Hey folks!
I’m writing to y’all from Port Clinton, PA, which is 152.6 miles north of the Mason-Dixon Line, where you last found me. I have since left behind my fellow NOBO thru hikers Minion, High Five, Hot Foot, Calorie Man, and Lucy, but I wish them well on the rest of their journeys! Doing the four state challenge with them was great!
Pennsylvania so far has been a bit on the quiet side. As I’d noted before, there aren’t that many thru hikers this far south at this time of year, so people are few and far between, lending the trail a much more solemn, contemplative atmosphere. I’ve been able to really rip through miles, though, striving to maintain an average of at least 20 miles per day. The weather has been nice, for the most part. Temperatures hang around the mid 80’s, and rain, if it happens at all, focuses itself to the late evening or nighttime hours.
Pennsylvania also is home to the trail’s halfway point! From here on out, we’re counting down, folks! 😎 It feels great to hit such a big milestone!
At Pine Grove Furnace General Store, just past the halfway point, it is thru hiker tradition to partake in the infamous half gallon challenge. The challenge is simple: eat half a gallon of ice cream. No time limit, just eat it and hold it down. I’m proud to say that I crushed the half gallon challenge, finishing my 2,400 calories of mint chocolate chip and chocolate ice cream in about 48 minutes. I didn’t think it was that difficult a feat, but reading through the hiker log at the general store revealed a number of failures, many of which ended with immediate, projectile evacuation of dairy-burdened stomachs.
I moved on from Pine Grove Furnace after meeting Zero G, a fellow hiker who rejoined the AT at the halfway point after leaving the Pacific Crest Trail (a 2,600ish mile trail through CA, OR, and WA) due to the west being on fire. So far we’ve been keeping similar paces, and it’s been nice to see somebody for more than just a day or two days!
There is a decent chunk of trail that goes through the Cumberland Valley. For those of you that haven’t been there, I would describe it as pretty much the same thing go as Wisconsin. The corn, soybeans, hay, and small farm communities were solid look-alike for home!
After leaving the Wisconsin of the east, things took a turn, however. The trail in the second half of PA is so notorious for its rocks that hikers often refer to it as “Rocksylvania”. This is where shoes go to die, and where non-vigilant hikers are bound to twist or break an ankle with every step. This can significantly slow down your anticipated pace, and makes for some sore feet by the end of a long day of rock hopping.
I’ve got just 77-ish miles left in PA before moving on to New Jersey. If it weren’t for the rocky terrain, PA would really be an easy state, as it doesn’t have much in the name of elevation gain or loss. Aside from rocks, I have also been challenged by porcupines nibbling on my tent at night, automatic gunfire at midnight in the middle of the mountains, some of the biggest, most ferocious privy spiders I’ve seen on trail, foot blisters, and more big stretches of trail without reliable water. Even with all that, though, I’m still having a blast, and am constantly excited for the next thing the trail has to offer.
I’m splitting a room with Zero G and Lo Mein tonight in Port Clinton. I will check in with y’all again soon!
Tingo Hikes! 
These ice cream puns are a sweet treat 🙂
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