Duncannon, PA
18-May-2000 Duncannon, Doyle Hotel (11.3 miles hiked)
Cumulative Miles this Trip: 25.6
Cumulative AT Miles: 163.7
OK, I think I'm done with the AT. I love backpacking, but this trail is brutal. My feet are blistered beyond recognition. I even have blisters on my hands (from the poles) and under my big toe nails. My knees and plantar fascia are fine, however.
It only took me two days to figure it out this time -- plenty of vacation left to salvage. ;)
Note 12-Dec-2000: I'm not really done with the trail. I'm going to attempt to finish up Virginia in the next two years, starting with Shenandoah National Park. Everyone seems to enjoy the hike through that park, so maybe I'll feel better about it then.
Also, I don't miss the hipbelt, and I have had no problems with my back or shoulders. I'm so tired right now I can barely stand up or even sit up. I'm at the Doyle in the non-smoking half of the bar, and another hiker just told me that the truckstop (where I was planning on staying and arranging for a ride) motel is full. This is bad because some southbounders reminded me how run down the Doyle is and said their room sucked and was really noisy. Another hiker (the one who told me the bad news about the truck stop) also reminded me about the condition of this place.
It's going to be a challenge to get home from here. I don't even know where to find a pay phone AND I don't have a house key.
I'm so tired right now, in fact, that even making phone calls sounds exhausting.
