Pa -> NJ and 4th of July

After Wind Gap we made our way to Delaware water gap, which is right on the PA/NJ border.  This town was very cool and was marking the beginning of the end for me.  WE said our fair wells to Amy (Fire?), as it was the end of her section hike.  We stayed at the church hostel in town for a day and a half.  This town was really pretty, small and very nice.  We gorged ourselves on treats and hot dogs at the Village Farmer Bakery as well as old style milkshakes/rootbeer floats at the malt shop.

After our zero day we headed out to New Jersey and our pick up point by the Mohican outdoor center.  I wrote my final entry in the register that morning at the hostel and moved on for what ended up being a VERY emotional walk and my as my last day on the trail.  I said good bye to some friends along the way and was happy to be walking alone.  You couldn't have asked for better hiking weather to end on.  Clear skies, cool temps and a lovely breeze.  I don't think I broke a sweat the whole time.  My two favorite parts were walking along the shores of Sunfish pond and stopping to enjoy the view and weather on top of Kittatinny mountain.  I was Really starting to regret choosing to leave the trail and starting to weigh the pros and cons.

Unfortunately, I knew that finishing in time would have been a grueling push followed with coming home with little funds, bills and a day or two (if lucky) to pack my life up and head to Colorado for grad school.  I didn't want to deal with all that rush and stress, especially after spending months hiking.

I overshot the pick up point and had to double back about a mile where I found everyone waiting for me and float.  Papa wolf was there with other members from the Wolfpack that I hadn't met yet as well as Walk n Eats.  We waited about another hour for float to show and headed out to Zips (papawolf) amazing place in the Adirondacks for a 4th of July celebration.

After about a 5 hour drive we got to his Beautiful 190 acre place.  We pretty much hit the ground running with drinking games.....and the shit show began!!!!

The next 5 days were awesome, minus a few mornings, LOL  I made new friends, spent time with old ones and just kicked back and relaxed, swimming, exploring and watching movies.

Afterwards, I caught a ride with Dam Yankee to Hartford, PA and caught a bus home.  this was the worst idea I ever had.  Buss's and the people on them AND the people who drive them SUCK!  It's like DMV people working for the transit system.  Miserable SOB's with attitudes, I'll never ride a bus again.  I thought it would be fun to end my adventure and watch everything go by from the window.  It sucked.

22 hours later I got into Asheville, NC and my folks picked me up.  Since then, I've been working, packing, paying bills and planning my trip west.

In closing, I'd like to say that this trip was amazing!  I met so many awesome people along the way, people that have left a mark and I will always remember.  some I'll stay in touch with, some may fade but the memories are going to be forever.  I just wish I could have finished with everyone, but that's life.  I'm stoked to have met you all and to have hiked, bitched, sweated, drank and explored so much with you all.  It's truly been an honor and I hope that this won't be the  last  time I see you all.  Keep i touch and Good Luck to those of you still hiking towards Katahdin.  I look forward to living out the end vicariously through you!

On another note, I've enjoyed blogging so much, that I'm creating a new one for my further life adventures in Colorado.  It's also an attempt to keep my political rants and raves off of Facebook and into a more suitable forum.  It won't all be bitching and moaning about our politicians, more of a venue for pictures and videos for my outdoor adventures and life in general.  I would like to see how my opinions and views points evolve as I move my way towards my masters degree.  There will be plenty of shenanigans posted as well from daily situations and on-goings.  Choose to follow if you like

http://eriksadventuresandrants.blogspot.com/

This A.T. blog is to be continued in the summer of 2014 when I graduate and take on the last 800 miles of the A.T..  Till then, get outside and enjoy your life!!!!  You know I will!

Pennsylvania

After a day and a half off my feet, in an air conditioned room drinking beer and watching tv with Superstar we headed out of Duncannon.  With renewed determination we planned 18 to 23 mile days.  We were joined by Atlas and Cheeks, friends of Superstars and part of the Wolfpack.  I had a rough first couple of days here with my feet.  The blisters were off the charts and the rocks weren't helping.  Pennsylvania SUCKS, especially if you have any issues with your feet.  It's all rocks, big rocks to hop along and small rocks, with pointed edges jamming into the bottom of your feet all day.  Also, plenty of medium rocks to move and tempt you to roll an ankle.  Progress is slow through this state.  The elevation gain/loss is nothing compared to other states, it's just rocky and slow.  your feet swell up and just throb at the end of the day.  I went from size 10 shoe's to 11.5 early on in the hike.  Now, my feet were so swollen my toes were rubbing in these shoes, which lead to another blackened toenail, soon to fall off.

