Pennsylvania AT overnighter Anyone?

“yo Mark!”

“You may run out of time if you wanna get done by noon. We still have to drive back to the other car. You wanna meet at 443 first drop a car then just drive to 325 and camp ?”

“I don't need to be at my sister's until 1-2 so I am fine and where I am going is near Lebanon, so I will be close by.

That sounds like a good plan to me.”

“the weather sucks this weekend, except for Sunday, which looks to be nice.”

“hazy, hot, humid and chance of rain. Just add some bugs to the mix and you get great overnight.

FYI - the above was sarcasm.”

“yeeehaw”

“I'm packed. I just threw a bunch of different stuff in the truck. I'm taking a tent and the hammock. You bringing food for friday night or want to get some when we shuttle the car ?”

“How 'bout we eat in camp tomorrow night. I have some food left over from last week I want to use up.”

“what time do you plan on getting there?”

“I'm off at 5, so mabey by 6:30 - 7:45.
I think I'll stop and get a hoggie or wrap and eat that in camp. That way I dont have to use the stove.
Meet at the lot on 443, right ?”

“right I should be there by 730-8. I may bring my friend.”

“Does your friend have a friend ? ;-)

just kiddding, dont show my wife this thread.”

“So I got home from work Friday night around 530. I chilled out for a little (too long) and then got my chit in my car and hit the road. I was to meet Crazypace in Swatara Gap at the 443 trailhead which is just off of PA 72. I took Rt 501 from Lancaster instead of 72 and it ended up taking a lot longer, got behind a bunch of buggies and was way behind schedule, surprise, I was late.

Well, I wanted to make up time and hit the gas pedal a tad too hard and ended up speeding passed a state police barracks and getting a ticket. Uggg

I met Crazypace around 8 and we left my car there and took his over to PA 325 trailhead where we were going to camp for the night.

There are some nice spots right along Clarks Creek. There was some thunder in the background, but the rain never hit us. We both tried setting up our respective hammocks when the mospitos engaged us with a napoleonesque frontal assault. We tried to continue setting up the hammocks inspite of their constant barrage. Needless to say we were defeated.

Crazypace said, lets just retreat to a hotel and that's what we did. The bugs were bad even there. It's been so hot and humid lately, the mosquitos are breeding like crazy.

So we got back to the trailhead Saturday morning around 730 and we were on the trail by 8. After a long 1000+ foot climb to the ridge of Stony Mountain, we finally reached the ridgeline and then passed the the northern terminous of the Horseshoe Trail. It was like a sauna and the sun was hidden behind the thin cloud cover.

We continued passed yellow springs, saw a bunch of salamanders. Then dropped down into Rausch Gap which was very nice and different from the rest of the trail in the area.

We had lunch in the Rausch Gap Shelter and talked to some senior hikers out training for a hike in the whites.

We then descended the rest of Stony Mountain and then climbed up and over Second Mountain at a pretty good clip. We both over heated on that climb.

We got back to the trailhead and my car around 2:00, but not before hiking a 17 mile day. Very nice hike. Very hot weather, probably the hottest weather I ever hiked in.

-

Today I drove up to Duncannon and hiked the AT up to Peters Mountain and then to the Clarks Ferry Shelter and then backtracked to my car for 6.5 miles. I wanted to hike to PA 225, but it was another 4.3 miles. It was hot again today, but not as hot as yesterday. Talked to a thru-hiker at the shelter, his name was Vapor and he was from SC. I also saw a really cool lizard on a rock on Peters Mountain. I didn't know PA had lizards that big. I wish I could have gotten a photo of him.

I drove into Duncannon to check out the famous Doyle Hotel. I didn't venture inside though. There were alot of socks airing out in the windows.

Good weekend of hiking. Sucks that I got a ticket.”

“http://community.webshots.com/album/291210022dwToHA/1 the pics from this weekend start here, but they are mixed in with other PA AT trips. :p

In related news, those dang PA rocks busted the strap buckle on my gaitors. hopefully, EMS will give me new ones when I take them back.”

“Sounds like a good weekend of hiking. It was very warm and humid Friday and Saturday, but at least you didn't get any big thunderstorms coming though. Tickets suck, expensive too and I think they make your insurance go up, but I could be wrong about that. I never got a speeding ticket. In PA. they used to post on road signs just how much it costs to get one at different speeds above the limit.”

