Well they are definitely not Rawks. Should have known that since I’m out of the South.
Angry’s Big Number Two
- Thread starter AngryMetalsmith
- Start date
It is so good following this journey from the other side of the world, and great to see you have overcome the challenges that the trail and your body have thrown at you! Well done on ticking over 1,000! I've been wondering how you get on with navigation along the trail - is it fairly well marked, or are there locations where you need to navigate with a phone/GPS?
Thanks.
Navigation is taken care of by the use of two apps on my phone and white blazes painted on trees and rocks. FarOut is my primary app. It has list view, map view, elevation profile and has GPS tracking which comes in handy when you’ve been hiking for a while and haven’t seen a white blaze. Lately the comments that we leave for each other have been crucial to finding reliable water sources. The other one is the AWOL guide which also has a lot of information. For me, someone with a hopelessly poor sense of direction, it’s easier to navigate the trail than the towns I stop in for resupply.
Day 95 7/20 0 miles
Zero in Waynesboro, PA
Spent the day running around getting town chores done with the intention of getting back on trail the following morning. Got a text later that afternoon from Honey Badger that her and Dory were going to get back on trail where I got off, but a day later. So I decided to take another zero to wait for them. And to be honest I was a bit tired and could use more rest.
Zero in Waynesboro, PA
Spent the day running around getting town chores done with the intention of getting back on trail the following morning. Got a text later that afternoon from Honey Badger that her and Dory were going to get back on trail where I got off, but a day later. So I decided to take another zero to wait for them. And to be honest I was a bit tired and could use more rest.
Day 96 7/21 0 miles
Another zero in Waynesboro, PA
Slept until 7:30, the latest in a long time. Went to a restaurant for breakfast. Mmm bacon. Lunch was a muffin, some yogurt in the hotel followed by a slice of pizza with a fruit punch Jarritos. Stopped at another place for a scoop of strawberry ice cream in a waffle cone. So good.
Another zero in Waynesboro, PA
Slept until 7:30, the latest in a long time. Went to a restaurant for breakfast. Mmm bacon. Lunch was a muffin, some yogurt in the hotel followed by a slice of pizza with a fruit punch Jarritos. Stopped at another place for a scoop of strawberry ice cream in a waffle cone. So good.
Day 97 7/22 15.2 miles
Pen Mar Park to Rocky Mountain Shelter
Honey Badger and Dory picked me up from the hotel. Later they told me that our shuttle driver was non other than Trailboss himself, the designer and builder of the infamous, steep and rock infested Roller Coaster section in VA.
We got dropped off at Pen Mar Park. The trail runs through the park so it makes a good place to come off trail to get into town. It was good to be back on trail with two of my favorite people to hike with. We clicked off 5 miles without realizing it as we talked and got caught up. Then the thunderstorm started so we waited it out in a shelter before moving on.
Pen Mar Park to Rocky Mountain Shelter
Honey Badger and Dory picked me up from the hotel. Later they told me that our shuttle driver was non other than Trailboss himself, the designer and builder of the infamous, steep and rock infested Roller Coaster section in VA.
We got dropped off at Pen Mar Park. The trail runs through the park so it makes a good place to come off trail to get into town. It was good to be back on trail with two of my favorite people to hike with. We clicked off 5 miles without realizing it as we talked and got caught up. Then the thunderstorm started so we waited it out in a shelter before moving on.
Day 98 7/23 13.0 miles
Rocky Mountain Shelter to Birch Run Shelter
None of us slept very well in the shelter the night before so we were a little tired and only went 13 miles. It’s always great to be out of the late night storms but it’s not easy to sleep in shelters. Loud sleeping pads and mice don’t help.
However as we move up trail the shelters continue to be more plush. Some have separate eating areas that are covered and nice benches to relax on as well. But the one we stopped at for lunch took the cake. It was over the top swank. It had a swinging bench, wall sconces, potted plants and even hanging baskets.
