Sprout Day 34 (Saturday, April 30)

I set the alarm so we could get up early and get down the trail. I didn't really need an alarm because the Saturday crowd was out early today.  We were camped by a big stream and when I got up I saw fishermen all over the parking lot and some fishing within eyesight.  They started rolling in around 5:00 a.m. I didn't get out of my tent until 6:30. I slept so good last night and didn't wake up one time.

10.8 miles to go!

Smudgy Cheeks took off before Bubbles and me.  We made coffee and had cookies before we took off.  We were about to leave when I saw a car pull in and a couple of hikers got out.  I got a closer look and realized it was Tricks!  He was dropping a couple of SoBos (south bounders) at the trail!  We were so happy to see our friend again so we ended up staying until 9:30 talking with him and some other people in the parking lot.  Tricks is one of the coolest, nicest people we've met out on the trail.  He always has food for hikers (today we had a banana and some danishes).  I had a Coke to wash everything down! Listening to some of his stories and chatting about the trail was a great way to start off the day.  I can't wait until we run into him again down the trail.

This was fun to walk over

The rocks are everywhere!

Bubbles on the trail

Trail today

Another part of the trail today

We did 11.3 miles and got into camp at 4. There were a ton of people on the trail today.  We passed a Boy Scout group with 28 scouts!  I felt like I was passing a parade of hikers!  There was a small hiking group, some thru hikers, and section hikers out too. Bubbles and I took our time and stopped at a nice camp spot for lunch, it didn't rain, all in all it was a good day.

The shelter was packed when I got here but there was a perfect camping spot close to the shelter.  It's supposed to start raining at 1:00 am.  We had no choice but to set up the tent. I'd rather sleep in our tent, especially when there's a lot of people packed in the shelter.  There was a perfect branch to hang our food so I didn't have to worry about waking anyone up in the morning when we are getting our stuff together.

It's the first day of turkey season!  We didn't see any hunters off the trail and I hope it stays that way.  We did see a mouse right next to the trail eating nuts. This little guy was chowing away not worried about us video taping him.

Overall, It was a good day.  We made good time once we started hiking.  I don't want to feel rushed out here.  Part of the experience for me is taking time to experience all of the different views and meeting and talking to new people.  I was hoping I'd see one of the fishermen pull in a big trout today but I wasn't there at the right time.  I’m laying in the tent now and can hear the sound of the stream down the hill below us.  It feels perfect when we camp next to a big spring it puts me right to sleep!

Day:  34

Miles hiked:  11.3

Total Miles hiked on the trail:  314.3

Bears:   0

Butterfly:  8

Chipmunk:  2

Cows:  24

Crawfish:  1

Deer:  20

Horses:  12

Inchworm:  1

Really Big Dog:  1

Mouse:  2

Nest of bugs:  1

Rabbit:  1

Skunk:  1

Snail:  1

Snake:  1

Squirrels:  11

Toad:  1

Trout:  2

Turkeys:  4

Turtles:  107

Vulture:  6

Woodpecker:  1

Smudgy Cheeks Day 34 (Saturday, April 30) 244.8 total miles

I hiked 11.3 miles today.  It was a nice hike today.  It started with climbing a mountain but after that is was long and flat.  We ended the day at Rausch Gap Shelter.  There were a lot of weekend hikers there.  It was nice to sit around and talk to them as the day wound down.

Cool marker on the trail today

Following the blazes to Katahdin

Cool rocks

It's fun when the trail goes over obstacles

Sprout Day 33 (Friday, April 29)

Day 33

It was wet, cold, and rainy today.  It felt good staying in Duncannon again last night at the Doyle. We met some cool people and it will definitely be something we will never forget. We stayed up late with Tricks last night watching movies and talking. He gave us a ride to 325 after we ate breakfast.  He is such a cool guy and I'm really happy we met him.

Lots of room in Tricks car!!

As soon as we got dropped off it started raining, it was a constant drizzle.  We went ten miles today through rough rocky terrain and the rain made the rocks slippery.

We walked past Peters Mountain Shelter today

Inside Peters Mountain Shelter

We hit our 300 mile mark today! It feels so good to be this far! We stopped at 300 miles to take a celebration video. It's crazy to think we're out here doing it.  We’re actually hiking and getting more miles everyday.  To me 300 miles is huge.  It's the furthest any of us have ever backpacked.  Each day I feel like we learn something new or something gets easier.  We're lucky to have people back home that care about our journey and people who want to help us along the way.  The trail gives back and will take care of you.  It feels like we're meeting the right people at the right time.

300 miles baby!!

Rocks on the trail!

Pretty sure these are ferns popping through??

Love it

Awesome fire pit!

When it's rocky like this the white blazes are on the rocks!

