I’m starting to lay out my gear again. I’ll be taking my 20° quilt but otherwise mostly summer gear. My luxury items include: a book, some extra cooking gear and camp shoes.

We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves. –  Buddha

I filed my paperwork today to take a leave of absence from work and go back to hike another section. I’ll be travelling on May 8th and start southbound the morning of May 9th where I left off in Virginia in 2015. I’m looking forward to finishing the longest state on the trail and getting back into the wilderness. There should be lots of NOBO thru-hikers on the trail, so I shouldn’t be alone. In fact, I suspect I’ll be looking for ways to get some solitude.

All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost.

J. R. R. Tolkien

I’ve had enough of the rocks, mud, bugs and heat 🔥. According to Forest Gump (met him on the bus) it was 114 degrees in central PA yesterday. It sure felt like it!! Only more heat and rocks were in the forecast. 😉

So, after completing half of the planned hike, I’m on my way home again. The bus trip to Philly was interesting, to say the least.

TTFN Tramily
(Ta ta for now trail family)

It is better to travel well than to arrive. – Buddha

Hiked along the ridge and down into Port Clinton. It was more of the same: mud, rocks and heat. The last mile was a 1,000 ft descent to the Schuylkill River. Wow!!

It’s also prime deer hunting country here. In Hamburg, where I’m spending the night, is the world’s biggest Cabela’s. They even have a gun range.

AT Thru-Hike Stats
Section Day #6 (7/1/18)
Start – Eagles Nest Shelter 1209.9
End – Port Clinton Post Office 1218.7
Today’s mileage: 8.8
Total section miles: 68.7
Total miles on AT: 715.7
Avg daily miles (section 5) – 11.5

There are three things extremely hard: steel, a diamond, and to know one’s self. – Benjamin Franklin

The famous Pennsylvania rocks have arrived. Day #5 was bigger miles (15) through mud, burned out forest, and the trail was full of rocks. That made for slow going. It took 12 hours of hiking in the heat to finish. It was type III fun. (Not fun during and not fun in retrospect.). That being said, I did make it.

Sorry there’s no picture. I was too busy cussing out the rocks. 🤬

Tomorrow’s a shorter hike (~10 miles) into town for a day of rest. I’ll be reviewing my trip in town too.

AT Thru-Hike Stats
Section Day #5 (6/30/18)
Start – 501 Shelter 1194.8
End – Eagles Nest Shelter 1209.9 🦅
Today’s mileage: 15.1 +
Total section miles: 59.9
Total miles on AT: 706.9
Avg daily miles (section 5) – 12.0

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. ― C.S. Lewis