Rocky Mountain Shelter to Birch Run Shelter
None of us slept very well in the shelter the night before so we were a little tired and only went 13 miles. It’s always great to be out of the late night storms but it’s not easy to sleep in shelters. Loud sleeping pads and mice don’t help.
However as we move up trail the shelters continue to be more plush. Some have separate eating areas that are covered and nice benches to relax on as well. But the one we stopped at for lunch took the cake. It was over the top swank. It had a swinging bench, wall sconces, potted plants and even hanging baskets.
Day 99 7/24 17.1 miles
Birch Run Shelter to James Fry Shelter
Had three big AT milestones. First one was when we made it to the official halfway point for 2024. It moves every year as the total mileage changes. Then we hit 1100 miles, pretty cool. And last was Pine Grove Furnace and general store. Home of the half gallon challenge where thru hikers attempt to eat a half gallon of ice cream. In a building nearby there is an Appalachian Trail museum.
Birch Run Shelter to James Fry Shelter
Had three big AT milestones. First one was when we made it to the official halfway point for 2024. It moves every year as the total mileage changes. Then we hit 1100 miles, pretty cool. And last was Pine Grove Furnace and general store. Home of the half gallon challenge where thru hikers attempt to eat a half gallon of ice cream. In a building nearby there is an Appalachian Trail museum.
Day 100 7/25 12 miles
James Fry Shelter to Boiling Springs, PA
There was a longish section of trail that was large boulders with lots of technical rock scrambles. Only took a few pics because it required a ton of focus to to follow the blazes through the gnar.
We passed through several large corn fields on our way into the small town of Boiling Springs, PA. We hit the local outfitter and then got an Uber into Mechanicsburg to stay at a hotel for the night and do our resupply. We ate at a diner that had really good food. Nothing fancy, just the basics done right. Later Dory and I did laundry and hung out while his mom had some time to herself.
James Fry Shelter to Boiling Springs, PA
There was a longish section of trail that was large boulders with lots of technical rock scrambles. Only took a few pics because it required a ton of focus to to follow the blazes through the gnar.
We passed through several large corn fields on our way into the small town of Boiling Springs, PA. We hit the local outfitter and then got an Uber into Mechanicsburg to stay at a hotel for the night and do our resupply. We ate at a diner that had really good food. Nothing fancy, just the basics done right. Later Dory and I did laundry and hung out while his mom had some time to herself.
Day 101 7/26 14.3 miles
Boiling Springs to Darlington Shelter
Another Uber ride and we were back on trail in the morning. There were even more corn fields to walk through. Can anyone say, “sunburn” ?
Trail magic is anytime someone does a good thing for a hiker or gives them free stuff like snacks and cold drinks. Being behind the bubble (the main group that starts in March) we don’t see much trail magic. But we did have a gentleman and his wife buy us ice cold bottles of Gatorade from a fruit stand. So good.
Boiling Springs to Darlington Shelter
Another Uber ride and we were back on trail in the morning. There were even more corn fields to walk through. Can anyone say, “sunburn” ?
Trail magic is anytime someone does a good thing for a hiker or gives them free stuff like snacks and cold drinks. Being behind the bubble (the main group that starts in March) we don’t see much trail magic. But we did have a gentleman and his wife buy us ice cold bottles of Gatorade from a fruit stand. So good.
Day 102 7/27 10.9 miles
Darlington Shelter to Duncannon, PA
The past few days we have been dealing with lots of smaller size rocks with sharp edges. It can be very difficult to find any rhythm and even easy grades become challenging to the point that you can’t go fast. To counter this we motor on the flattish sections. And we all have sore feet.
My feet have taken a beating. Big toe on left foot has been sore for a few days. Smashed another toe on the right foot and now have a toenail that is loose like a kid’s tooth. Even this one makes me a little queasy.
Darlington Shelter to Duncannon, PA
The past few days we have been dealing with lots of smaller size rocks with sharp edges. It can be very difficult to find any rhythm and even easy grades become challenging to the point that you can’t go fast. To counter this we motor on the flattish sections. And we all have sore feet.
