Astrogirl

18-May-2000 Duncannon, Doyle Hotel (11.3 miles hiked)

Cumulative Miles this Trip:  25.6

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 [...]

17-May-2000 ~ Scott Farm (10 miles hiked so far)

Got here a good deal later than I’d have liked. I know that’s no surprise. I did see some interesting stuff today:

world’s tiniest monarch
blue jay so vibrant that even in flight it looked almost purple
sign reading "livestock may approach. do not feed or touch" (none approached)

Also, I [...]

June 26 ~ Boiling Springs, PA (19.4 miles slacked)
Cumulative Miles this trip: 117.1
Cumulative AT Miles:  138.1

It was a miserable hike for much of today. I started out at 6am, and the first three hours were pretty good. Then it got hot. The bugs and the heat were relentless, as was my knee pain. I hiked [...]

6/25 ~ Ironmaster’s Mansion Hostel (3.7 miles hiked)

For my first experience with a hostel, this was a good choice. Of course, I haven’t tried to sleep in this dorm room yet.

People at hostels seem to share some quality with thruhikers, so it’s a good match. I think we’re all giving up privacy and solitude in [...]

6/24 ~ Tom’s Run Shelters (16.5 miles)

I’m closing in on my first hundred miles, but I’m not really having fun yet. I *did* come out here to have fun, after all. Today wasn’t a bad day, in fact some things about it were good. My feet are just thankful I didn’t push on to Pine [...]

6/22 ~ Caledonia State Park (13.2 AT miles, 2 mile road walk, 1 mile for water)

I’m far too clean to be a backpacker tonight. I’ve showered and washed my hair. I actually smell good (thanks to the hemp soap). Dr. Bronner’s seems to have done a decent but not admirable job on my hair. Now [...]

6/21 ~ Deer Lick Run Shelters (9.7 AT miles, 2.2 mile road walk)

Tenting at this shelter. Baltimore Jack, section hikers Russell and Fred are also here. Russell was also at Devil’s Racecourse Shelter with me. Today is his last day out – really nice guy. It’s always nice to see young idealists. Being a vegan, [...]

6/20 ~ Devil’s Racecourse Shelter (19.6 miles)

Well, I put in a 20 miler, but not because I wanted to. My original plan was to do 15 to Hemlock Hill Shelter, but didn’t work out.  

The day started out easy.  I saw a Michigan historical marker…in Maryland.  I crossed I-70, and the approach to the bridge [...]

6/19 ~ Rocky Run Shelter (5.25 miles)

Short day today. I didn’t get started until 2:30pm. I stopped at Rocky Run to eat dinner, and I decided to stay after Bristlecone said that he thought Dahlgren would be crowded and loud with boy scouts he saw heading for there. My experiences camping among boy scouts haven’t [...]

6/18 ~ Crampton Gap, MD (10.5 miles)
Delightful hiking day!

Terrain more or less the same as yesterday, but with less down. Will meet Tino & go to Frederick for the night.

Note:  That’s Burkittsville in the map there.  You know, the one from Blair Witch Project?

I sat around Gathland State Park waiting for Tino for a good [...]