The plan was to hike for 5 days and do ~52 miles. We got ahead the first day and just stayed ahead of schedule to finish in 4 days. Another good trip with Tom C. This was my 5th year backpacking with him.
Day1 Thursday 10/10/19: 1180.6 - 1193.4 = 12.8 miles
PA 72 PA 443 to 501 shelter. Started at 9am, finished at 4:30pm
Met caretaker of 501 shelter, trailname Borderline. He maintains the trail up here. Tom asked him (jokingly) if he could do anything about the rocks. He said they “sharpen them every Spring”.
PA 72 PA 443 to 501 shelter. Started at 9am, finished at 4:30pm
Met caretaker of 501 shelter, trailname Borderline. He maintains the trail up here. Tom asked him (jokingly) if he could do anything about the rocks. He said they “sharpen them every Spring”.
We started at 9am Rocks weren't too bad & we made good
time today. Plan was to stop at William Penn shelter, but we got there at 1:15
& decided to push on to 501. Arrived at about 4:30. Tom in the bunkhouse, I
set up my hammock out back.
Day2 Friday 10/11/19: 1193.4 - 1207.0 = 12.7 miles
501 Shelter to Campsite
Left just before 9am, arrived at camp at 4pm. Rocks were bad today. Feel like someone took a hammer to the bottom of my feet. We saw an American Chestnut about .75 miles south of Rt 183 on a new section of trail. Nice campsite. Carried 5 liters of water the last mile from stream to campsite.
501 Shelter to Campsite
Left just before 9am, arrived at camp at 4pm. Rocks were bad today. Feel like someone took a hammer to the bottom of my feet. We saw an American Chestnut about .75 miles south of Rt 183 on a new section of trail. Nice campsite. Carried 5 liters of water the last mile from stream to campsite.
Day3 Saturday 10/12/19: 1207.0 - 1217.8 = 11.4 miles
Campsite to Port Clinton (miles aren't the same between guthook & AWOL). But it was 11.4 today.
Left at 9:15, arrived at 3:45. Rocks were BRUTAL today. The last 4 miles from lunch break at a campsite to Port Clinton were the worst I've ever done on the AT. The last 1-.5 mile is a straight drop into PC with ZERO switch backs. We walked to main Street & decided to get a hotel. $75 for a shit hole with community bathroom, but we welcome it after today. We'll eat at the Port Clinton hotel restaurant & enjoy a relaxing evening off trail.
Campsite to Port Clinton (miles aren't the same between guthook & AWOL). But it was 11.4 today.
Left at 9:15, arrived at 3:45. Rocks were BRUTAL today. The last 4 miles from lunch break at a campsite to Port Clinton were the worst I've ever done on the AT. The last 1-.5 mile is a straight drop into PC with ZERO switch backs. We walked to main Street & decided to get a hotel. $75 for a shit hole with community bathroom, but we welcome it after today. We'll eat at the Port Clinton hotel restaurant & enjoy a relaxing evening off trail.
Day4 Sunday 10/13/19: 1217.8 - 1232.3 = 14.5 miles
Port Clinton to Hawk Mountain Road. Started at 8:30am, finished at 4pm. Started with road walk on 61 (missed the AT coming out of town) then 1,000 foot climb out of PC up to a sharp ridge. There were a couple decent climbs down to springs, down to a shelter and then another long climb up to the Pinnacle. Decent lookout & then 2 rocky miles to the Pulpit. Great overlook, but really crowded so we didn't stay long.
There were about 6.5 miles left & I didn't know if Tom would be willing to push to the end. Thankfully, the AT ran along a fire road for the next 4-5 miles. It got us off the rocks & we made good time. We got off the road & back to normal AT trail for the last mile. It was a fitting way to finish our 51.4 mile section. Feet sore, but my knees held up very well.
Port Clinton to Hawk Mountain Road. Started at 8:30am, finished at 4pm. Started with road walk on 61 (missed the AT coming out of town) then 1,000 foot climb out of PC up to a sharp ridge. There were a couple decent climbs down to springs, down to a shelter and then another long climb up to the Pinnacle. Decent lookout & then 2 rocky miles to the Pulpit. Great overlook, but really crowded so we didn't stay long.
There were about 6.5 miles left & I didn't know if Tom would be willing to push to the end. Thankfully, the AT ran along a fire road for the next 4-5 miles. It got us off the rocks & we made good time. We got off the road & back to normal AT trail for the last mile. It was a fitting way to finish our 51.4 mile section. Feet sore, but my knees held up very well.
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