Day 77: Back to Big Miles

Woke up late. One Life and I had planned (key word) to wake up early and get a big day in. Maybe catch the guys...? But we didn't end up leaving camp till almost 9am. Perhaps it would be a fast-walking day?




Scatters caught up and the three of us hiked together for most of the day. Stopped at a shelter (which was .3 miles off the trail and it was very downhill, ugh) for lunch and water, then after more hiking, we stopped later on a sunny rock with a view. The weather was really nice. Hot in the sun, but there was a cool breeze and a thick canopy in the woods.

This section of Maryland is the part I had already hiked with my friends, Erin and Mike, last November. Many parts of the trail did not look familiar though because there was so much foliage now. Last Fall, there were no green leaves, so we could see more of the landscape then. And there was an AT sign I somehow missed!?

After a few miles of boulders and rocks that made the trail a bit hard to follow, we three eventually made it to Pen-Mar Park which is right on the Maryland side of the border with Pennsylvania. Beautiful park! Tiny Dancer and Salty were there after completing the four state challenge the day before. Moped and Logos/Earthling showed up, too. I hadn't seen most of those faces for a while!

We got sodas from the machine and a few hikers got pizza (and shared!!), and we relaxed in the cool shade of the pavillion for a few hours with our shoes off. It was a nice break. And we didn't want it to end. (btw: the numbers on the sign in the photo are a bit off...)




Around 7pm, Scatters, One Life and I left for the next shelter, which was 5 miles away. We wanted to make sure to get there by dark - thank goodness forking summer days! We passed the Mason Dixon line and we had OFFICIALLY made it to Pennsylvania!! State number SEVEN!!?! It was a nice feeling, but strange to cross off so many states so quickly when Virginia took forever to cross off.






We got to Deer Lick shelter (name?!) by 9pm and filtered water before it was dark. Miles and Ugly Tuna were there. Scatters, One Life, Moped and I chatted in the dark with section hiker Bo while we snacked, and then it was time for bed. Apparently there's a pool 13 miles from here. We're all hoping for a swim in the afternoon tomorrow. Maybe we'll catch Xan and Neutron there...?
(19.5)



-- Posted from the trail...

Location:Deer Lick Shelter