Towns came and passed, feet and ankles hurt as more rocks were traversed begrudgingly.  The state was constantly cursed under breathe and out loud.  I don't think anyone enjoys this state.  I will go back and hike anywhere on the A.T., but Pennsylvania.  It's just something you have to get through to get o the end, that's all it is.

Next fun stop was Port Clinton.  After some awesome trail magic from Jersey and his friends we caught a ride into town, and got some rooms at the Port Clinton motel.  There was an incident where I may or MAY not have opened a window with our air conditioning unit in it......and it may or may not have fallen out onto the roof......either way, it stopped working and it was a VERY hot nights sleep....my bad....or not.

The next morning we mentioned the broken a/c unit and the lady cursed that room.  Apparently, she had been cleaning, adjusted the window herself and the unit had fallen out ;-)  that's probably what lead to it being broken.

Some resupply was in order for the day and the lovely lady drove us to Walmart so we could do so.  Then we ended up at the local barber shop, hanging out with the owner and patrons drinkng coffee and shooting the shit.  Atlas, jammed on his guitar while we were there.  The owner, a musician himself, was very interested to have some live music.  They told us about the Cabelas superstore just a ways up the highway and how it was a must see.  I got excited about it, and so did everyone else.  The guys in the shop drove us up there.  I don't know how long we spent in that amazing place, but it was over an hour.  Its the largest Cables in the US, bigger than any Walmart or superstore I've been in.

The ended up being a zero day and we camped out at the towns pavilion, a place for thru-hikers to use and enjoy.  We headed out the next morning afer a big, awesome breakfast.  the unplanned day off was just what I needed for my feet.  From here on out, no more foot issues, everything healed and calloused over.

We started shooting for all 20+ milers.  However, we got a bit beat down by the rocks.  During a 23 miler we all got split up.  I was one of the last ones out that morning and ended up passing Superstar, Atlas and cheeks as the took a side trip for breakfast after a couple miles.  Float and I yo-yo'd during the afternoon.  This stretch included the climb by Palmerton, which I had been warned about.  however, I was feeling great and just OWNED it.  Up and over the rocky ascent like it was nothing.  The trail is rerouted after that due to an EPA Superfund site.  We were to meet after that at some springs with a camp ground.  My feet were bothering me again for a little bit, so I did about 6 miles in my flip flops along the reroute and a bit afterwards.

There ended up being NO SUCH SPRING, once again the information in the AWOL book was wrong.  I thought the guys were ahead of me, but they were no where to be found.  tired, sore and dehydrated with about .5 of a liter left, I had to walk it down into town at Little gap.  I made it to an awesome diner, got some food, water and a ride back to the trail head at about 9:30 pm.  The next morning I got a text from Superstar.  Him and float had camped about 100 yards before me and Atlas and Cheeks called it a day about halfway through.  The three of us met up and headed back down into the gap towards the diner.

Needless to say, we all got lazy!  Cheeks and Atlas joined us here and we ended up camping there in field adjacent to the diner.  It was a REALLY nice spot and I was stoked about all you can eat fried Haddock that evening.

The next big stop was in wind gap.  We rolled in on another very HOT day, Cheeks was feeling ill and her and Atlas caught a ride into town.  We met them at the Beerstein.  A bar that allows hikers to camp in the field adjacent to it.  float, Superstar and myself hitched a short ride into town from a 2010 thru-hiker.  The food was Amazing, drinks were cheap and we drank A LOT!!!

Part of the deal of staying there was the owner opens the place to us at 9am and allows us to have FULL range of the kitchen to cook breakfast...FREE of charge.  We had been joined later in the night by Amy, whose trail name is eluding my thoughts as I write this.  We cooked a ginormous breakfast, one that would end up fueling all of us through the remainder of the day.