Out of Harpers Ferry the trail was flat and easy, and stayied that way for most of the 43 miles thru Maryland. This section was kind of weird in the sense that the trail was so close to highways, and there were times the trail went thru peoples back yards in residential areas. The terrain was so easy that on the second day out we went for a 22 mile day. It was hot. Sometime around mid-day we came out of the heat and sucked in the air conditioning of the local pub. We were back on the trail at 5:30pm with about 9 miles to go. The trail quickly became rocky and we knew we'd be having our first night hiking in dark. ETA was around 10pm. We wouldn't be out at night for long but it got dark and we out on the trail with our headlamps on. I had been wanting to have a night hiking experience and here it was. My dad was not so enthused… especially after I told him the "Blair Witch Project" was filmed in Maryland. The sounds I heard off in the woods I chose to keep to myself…After only 1 wrong turn we were able to get to the shelter and set up camp. Record heat was expected the next day.
On this kind of day theirs no plan. I like to think we'l take however much we can handle and stop. So after 14 miles or so and a extremely rocky trail coming into PA we were beat by the heat. We needed to resupply so a trip into town came at the right time. After we hit the Walmart we thought that with all the heat and the possibility of some wicked thunderstorms that we'd stay the night in town. Welp at about 9pm the storm came through and out went the power. So much for our time in a cool motel room. It turns out this storm was widespread knocking down tress and power throughout PA, MD, and VA.
The heat was still around for days to come. 40 miles or so up the trail passed thru Pine Grove Furnace State Park, the official midway mark and the home of the half gallon challenge. Here it is tradition for thru hikers to attempt to down a half gallon of ice cream. I went with chocolate and it was hardly a challenge. 28 min it took me but the upset feeling in my stomach lasted for about 3 hours.
The 4th of July was just a few days away and my mom was headed up to see us! For the fourth we'd slack-pack 20 miles and set up some trail magic that evening. Glad to have my mom in town till the 12th. Then she'l be leaving and taking my dad back home. Lots of slack-packing for big miles while she's in town. I hope to get close to being out of "Rocksylvania" by the end of the week.
A great hiker picnic provided by the local church in PA. 3D maps of the trail were pretty amazing.
Mid-way point. GA>ME 2012
