the trail as 'Rocksylvania'. Oh boy... It's gonna be fun :)

Harpers Ferry to Dahlgren Campground

John Browns fort 

Well fed and well rested. Sally dropped me back in Harpers Ferry and I was back on the trail at noon. Pretty easy trail today with not much climbing. I'd planned on doing about 15 miles, but there was a campground about 2 miles further with showers. It seemed a little excessive to shower two days in a row :) but I did it anyway.  Ran in to Right Here at the campground. I haven't seen him since Gatlinburg which was back in the Smokies. 

There is a thing called the 'four state challenge.' on the trail. It involves starting at the Virginia border, hiking through West Virginia, Maryland and in to Pennsylvania all in a 24 hour period. It's around 44 miles I think. No, I am not considering this, but two guys that stayed at the same hostel in harpers ferry  the other night with me, were going to attempt it, starting at midnight last night. Cowboy and Cornwall. A lot of people that attempt it, slack pack.  But these two were attempting it with their full packs. Hope they made it!! I will update when I hear how it went.

So glad I took a few zeroes. I think my body needed the extra rest, but it feels good to be back in my tent tonight.

Zero x 2

Wow! Two days off in a row!! My feet are actually looking like they have bones in them again!

Sally drove in and picked me up this morning and took me back to her home in Morgantown, WV, where she fixed a huge meal of some amazing food!! Pasta salad with some of those colorful things in it that we rarely have on the trail. I think they're called vegetables?

AND burgers AND cheesy potatoes AND chocolate/oatmeal cookies. Good home cookin'. Sally is a Kansan transplanted to West Virginia, so when she heard there was a Kansas boy on the WVU football team, she took him under her wing. So much extra food, so like every college kid, he came by to help deplete the supply. He may be bigger then me, but I'm pretty sure I ate just as much :)Photo below of Sally and Dreamius Smith. 

Got the grand tour of Morgantown, stopped and had ice cream at the local ice cream/gunstore....yes, we are in West Virginia after all. Tucked in to a cushy bed and then back to my tent tomorrow.

Zero in Harpers Ferry

Started the day with all you can eat waffles at the Tea Horse Hostel here. A great start to the day. The best thing about waffles is filling all those little crevices with butter and syrup until they fill up and form syrupy pools on your plate!

Photo is of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

Relaxed and walked around historic Harpers Ferry. So much history. Where abolitionist John Brown attempted to lead an armed slave revolt that eventually led to his capture and execution. Interesting the different takes on John Brown as hero or villain. Many agreed with his mission but not his methods. 

Yesterday I mentioned the luck involved in completing the trail. Today when I stopped by the ATC to see who had checked in, I ran in to Gray Ghost. He had stumbled on the mountain and taken a big spill and was bruised and bloodied. Nothing broken fortunately and he will be able to keep heading north.Another great kid, Fritz, from Germany, was there. I had seen him a week ago and he was struggling with serious foot pain. Turns out he had a stress fracture in his foot,so he is wearing a boot now and is off the trail. He is planning on coming back next year to finish the journey. 

Went to dinner tonight with Looper, and in walked Gray Ghost(with many bandages), Möbius and Mike's friend. Steve. It's such a fluid situation out here. You never know who will show up.

Lots of folks are taking a few days off at this point to rest up for the second half.

I was planning on one zero and then back out tomorrow, but my friend Amy's sister Sally, lives in West Virginia and generously offered to come pick me up for a night at her house. My feet have taken a beating on the rocks the last few days and are pretty puffy, so when she said, 'you can soak your feet in the pool all day'..... It was a no brainer!