Blue blaze to the spring

We camped here

Day:  33

Miles hiked:  9.6

Total Miles hiked on the trail:  303

Bears:   0

Butterfly:  8

Chipmunk:  2

Cows:  24

Crawfish:  1

Deer:  20

Horses:  12

Inchworm:  1

Really Big Dog:  1

Mouse:  1

Nest of bugs:  1

Rabbit:  1

Skunk:  1

Snail:  1

Snake:  1

Squirrels:  11

Toad:  1

Trout:  2

Turkeys:  4

Turtles:  107

Vulture:  6

Woodpecker:  1

Smudgy Cheeks Day 33 (Friday, April 29) 233.5 Miles

Today we hiked 9.3 miles from State Route 22, through Clarks Valley to Pine Tree Camp Site.  The hike was long, with a lengthy bit of it on top of the mountain ridge off of Peters Mountain.  This place reminds me off a family vacation area that we used to go to when I was growing up in West Virginia called Holly River State Park.  I've already set up camp so now I'm going to relax as much as possible.  I don't have any service on my phone and 70% of my gear is soaking wet!

Gray clouds in the sky today

More train tracks to cross over

The rocks were very slippery

Reminded me of Holly River State Park

This would have been a great place to sit and relax, if the sand wasn't soaking wet!

I thought this was a beautiful spot.  It almost looks fake.

This looked like a great fishing spot

It was very soft under the evergreens

Sprout Day 32 (Thursday, April 28, 2016)

Trail Magic.  Thank you!!

We had such an amazing time at the Doyle, and had so much fun with Tricks, that we decided we needed another night!  Tricks was down with the idea and said he would drive us ten miles up the trail so we could hike south back to the Doyle and stay another night.

Steps at the Doyle

Hallway at the Doyle

Our room at the Doyle

Another hallway shot at the Doyle

Another step shot at the Doyle

This is where we were eating breakfast when we ran into Tricks

Welcome to the Doyle Hotel

Last night Tricks played some hiking documentaries for us and we plan on watching a couple more tonight.  He had a projection screen and plays the movies on the wall. It was awesome, he had sandwiches and Gatorade for us and a bunch of other snacks! It's nice to get support and great advice from an experienced hiker. I'm excited to eat again at the Doyle too, lol!!

I thought this was really funny!!

Day:  32

Miles hiked:  8.1

Total Miles hiked on the trail:  293.4

Bears:   0

Butterfly:  8

Chipmunk:  2

Cows:  24

Crawfish:  1

Deer:  20

Horses:  12

Inchworm:  1

Really Big Dog:  1

Mouse:  1

Nest of bugs:  1

Rabbit:  1

Skunk:  1

Snail:  1

Snake:  1

Squirrels:  11

Toad:  1

Trout:  2

Turkeys:  4

Turtles:  107

Vulture:  6

Woodpecker:  1

Bubbles Day 32 (Thursday, April 28)

We woke up this morning, packed up, and ate at the breakfast place across from the Doyle (their sausage gravy and biscuits were amazing, but nobody beats my Nanny's!) While we were eating Tricks walked in. I was elated.  I thought I'd never see my new bestie again. We sat and talked and I kept saying I don't want to leave, I'm having too much fun. Tricks offered to drop us off eight miles North of Duncannon and we could hike back to the hotel. It's called slack packing. You only take the few things you need for the day. He watched our bags and we happily walked back to the Doyle in the rain. Some hikers say Slack Packing is not pure (the call themselves purists) but my feet were happy to have an extra day to feel better in my brand new shoes!

We spent another night hanging with Tricks and getting to know each other better. I feel a deep connection with him and know he is a lifelong friend. He is super generous and helped us out a lot. I want to return the favor one day.

I really didn't want to leave the Doyle, but the trail is calling and I miss sleeping outside. On to the next adventure.

Smudgy Cheeks Day 32 (Thursday, April 28)

I hiked seven miles from the Doyle Hotel to route 225.  On my way today I got a text from Bubbles and Sprout asking me if I wanted to stay at the Doyle again tonight.  I really do so I was picked up by Tricks on 225 when he dropped Bubbles and Sprout off.  I had a nice ride back to the Doyle and Bubbles and Sprout hiked back to the Doyle.  I also had a minor freak out about how much data I am using on my new phone... I think I have it figured!  Overall, it was a great day!

It's a dreary day today

Some poor kid lost ONE Spiderman shoe... how does this happen? Especially in the middle of the woods!

I think those are tent caterpillars in the trees but I'm not sure.

Even when the day is overcast there are still awesome views!

How cool is this rock structure?

Even though these rock piles are cool you are not supposed to do this... leave no trace!

It's so quiet out here you can sometimes here the electricity

Spring is here!  Just a week ago there weren't any leaves blocking our views

Another cool rock

Lots of Mayapples

Looks like there is a little cave here

What?  Am I going the right way??

Enjoying lunch after my ride back to the Doyle

Bubbles and I at the Doyle