“yeah, it is high noon I learn to stop speeding. I've gotten many tickets. ugg”

“Anyone up for a dayhike on the AT on Sunday? I am thinking of hiking in Berks County. I would like to either hike from 61 to Windsor Furnace or from 645 to 183 or 61.”

“Ens - I knew you would forget to mention the
the two mountain biker girls snuggling on a blanket that we passed! (yes, I mean snuggling)

But ditto on the bugs - the worst I have ever seen or been attacked by. Even the gas station we passed, they were swarming under the lights so bad that people pulling in for gas, would see them and just keep driving.
Our hotel door was covered because of the outside light. We had to run in and out as fast as we could, so they wouldnt swarm us in the room. The hike was a hot one, but still a good one.”

“I forgot about the biker chica snuggling.”

“lilmountaingirl and I met at the PA 183 AT Trailhead and camped in a nice open field around 9pm. The sunset last night was amazing.

We met Crazypace in Port Clinton, PA around 8 and shuttled back to 183, leaving his truck there. He brought Chase his dog for the hike.

We set out on the trail a little after 830am. It was a perfect hiking temp, not hot at all, which was nice after last weekend's blazing temps.

Chase did well. We hiked 15 miles today and he proved himself a worthy trail dog.

We dropped down into Port Clinton which is one of the steepest hills on the AT in the Mid-Atlantic.

We were back at Crazypace's truck by 205. We maintained a pretty good pace the entire day. All in all a good hike on not the most exciting section of AT.

Next week the PA AT tour continues. we're going to hike from Bake Oven Knob Road to Lehigh Gap as a dayhike.”

“http://community.webshots.com/album/372788133URdujb

Thanks guys! Good weather, good hike, good company & good dog!

BTW - that guy we saw in Port Clinton this morning and then passed on the trail: I chatted with him for about 15 minutes. His name is Foodbag (John) and he was a NOBO thru hiker last year that had to get off the trail because of his right achilles. He's in the process of SOBO'ing to VA from the NY line. Once done, he's going back to finish up New England. He was going another 3.8 miles today.”

“nice pics lolMtnGirl

nice meeting you! Thanks for coming along.”

“lilmountaingirl

That Harrisburg rainbow in your pics - I have pics of the same exact rainbow. LOL”

“Sarge~
What the?!? LOL! That was a great rainbow. Do you live in Harrisburg?”

“I'm off to hike 8-10 miles on the trail from Windsor Furnace to PA Rt 61 in Port Clinton. I will likely start around 830 and I will be pretty much trail running. I have to be in Port Clinton by 12 when my Dad comes to pick me up. IF anyone wants to come, see ya at 830 at Windsor Furnace/Hamburg Reservior.”

“I only kept two pics from yesterday

http://community.webshots.com/album/291210022dwToHA/2”

“lilmountaingirl - Yes, still in Harrisburg, but moved to a new house since that picture.

That was amazing! I remember it like it was yesterday. I was driving home and at one place the rainbow came down onto the street in front of me and it was like I was driving right up through the bottom. It faded as I got within yards of it. Didn't know you could do that! I knocked on my neighbors door to get them out (who I barely knew) because that rainbow was so huge. LOL

Looks like you moved to NJ? We've hiked a lot of the same places according to your webshots.”

“To add to it,
lilmountaingirl - Kicks arse! She can hike with us anytime.
Chase did alot of sleeping after the hike and was rewarded with more steak at night.
My feet are sore. For some reason, I didnt remember that section having that many rocks when I did it last year. I wore trail runners. If I would have wore boots, I would probably not be sore.
Next week, a good section (close to home too).
Who else is going ?

Ps: almost forgot - We ate our post hike meal at Cracker Barrel. Cracker Barrel rules !”

“Sarge...yeah, I moved to NJ (kicking and screaming, I might add). As you can also probably tell from webshots, I spend almost every weekend in PA. There's a chance I may be back in Harrisburg by summers end.

Actually, I'll be in Harrisburg next weekend. Going to the Musicfest downtown on Friday night and rock climbing at Pole Steeple on Saturday (unless it's raining and then we're hitting the climbnasium).”

