Day 16: Home Sweet Home
I am home. I'm fine.
A couple days ago, I just decided that I was done hiking the trail. They say to never leave on a bad day. So, I waited a couple days before making a final decision. I just wasn't enjoying it as much as I thought I would. As I said before I left, I love hiking but I don't love camping. I loved the people and all the unique trail towns and places I got to see in my 2 weeks out there.
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Day 14: Doyle Hotel in Duncannon, PA. I have completed 124 miles on the trail! We did 14 miles yesterday, mostly through fields and pastures. I learned that my least favorite thing on the trail is hiking through wet grass! My feet got soaked and stayed wet all day.
We did 11 miles today into town. Several of us are staying at this old hotel called the Doyle. Very basic room but at least there's a restaurant downstairs. We plan to zero here tomorrow. My body needs some rest.
Day 10: IronMasters Mansion, PA
We have made it 78 miles! We crossed the halfway market on the trail today.
It got down to 35F two nights ago. I didn't freeze to death but it was rough. I was wearing all my clothes in my sleeping bag.
Our original tramily broke up but I have reconnected with Thimbles and Bill, who I met a few days ago. I actually gave Bill his hiker name last night. We are calling him Clothesline now. He sets up a clothes line every time we stop. 🤣
Day 7: Yesterday, we got dropped off 14 miles up trail and slack packed back to the hostel.
14 miles was too much. No injuries but the soles of my feet are sore. My body is telling me to slow down. I've been hiking too much to keep up with my tramily. Time to hike my own hike. I'm taking a zero today.
Our Tramily has broken up. A couple got off trail, a couple are hiking on, and one is a day behind. Hopefully, we will see each other again. They are all great people!
Day 5: We made it to Pen Mar Park. We have hiked all the way through Maryland! 41 miles, 7,000 ft of ascent, & 6,000 ft of descent.
Tonight, we're staying at a hostel. Tomorrow we will slack pack 12 miles and stay here again.
We lost a couple members of our Tramily. One dropped out and the other was just hiking Maryland. Sad to see Rocks and Doc go. They will be missed.
Pennsylvania here we come!!!!
This is the group I'm hiking with.
I have a hiker name now: Magic Mike! 🕺
I also got a tick bite. We got it removed. We have an actual doctor in the group and she said I'm probably fine. Just watch out for the bullseye or a fever. Ugh.
I've made it 2 days on the trail so far.
I did 6 miles the first day from Harpers Ferry, WV to the Ed Garvey shelter. The 1,000 ft climb out of Harper's Ferry had me questioning my life choices. 🤣
Today, I ended up doing 11 miles to the Dahlgren backpack camp. Longer than I planned but there are showers here! One of the guys hiking around me ordered pizza. Best shower and pizza I've ever had!
I'm already making friends out here. No hiker name yet.
We are here in Harper's Ferry, WV! We stopped at the AT headquarters and picked up my hiker tag. I will get my official number and photo taken when I head out tomorrow.
I might have come up with a trail name.
I was telling my wife that I need to stay on the trail at least long enough to get a trail name. Then I thought; if I don't get a trail name, I can't leave the trail. She suggested the trail name: Nameless.
I kind of like it! What does Mastodon think? I'm sure it's been used before.
Of course, there's always the option of getting the name on the trail. I love that idea too. :)
Too much food?
I packed up 5 days worth of food for the start of my thru-hike. I have my first few days planned out and it will take me 4 to 5 days (depending on mileage) before I stop at my first hostel.
Food bag includes: Cook kit with fuel, 4 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners, 3 snacks per day, and electrolyte drink mixes. 9.76 lbs in all.
Puts my total pack weight with 2 l of water at 30.5 pounds. Ugh.
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Michael Freed