sept 24
delware water gap – wind gap
80 deg sun / humid
9:30 am – 4 pm
16 mi
got a late start but had a good breakfast,started up and out of delware gap and climbed for 30 mins. was soaked with sweat due to the temps and humidity. had a long stumble in a jumblepile of rocks and boulders all day and barely managed 16 mi. Into wind gap and a hiker friendly motel. the manager hauled me to town for laundry and groceries. really nice people here!
sept 25
wind gap – geo w. outerbridge shelter
75 – 80 deg sun
8:30 – 6 pm
21.4 mi
got a late start seeing as I was in a motel for the second straight night. I could get used to this! I packed up and climbed right off. was a nice clear and cool morning. trail conditions still difficult. jumblepile stumblefest! one huge downhill into leigh gap, just a mile from my shelter destination. not as large an uphill climb on the other side. have company tonite , a young dad and his daughter , about 10, are camping for the night.
sept 26
geo w outerbridge – allentown shelter
70-75 deg sun/rain
8 – 4 pm
17 mi
got a great night sleep and was up at 6:30. after breakfast and packing I continued the climb out of leigh gap. trail was so – so until I hit the knife – edge and bear rocks. then life was another massive jumblepile stumblefest. I pulled up att this really nice shelter and patched up the toes of my boots and found a stash of food left behind jsut for me! going to be a cool night and a wet stumble tomorrow, 221 mi to go!
sept 27
allentown shelter – port clinton inn
8 am – 5:30 pm
rain 50-65 deg
23 mi
it rained all night but I was snug in the shelter with 2 section hikers. had a great night sleep, after breakfast and packing had a good climb to start. after several jumblepiles in the rain, footing was iffy. managed to knock out 23 mi and found the old port clinton inn right off the trail in port clinton . hope to eat and sleep well and get a good breakfast before climbing almost 1500 ft out of here for another 23 miler tomorrow.
sept 28
port clinton inn – rt 501 shelter
7:30 – 5 pm
70 – 75 deg sun
23.7 mi
got a pretty early start , there was no breakfast to be found, and climbed easily and steadily for 30 min. pretty easy day as the trail was flat and not too boulder strewn. made great time and got to the coolest shelter ever! a huge ,by shelter standards,building able to sleep at least 15 . large octagonal skylight in the center and I had the place to myself!
sept 29
rt 501 shelter – rausch gap shelter
8:15 – 4 pm
70 -75 deg sun
17.4 mi
got a great night sleep and a big breakfast. went short today as the next shelter is out of reach and rain threatens. will push some tomorrow as preparation for a nero into duncannon. getting close! 151 mi to go, I crossed the 2000 mi mark today.
sept 30
rausch gap shelter – clarks ferry shelter
8 am – 5:15 pm
65 – 70 deg
24 mi
great night sleep and had a long pull today. I’m about out of food and with a light pack I hammered the 24 mi here. easy and flat with few stumbles. still some steeps but mostly flat with a few stumbles,tomorrow I feast!
oct 1
clarks ferry shelter – darlington shelter
8:30 am – 5 pm
60 – 65 deg NICE!
16 mi
got a late start and a fter a short 3 – 4 mi I was eating my second breakfast! there was a truck stop right off with a nice diner. had my fav breakfast of frenchtoast and eggs and bacon. met a guy there who was hiking in the south half and quit to go back to truckin. small world , huh? hit the road and after just 2 more miles stopped in the post office to mail home my stove and cookware,assorted clothes, the tent. dramatically lightening my load. a short hike down the road and there is the legendary doyle hotel which I had heard so much about. eventhough I had just had 2nd breakfast I stopped in for a beer and a burger. again an unexpected act of kindness by the owner of the doyle, he volunteered to take me to the nearby grocery for my final resupply, and off I went to the shelter. tomorrow I hope to hook – up with the blues, my ex-inlaws, and a home visit with them.
oct 2
darlington shelter – mike and becky blue home
8:15 – 12 pm
60 -65 deg nice!
10 mi
short night sleep. was in a foursome and someone snored bigtime! BUMMER! short flat trail today and at the home of mike and becky at 12. just in time for lunch, I’m such a lucky guy! just a short 106 mi left! with a light load I plan on hammering out some big days ahead.
oct 3
blues home – pine grove furnace hostel
8 am – 5:30 pm
70 – 75 deg
23 mi
after a big breakfast with the blues I hit the trail on one of the most beautiful days of the trip so far. perfect conditions for hiking. easy trail and clear skies with cools temps. excellent hike. am at the hostel after a big snackbar supper of cheeseburgers, hotdogs , chips,sodas,and icecream sandwiches. life is good!! hot shower for the 2nd night in a row,a full tummy, and indoor plumbing!!
oct 4
pine grove hostel – rocky mtn shelter
8 am – 5 pm
70 – 75 deg NICE!
23 mi
great night sleep, had a quick breakfast and hammered 17 mi by 1:30. easy ! am at shelters (2) with 6 people. one sobo and sectioners. 56 mi to harpers, looking to end tues or weds.
oct 5
rocky mtn shelter – ensign cowall shelter
8 am – 5:45 pm
70 – 75 deg
23 mi
up early to head out. pretty easy hike,pretty day! in shelter with 8 people, big crowd and everyone excited for me, several sobo’s that started in maine the 20th of june! they will have a long haul in the smokies if they don’t flip , weather is coming to the upper elevs soon. tomorrow will be my last day on the trail!!!
oct 6
ensign cowal shelter – HARPERS FERRY!!!
7:15 am – 7:30 pm
70 deg
31.1 mi
with best intentions I planned to stop at mile 25 and shelter for the night. but my legs were still juiced and I wanted to motel and shower before catching the train home, so off I went from that point on I was like a horse to the barn. I knew that the last 5 mi were on the c + o towpath so what better venue for a possible night hike? easy walking all the way to harpers , even in the dark. but I never had to breakout my headlamp, the trail was easy to follow. I landed on the streets of harpers ferry at 7:30, just as they had rolled up the sidewalks. I walked uphill past the AT headquaters and rejoiced !! I’d made it back to the start of my journey. I’d been here so long ago, mar 31/apr 1 to start my trek south. now to finially return and complete my hike was a great relief. I had done it! I went on past the HQ and found the liquor store still open and got myself a sixpack before heading on to the motel. I’d have a shower a pizza and a sixpack to celebrate.
oct 7
ZERO DAY IN HARPERS FERRY
who cares about the weather???
all day in harpers ferry starting at the ATHQ at 9:30 am and hung out with the staff and fellow hikers. bought pizza for the staff and anyone else there, took pics and got stuff for everyone at home. saw grizz for beers and chatted the afternoon away while waiting for the train. got aboard amtrak for the final leg of this trip, a long sit on the train and a transfer in chicago and I’M HOME!!!!!! boy is it great to have my own bathroom again! and a fridge,and a bed I don’t have to pack up and move everyday.so nice to be home.