“Thanks, crazypace. I was a bit nervous being that bearmagnet warned me about the buttkicker trips ENS likes. That and some guy named "crazypace". lol There were rocks on that trail? Hmmm...I don't remember them.

I'm glad I went and am looking forward to the next one, actually I signed up for the WRT in September.”

“lilmountaingirl - When I'm not crippled my wife and I like to spend as many weekends camping in the Pole Steeple area as possible. cya”

“crazypace, where you hiked before was the same trail, but in an entirely different dimmension. It was the twilight zone.”

“well I got up and hiked the stretch of the AT from Windsor Furnace to Port Clinton this morning. It is about 6.5 miles. I hiked it in less than two hours. I was hauling ass. I didn't want to hike that fast because my Dad wasn't going to pick me up until 12, but I got done before 11.”

“I am thinking about doing a AT section hike this weekend. I would like to do from Hawk Mountain Road to PA 309. This is an 11 mile section and has a few over looks as well.”

“Great stuff and pics y'all. Hey CP - was that Chase's debut on the trail? If so, I'm sorry I missed it.

ENS - I thought you were planning on doing the Delaware WG to Culver's Gap this weekend?”

“I was, but I got a speeding ticket, so I am staying closer to home to save some dough. It was a pretty hefty ticket. Guess what, I was running late for the trailhead and sped past a trooper barracks. Did I tell you about that?”

“I'm going to do from Hawk Mtn Road all the way to Lehigh Gap this weekend. Crazypace is going to meet me along the way, probably in the area of 309. He may bring Chase and if so, it will be Chase's first overnighter. We'll camp in between 309 and Bake Oven Knob Road.

I may start Friday night, I am not sure yet. I'll be tarping it. Pennsy, are you still going to the Catskills? If not come with us.

Crazypace, did you get Chase out for a bagnight Saturday night?”

“yepper, you told me about the ticket. Don't you remember my long lecture, or were you tuning me out? ;o)

I'm pretty sure I'm going to the Catskills. I'm low keying it because I have no specific plan, but if something happens, I'll hook up with you. Tarping, eh? Why not the hammock? Unless you have some bug netting, you might get assaulted under the tarp.”

“ENS - I wouldnt use the tarp. Its going to be hot and humid this weekend. You will suffer big time from the bug attacks. The wife is going to let me know exactly what time she will be back on saturday. As far as chase, no bag night yet.
BTW - I cant find anything on that New Tripoli campsite. Mabey Pennsy knows something about it. There is no discription in the guide book or the Thru-hikers companion.”

“the map has it listed on the mileage chart. So Chase could possibly get his first bag night on the trail. Wow, that will be cool. Maybe I will try the hammock once again and ixney (my PA dutch sucks) the camping Friday night idea. I maybe able to get a date friday night.”

“ENS - give me the mileage's again. Hawk to 309, then 309 to lehigh. Trying to plan this out timing wise, so I can figure when to meet you and what time we will be done. I have alot of home stuff to do this weekend, because we leave for vacation the following weekend.
PS: If you got a date friday, you mabey getting a real late start on saturday (If things go well that is!). So make sure you have a back up plan with alternate hike and mileage.”

“change your date to Thursday night. Prioritize!”

“Come on uncle Pennsy, the boy needs to get some booty!! Be supportive!”

“

this is a classic group shot, although missing gemini.
last edited: 6/21/05 9:01:18 PM”

“Hawk Mtn Road to 309 is 11.5 miles, and 309 to Lehigh Gap is 13.3 miles.”

“Do you have any idea what time your starting ? I figure it will take you about 5 hrs or so to get to 309. Mabey we could make it alot further in after I meet you. That camp site you where looking at is only about 2 more miles. I guess we will see how your feeling after the first 11 miles. The earlier I can get out on sunday the better.

PS: That is a great pic. Looks like we conquered a huge mountain.”

“yeah, we can keep on pushing on on Saturday. I plan on being on the trail no later than 9 on Saturday”

“It would be great to get that spot on the blue balze trail near lehigh gap that I was telling you about. But that would be another
10 miles from 309.
You doing the hammock thing or tent ?
Remember, I also have that Seria Design ultralight one man tent I could loan you for this one, and I can use the tarptent.”

“I guess that would be a 20 mile day, but I can do it. Would a hammock work at that site? It would be nice to test it out. That will give us a fast out on Sunday, which will be good.”