My feet have taken a beating. Big toe on left foot has been sore for a few days. Smashed another toe on the right foot and now have a toenail that is loose like a kid’s tooth. Even this one makes me a little queasy.
@AngryMetalsmith I am visiting my folks in western PA this week. Depending on your pace I may still be able to meet up. Will be tracking your progress.
Day 103 7/28 11.4 miles
Duncannon, PA to Peter’s Mountain Shelter
We stayed at the Doyle hotel in the tiny town of Duncannon, PA for a night. It was an old hotel that wasn’t very clean, severely lacking in basic hotel stuff, like a refrigerator or mirror. But they made up for it with an abundance of spiders, dirty floors and $104 price tag.
Duncannon, PA to Peter’s Mountain Shelter
We stayed at the Doyle hotel in the tiny town of Duncannon, PA for a night. It was an old hotel that wasn’t very clean, severely lacking in basic hotel stuff, like a refrigerator or mirror. But they made up for it with an abundance of spiders, dirty floors and $104 price tag.
Day 104 7/29 13.5 miles
Peter’s Mountain Shelter to Yellow Springs Campsite
The night before we had all slept in our tents instead of the shelter and this time was no different. Everyone sleeps better.
We were all well rested and had a pretty decent day until the last “reliable” water source which was just horrible. It was orange before filtering and slightly less orange after. The smell and taste made it even less desirable. We were headed to a dry campsite ironically named after a spring. I still had almost a liter of spring water and carried two of the nasty stuff. Used some to cook with and drank some after Honey Badger gave me an electrolyte packet to mask the taste. Which it did, to a point.
Peter’s Mountain Shelter to Yellow Springs Campsite
The night before we had all slept in our tents instead of the shelter and this time was no different. Everyone sleeps better.
We were all well rested and had a pretty decent day until the last “reliable” water source which was just horrible. It was orange before filtering and slightly less orange after. The smell and taste made it even less desirable. We were headed to a dry campsite ironically named after a spring. I still had almost a liter of spring water and carried two of the nasty stuff. Used some to cook with and drank some after Honey Badger gave me an electrolyte packet to mask the taste. Which it did, to a point.
Day 105 7/30 10.7 miles
Yellow Springs Campsite to Stay-at-Swatara Hostel
I had enough good water to make coffee and sip on while hiking to the next possible water source. Fortunately there was a very small stream/spring across the trail with just enough flow to get two liters. I promptly downed half a liter and carried the rest. So much better than the orange stinky water which got dumped.
We hiked along on some fairly easy trail with a bunch of obnoxious sharp rocks for the rest of the morning. Until one of them took out Dory. He fell and cut his knee pretty good. His mom was able to close it up with a band aid and some KT tape so he didn’t need stitches. Was pretty shaken up at first but was fine after a few minutes. He had also taken a couple of diggers on our way into Duncannon. Kid is definitely getting trail hardened out here. He’ll click off 500 miles in a day or two. An astonishing feat for anyone, let alone a 12 year old.
We took a short side trail to a hostel where we got an Uber into Pine Grove, PA.
paypal.me/angrymetalsmith
Venmo @AngryMetalsmith 4841
Yellow Springs Campsite to Stay-at-Swatara Hostel
I had enough good water to make coffee and sip on while hiking to the next possible water source. Fortunately there was a very small stream/spring across the trail with just enough flow to get two liters. I promptly downed half a liter and carried the rest. So much better than the orange stinky water which got dumped.
We hiked along on some fairly easy trail with a bunch of obnoxious sharp rocks for the rest of the morning. Until one of them took out Dory. He fell and cut his knee pretty good. His mom was able to close it up with a band aid and some KT tape so he didn’t need stitches. Was pretty shaken up at first but was fine after a few minutes. He had also taken a couple of diggers on our way into Duncannon. Kid is definitely getting trail hardened out here. He’ll click off 500 miles in a day or two. An astonishing feat for anyone, let alone a 12 year old.
We took a short side trail to a hostel where we got an Uber into Pine Grove, PA.
paypal.me/angrymetalsmith
Venmo @AngryMetalsmith 4841
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I have done the trail up and over Kittatinny Mountain and Totts gap. Good stuff. Fun stuff.
Day 106 7/31 0 miles
Went to bed with the intention of getting back on trail the next morning but woke up tired with sore feet. Plus I had some real world stuff to deal with that required a good Wi-Fi signal. So I took a zero. Got a nap in as well. Pretty good rest day.
Went to bed with the intention of getting back on trail the next morning but woke up tired with sore feet. Plus I had some real world stuff to deal with that required a good Wi-Fi signal. So I took a zero. Got a nap in as well. Pretty good rest day.
Day 107 8/1 17 miles
Stay-at-Swatara Hostel to Hertline Campsite and Creek
I knew that our friend Stitch was back on trail and headed towards me going Southbound. And I ran into him at a trailhead parking lot. He had been hiking with a guy who was doing a lot of slack packing which is when you have a shuttle driver and you only carry a small daypack with the essentials saving a lot of weight. Their driver offered me an ice cold root beer. So good.
Up until this point in PA the infamous rocks were not too much different from previous states. That all changed after Swatara Gap. They’re getting a lot more sharp with fewer places to put your feet. And by the end of the day your feet are hurting. However there are sections where the trail isn’t littered with toe smashers and you can hike at a much faster pace.
paypal.me/angrymetalsmith
Venmo @AngryMetalsmith 4841
Stay-at-Swatara Hostel to Hertline Campsite and Creek
I knew that our friend Stitch was back on trail and headed towards me going Southbound. And I ran into him at a trailhead parking lot. He had been hiking with a guy who was doing a lot of slack packing which is when you have a shuttle driver and you only carry a small daypack with the essentials saving a lot of weight. Their driver offered me an ice cold root beer. So good.
Up until this point in PA the infamous rocks were not too much different from previous states. That all changed after Swatara Gap. They’re getting a lot more sharp with fewer places to put your feet. And by the end of the day your feet are hurting. However there are sections where the trail isn’t littered with toe smashers and you can hike at a much faster pace.
paypal.me/angrymetalsmith
Venmo @AngryMetalsmith 4841
Day 108 8/2 17.9 miles
Hertline Campsite to Port Clinton, PA
Slept in my tent and got an early start. The weather forecast was looking grim but panned out for the morning and it didn’t rain. But a severe thunderstorm was going to hit in the afternoon. I got to Eagle’s Nest Shelter about 25 minutes or so before it started. And man was I glad to be dry and safe because it was coming down hard. One clap of thunder was so strong that I felt it in the shelter floor.
As it was winding down Stitch made his way to the shelter. We waited until the sun came back out then we hauled ass another 9 miles into Port Clinton. Neither of us had any real plan on where to stay and wound up splitting a hotel room in the only hotel. There’s a bar and restaurant downstairs that has pretty good food.
paypal.me/angrymetalsmith
Venmo @AngryMetalsmith 4841
Hertline Campsite to Port Clinton, PA
Slept in my tent and got an early start. The weather forecast was looking grim but panned out for the morning and it didn’t rain. But a severe thunderstorm was going to hit in the afternoon. I got to Eagle’s Nest Shelter about 25 minutes or so before it started. And man was I glad to be dry and safe because it was coming down hard. One clap of thunder was so strong that I felt it in the shelter floor.
As it was winding down Stitch made his way to the shelter. We waited until the sun came back out then we hauled ass another 9 miles into Port Clinton. Neither of us had any real plan on where to stay and wound up splitting a hotel room in the only hotel. There’s a bar and restaurant downstairs that has pretty good food.
paypal.me/angrymetalsmith
Venmo @AngryMetalsmith 4841
Day 109 8/3 0
Stitch and I both needed to go to the next town over for resupply and since it was only two miles (or so we were told) we decided to hike instead (with full packs). Turned out to be at least three miles just to get to that area of town. Our adventure included a river walk, a highway walk, two dead deer, and 95 degrees in the shade. We also went to the world’s largest Cabela’s. 250k square feet. The place had a huge aquarium and several taxidermy exhibits.
It was 2:30 by the time we got everything done and another severe thunderstorm was coming. Neither of us were very motivated at that point so we called a shuttle driver to take us back to the hotel in Port Clinton. Our shuttle driver had the coolest shuttle vehicle so far on this hike. Will be tough to top.
paypal.me/angrymetalsmith
Venmo @AngryMetalsmith 4841
Stitch and I both needed to go to the next town over for resupply and since it was only two miles (or so we were told) we decided to hike instead (with full packs). Turned out to be at least three miles just to get to that area of town. Our adventure included a river walk, a highway walk, two dead deer, and 95 degrees in the shade. We also went to the world’s largest Cabela’s. 250k square feet. The place had a huge aquarium and several taxidermy exhibits.
It was 2:30 by the time we got everything done and another severe thunderstorm was coming. Neither of us were very motivated at that point so we called a shuttle driver to take us back to the hotel in Port Clinton. Our shuttle driver had the coolest shuttle vehicle so far on this hike. Will be tough to top.
paypal.me/angrymetalsmith
Venmo @AngryMetalsmith 4841
Thanks man. Always keep pushing forward.Glad to see you smiling and in good spirits and crushing miles hitting milestones after so much adversity! Keep pounding brother!
That dude knew exactly what he was doing when using that car, enough trunk space for the packs and poles and a nice breezy convertible for all the swamp-ass nasty smelling through hikers.
Good looking corn and beans
One of the local hiker shuttles that's popular in the White Mountains explicitly says no thru hikers are allowed in the vehicle - if they need service, they have to ride in the truck bed.
And painted it like a cab, because that is what cabs smell like.
Not anymore. The Albanians that took over Taxis in Boston, New York, and Philly all keep clean cars. It's their tradition.
Day 110 8/4 15.2 miles
Port Clinton to Eckville Shelter
As usual there was a climb out of town with heavy packs and extra water which made the rocks so much more not fun. I wish I could get a photo of the rock piles we have to hike across. Just doesn’t come off on camera. You have to hop from one rock to the next, there’s no place to put your feet, a lot of rocks have sharp edges, and trekking poles are useless. These sections can go on for a few hundred yards. Then the stuff in between is mostly much smaller but sharper rocks. Here you can use your poles but you still can’t go very fast. Even though there is not much elevation gain a 17 mile day is exhausting. Feet hurt in all new ways.
The Eckville shelter is owned by a local hiking club and maintained by a caretaker. It had a flush toilet, solar shower, trash and a water spigot. All things that we typically don’t get at other shelters.
We were sitting at the picnic table when a car drives by slowly, then stops and a guy gets out with something in his hand and runs up the yard and hands us two containers of fresh made ice cream from a farm down the road. Tells us he tried to hike in 2018 and knows how hard it is, shook my hand and took off. Trail magic.
paypal.me/angrymetalsmith
Venmo @AngryMetalsmith 4841
Port Clinton to Eckville Shelter
As usual there was a climb out of town with heavy packs and extra water which made the rocks so much more not fun. I wish I could get a photo of the rock piles we have to hike across. Just doesn’t come off on camera. You have to hop from one rock to the next, there’s no place to put your feet, a lot of rocks have sharp edges, and trekking poles are useless. These sections can go on for a few hundred yards. Then the stuff in between is mostly much smaller but sharper rocks. Here you can use your poles but you still can’t go very fast. Even though there is not much elevation gain a 17 mile day is exhausting. Feet hurt in all new ways.
The Eckville shelter is owned by a local hiking club and maintained by a caretaker. It had a flush toilet, solar shower, trash and a water spigot. All things that we typically don’t get at other shelters.
We were sitting at the picnic table when a car drives by slowly, then stops and a guy gets out with something in his hand and runs up the yard and hands us two containers of fresh made ice cream from a farm down the road. Tells us he tried to hike in 2018 and knows how hard it is, shook my hand and took off. Trail magic.
paypal.me/angrymetalsmith
Venmo @AngryMetalsmith 4841
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Day 111 8/5 17.4 miles
Eckville Shelter to Bake Oven Knob Shelter
The rocks continue to punish us as we push through this state. Rocksylvania they call it, humpf. And the water situation continues to be dire with most springs and small streams completely dried up resulting in long carries. At a road crossing we encountered some much needed trail magic in the form of a water cache and a cooler of ice cold sodas. Without the kind generosity of trail angels that leave water some sections would unbearable if not impossible.
paypal.me/angrymetalsmith
Venmo @AngryMetalsmith 4841
Eckville Shelter to Bake Oven Knob Shelter
The rocks continue to punish us as we push through this state. Rocksylvania they call it, humpf. And the water situation continues to be dire with most springs and small streams completely dried up resulting in long carries. At a road crossing we encountered some much needed trail magic in the form of a water cache and a cooler of ice cold sodas. Without the kind generosity of trail angels that leave water some sections would unbearable if not impossible.
paypal.me/angrymetalsmith
Venmo @AngryMetalsmith 4841
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Day 112 8/6 8.6 miles
Bake Oven Knob Shelter to Palmerton, PA
The rocks are really starting to get to me both physically and mentally. Although I’m only 2.5 days from the PA border I’m struggling. The balls of my feet hurt constantly from stepping on sharp rocks and I continuously stub my big toe or roll an ankle. The past two days have been very taxing. I almost fell in the rocks a couple of times but saved myself. So I haven’t been very motivated to take a lot of pics since I just want get through the day sometimes.
paypal.me/angrymetalsmith
Venmo @AngryMetalsmith 4841
Bake Oven Knob Shelter to Palmerton, PA
The rocks are really starting to get to me both physically and mentally. Although I’m only 2.5 days from the PA border I’m struggling. The balls of my feet hurt constantly from stepping on sharp rocks and I continuously stub my big toe or roll an ankle. The past two days have been very taxing. I almost fell in the rocks a couple of times but saved myself. So I haven’t been very motivated to take a lot of pics since I just want get through the day sometimes.
paypal.me/angrymetalsmith
Venmo @AngryMetalsmith 4841
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The only time where big, heavy hiking boots have an advantage. They're worse in nearly every other way, of course, and would be a terrible choice for long days on the AT - but that thick rock plate does cut down on getting the soles of your feet stabbed. They need a boot pick-up and drop-off service so you can swap out for the nasty sections.
Sending good vibes! Hope the rock crawl ends soon for you.
that may be true for smaller guys but at over 200 pounds I can't backpack in lightweight trail hikers, I can wear my Asolo Fugitives all day every day comfortably Mid weight size 13 wide. I tried the light weight stuff and it killed my feet and legs after just a couple of days.
I was wondering when you'd get to the part of Pennsyl-tucky where my mom is from [Andreas/Lehighton] which is VERY close to Palmerton
I always hated hiking growing up, and your recent posts have me thinking it was because of the shitty rocks / trails in her neighborhood.
**No disrespect toJim Thorpe Mauch Chunk which was fun biking in the 90s**
Before too long PA will be a distant memory
You got this!
I always hated hiking growing up, and your recent posts have me thinking it was because of the shitty rocks / trails in her neighborhood.
**No disrespect to
Before too long PA will be a distant memory
You got this!
Sticking my former Himalaya guide hat back on, I'd tend to point people at a solid set of "approach shoes" like the La Sportiva Boulder low cut.
This are my go to for myself (nice wide footbed for my typical wide kiwi feet). solid reinforced toe box, and a beefed up sole that handles rocks no worries.
If you are worried about ankle roll you can go to the mid cut.
These are what I use both at work, and as my 30-40km a day hiking shoes.
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We just started using approach shoes this year. I like them, but they definitely don't have the rock protection of big boots. Sometimes there's no substitute for a giant slab of rubber and zero trail sensitivity.