ROCKY II – MILES AND SMILES

AT Day 072: Sunday June 18,  2023

Mile 1194+ 23 miles/ 37 km

Total Distance Hiked: 1217 miles/ 2958 km

Campsite – Route 645 – Fisher Lookout- – Kimmel Lookout – Route 501 – Kessel Lookout – 500 Steps Lookout – Route 183 – Campsite 

A: 2452 ft /748 m  D:2452 ft /748 m 

We went to sleep last night to the sound of fireworks going off in the valley below the ridge where we were camped. No hope of seeing from the green tunnel. This morning we woke to the sound of a bird song symphony and wind swirling through the tree tops. 

The wind was a cool with a warm, sunny day ahead.  We broke camp and were on trail around 6.30 looking forward to seeing how much rockier Pennsylvania can get. Looking forward….might be overstating it. 

Soon after leaving camp we crossed Route 645. We didn’t realize we were that close to a road.  I didn’t think I would have slept as easily as I did if I had looked ahead on the map last night. The trail continued fairly level and rocky in long stretches. 

Every now and then the rocky terrain would give way too a smooth section which wasn’t all that long but long enough to get a mental break from focusing on foot placement. 

The ridge we were hiking on had a few rocky lookouts. Some were noted on our map and had nice views of the agricultural valley down below.  There was a smokey haze over the horizon.  Not sure if it’s from the Canadian fires or just general air pollution.  

 Even though the trail was rockier in more segments than we’ve had up until now we still made reasonable progress.

 

This morning we passed the 1200 mile mark and 999.6 miles to go. The thought of finishing in Kathadin is still so far away that the goal of reaching it is still so daunting. We still have a huge distance which won’t be done in a day or a week but many more day after day,  week after week of hiking. And we’ve been told that it all changes when you get to New Hampshire. So that keep us going.  And  each day we adapt to whatever the trail provides.

It was nice to meet our first through hikers in days. They’re from New Jersey, our next state. Trail names were  ‘Logistics’ and his brother-in-law ‘Bucket’ who was a little way behind. They started in Harpers Ferry and were in great spirits.

Just after passing the 1200 mile mark we stopped to filter water. We could hear shouts of kids jumping into a waterhole downstream. It was so tempting to stop for a swim but it was still early. While we were there a large group of Korean hikers arrived. They were hot and sweaty and were excited to stop for a  break. They were from Philadelphia and go on these hikes twice a month as a group. They were doing an 11 mile hike today. So happy to chat to them and as we leaving one of  the  lovely ladies offered us some cherries. We wished them happy trails and hiked on for another couple of miles before stopping for lunch. 

After lunch we hiked through really nice woodland with open understory so you could see a long way.  It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and we passed couple of hikers going back home from a weekend trip. It felt nice to see other people out here, it made us feel a little less lonely. 

We crossed a busy Route 183 and soon after met  three hikers going in the opposite direction. They stopped for a chat and asked if we would like some trail magic.  What a question on a warm and humid afternoon, of course we would. They were carrying extra treats just so they can provide trail magic to AT hikers. They offered us an icy cold Gatorade, cold grapes and a mandarin. One of them had hiked the AT in 2021 and appreciate what a cold drink on a hot day can mean. It was especially touching since it is a particularly dry section of trail with no water since the creek this morning so we were running low and water  The gatorade was really appreciated and the cold fruit was out of this world delicious. They live nearby and were out for a day hike. 

The timing for that delicious treat was amazing as we soon entered a controlled burn section of the trail. Just as well we were buoyed by the trail magic as the burnt section of trail went on for ages and in the afternoon heat it felt like we were walking in circles.  

So nice to get this section behind us and finish the day with a nasty steep climb over to the top of another ridge and end the day camped in the green tunnel. Sound of highway traffic was a constant hum as we settled for the day.