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Journal
| About Downunda | Trail
Facts | Hiking the Trail |
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13th June 2002 From:
Boiling Springs PA (pictured) I hit the trail at 6:00 A.M. with 'Ausable' close behind - one large hill to start with, then all easy going until the afternoon. Around 10:30 A.M., I hit PA34 and headed 1/4 mile up the road to the General Store and Deli listed in my directory; 'Ausable' pulled in just behind me. I had a quart of chocolate milk and a deliciously fresh vegetarian Sub Sandwich. After noon, I had to negotiate "The Maze," a half-mile stretch of
boulders and for the first time, had to remove my pack to climb over something. About 30 minutes after that, I met a southbound Girl
Guide troop, then the rain started. I hiked on without a rain jacket, Over the next hour, the rain came down in buckets and I had
decided to stay at the shelter for the night. However, a short time later, 'Raindog', 'Hitchin' Post', 'Haze' and 'Piper' rolled in and they
were all continuing on to the campsite on the edge of Boiling Springs. The thing that struck me was that this was the prettiest town I have seen on the AT, so I decided not to rush out in the morning as planned, but to explore this pretty village set on a pond. I took 'Haze' over to the local tavern to shout him a beer. It was really the local restaurant and I felt embarrassed when we walked in, in our wet hiking gear, as all the locals were well dressed. Anyhow, we sat at the bar next to two ladies who looked like they were dressed to catch some males and they didn't look too pleased when we took the vacant stools beside them (I don't blame them!). The barman made us welcome so we had one drink and left. Outside I ran into 'Re'al', who I hadn't seen for two days. I returned to camp, it was still raining slightly. I had a quick wash to get ready for bed and noticed a large bruise on my right ankle, which has been a little sore all afternoon. I'm hoping it won't get worse overnight. It will be an interesting night here as we discovered we are 30 feet from the railway line (hidden by a row of bushes) and already two large freight trains have passed, blowing their horns. