Hawk Rocks and Duncannon

15 April Darlington Shelter (between Boiling Springs and Duncannon)

Another beautiful day on the AT, mid 70s.

We headed out of Boiling Springs today and just kept going, all the way across Cumberland Valley and up the other side.   We did 14.4 miles today, more than planned.  The weather and trail were good but the 800'+ climb was no way to end the day.  We have 11-12 rocky,up and down miles tomorrow to get to Duncannon where we will take a zero day.

Cumberland Valley was a very pleasant change from the wilderness AT.   Scenic farm land, a  chance to make good miles, a beautiful little village (Boiling Springs) and a great place to stay (Allenberry).
The rare 50+ year old female thru-hiker was out in force today.   First met Bluevist who hiked the whole trail 8 years ago.   She is from Wake VA.  She is still deciding if she might try another thru-hike this year.  She started the day before we did in Harper's Ferry.    Then met Beachy from NC who is section hiking her way north from Springer.  Both ladies and Wendy all over 50.  Unusual.

Also met Bumpa again going south bound on his next north bound section. 
Leafs and blooms!  Saw lots of Mayapples beside the trail.   Also lots of wildflowers - Violets,Bluettes, Bluebells, and others we do not know.  It is getting very pretty.

Saw another snake today.  Not a black snack but patterned green, yellow, and brown.  It was probably a water snake since we were beside a stream.

More pics from. Cumberland Valley

Passing over I76

14 April Boiling Springs, PA, Allenberry Resort

Beautiful day, low 60s, blue sky with puffy white clouds.

The Holly Inn is a great place for hikers to stay.  They brought us breakfast to the room and drove us back to the trail for free.

Nice hike, several climbs an too much big boulder scrambling. Came to the northern end of the Blue Ridge Mtns.  Dropped down into the Cumberland Valley and will spend tomorrow and part of the next day crossing it.  The change was abrupt.   We walked out of the woods and into lush farmland. The trail goes along the edges and between fields, some just plowed and some with grass/hay or alfalfa that is that bright, new green that you only see in spring.  We arrived in Boiling Springs and the guy in the regional ATC office recommended The Allenberry Resort (http://www.allenberry.com).  It is incredible!   Don't understand why but they have an hiker special rate of $25 per person.  I had a great dinner of trout, salad, vegs., and steak and baked potato soup (extra of course).  HIKERS, you want to stay here!

I think we have this hiking thing figured out.  Not really...  soon enough we will be sleeping with the mice again.   But southern PA has really nice shelters and really nice trail towns.

We met Bumpa today - a section hiker from Canada who has done the trail from Springer Mtn GA to here.  He comes down twice a year. 

We also met Toeman, a thru-hiker who left Springer on 14 Feb. (he has no girlfriend).  He is about 6 days behind Nature Boy who left in early Feb.  However, Toeman says he has done the whole trail including the Smokies.  Nature Boy still needs to go back and make up that section so right now, I give the lead to Toeman in the race to be first to complete a thru-hike in 2010.

I need to go to the privy (see picture) then time for bed.

Out of the forest and into Cumberland Valley

ATC Mid-Atlantic Regional Office

The quaint village of Boiling Springs

The grounds at Allenbury

The privy at Allenberry Resort (and thru-hiker shelter)

13 April Mount Holly Springs

Cold and wet.  It was raining when we left and the temperature was only in the high 30s.  The high was 50, maybe,  but not on the mountain.

We walked the rest of the way through Pine Grove SP and then up the mountain.  On the climb, I  warmed up to the point of sweating but Wendy was still cold in spite of wearing 4 layers.  At one point I had to hold her fingers because they were freezing cold. 

It rained all morning and tapered in the afternoon.  It never got warm but we both eventually warmed as we walked. 

All the rain had the leaves trying to open up but cold held them back.  They should really come out tomorrow when it warms.  I noticed the leaves are out much more here in town.  Looks like spring.

We had lunch at a shelter and walked 3 more miles to PA 94.  I called the number in the Trail Hiker's Companion and in a few minutes we were picked up and driven to the Holly Inn in Mount Holly Springs.  We are in a room, fed, and our stuff is drying. 

Actually we are starting through a section of Pennsylvania that is very developed.   I may take advantage these next few days!

Lynn, here is a picture of me as you requested.  Not much different yet
.

Thanks for the comments....

Thanks for all the comments. I read them when I am in a town/hostel/motel where I have a computer with access to the internet. 

Regarding the maps, I will try to update the map when I have the computer-internet access. On the trail, the best I can do is update the last location map and then only if I have a data connection.

12 April Pine Grove Furnace State Park

Cold again last night (mid+30s), especially when you have to get up to go to the bathroom.  Hi in low 60s with clear blue sky's.  No complaints. 

Spring has arrived in places.  We walked down through a hollow which must have had a southern exposure.  There were not just buds but new leaves on the bushes and some trees.  Even saw a dogwood in bloom.  Woke this morning to the sound of birds.

We walked 9.9 miles today to get to Pine Grove Furnace State Park.  Had a climb up first thing, then mostly flat with some up and down followed by gradual decent to the park.  We got here sometime after 3:00.  Early!  We felt good and could have walked more.  That is good because soon we must start averaging 12-15 miles/day to have a chance of finishing. 

We passed the mid-point of the AT today (mid-point for those who started in Georgia). 

We met 2 groups of overseers today, one from the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) and the other from the Susquahanna AT club.  When we crossed the road into the park we left PATC territory.

Took a final break beside a small trout stream to soak our feet.  It felt very good.

Most of our ailments have improved.  Blisters have improved thanks to the use of duct tape.  I have tried a pair of calf height nylon hose (as recommended by Jason) to prevent further blistering.  They work great - much better than liner socks I have been using.

Pine Grove Furnace SP seems very nice - it has lots of historic buildings.  We are staying at one, the Ironmasters Mansion.  It was once a hiding spot in the Underground Railroad prior to the US Civil War.  It is now part of the park and has been converted into a hostel.  It needs some maintenance work and unfortunately they have started it in our wing. But we each get a bunk and because there is only us and a family from France here, we have our own private wing with a choice of 14 bunks.  Not bad for $27.  It is popular with hikers.  It is going to be even colder out tonight so it is nice to be inside.

Wendy just learned that only 10-15 women over 50 complete a thru-hike each year. She is very excited.

11 April - Birch Run Shelter

Cold last night, mid 30s.  Today upper 50s, blue sky with some clouds.

Had weekend hikers at Quarry Run shelter last night and more on the trail today - all nice people.  Met one fella from Boston who is doing the same hike as us - he started at Harper's Ferry a few days after us and is going to Maine (then maybe Georgia north (like us)).  He is traveling more miles per day than we are and passed us today.  Nice guy but unless something goes wrong for him, we won't see him again.

Went through some tall pine forests today - mostly flat with just a few climbs.  Birch Run shelter is nice.  It is a big log cabin in a large, open, grassy area.  This part of PA has a lot of nice shelters.  The shelters in VA, along Skyline Drive (near where we live) are trashy by comparison.

As we travel north, it seems we are staying ahead of spring.  Many trees still do not have buds yet.  A few cherry trees are blooming but that is all so far.  I think spring will catch up to us soon.

Caldonia State Park