MD/PA hike, day 7

Friday, September 25th, 2015
Start: Duncannon/The Doyle
End: camping beyond Yellow Springs Village Site
Mileage: 25.3 (+0.3 for water)

I started out of Duncannon at 7am sharp. After some road walking, I entered the woods and climbed. I passed over unnamed view (1346'), Table Rock (1347'), Kinter View (1320'), past Horeshoe trail (1650'), and Rattling Run (1533'). I passed by Clarks Ferry Shelter and Peters Mountain Shelter.

Water was hard to find today; I had to ration myself. A number of springs on the map were bone dry. The terrain got more rocky than it has been the entire trip. I couldn't get a rhythm going; every time I almost had one started, the trail would get intensely rocky and interrupt it. The rocks made my feet hurt beyond belief; the ~25 miles took me until 5:45pm. I stopped numerous times to rest my feet in the hope the pain would lessen.

I keep telling myself - it's only one more night and two more days after today. So close and yet so far. Tomorrow I head to the 501 shelter and some takeout dinner.

MD/PA hike, day 6

Thursday, September 24th, 2015
Start: Allenberry Resort Inn and Playhouse/Boiling Springs
End: Duncannon/The Doyle
Mileage: 25.6 (+0.4 from Allenberry)

This morning, I was up and on the road by 7am. I enjoyed a sticky bun for breakfast before leaving. I was on the trail by 7:15am. The first ~13 miles was flat, predominately walking through farm fields which, while easy, ended up soaking my boots with dew.

Today, I passed by Scott Farm Trail ATC Crew Headquarters, Darlington Shelter, and Cove Mountain Shelter. I climbed up to Darlington Trail (1271'), an unnamed view (1335'), and down Hawk Rock (992'). I had a section of 6 miles that were pretty rocky which made it more challenging to make quick miles.

I arrived in Duncannon at 4:30pm. I made the (perhaps questionable) choice to stay at the Doyle since my feet hurt and I couldn't imagine hiking anymore. One of the owners gave me a ride to the grocery store to resupply. My room is... a room the size of a walk-in closet with a bed. I'm chosing to believe the sheets were washed since they were last used. The one bathroom/shower... has water constantly dripping from the ceiling directly into the shower stall. The owners also make me feel on - edge; because of that, I decided to eat elsewhere in town. Regardless, it's a resupply, shower, bed, electricity, and roof over my head.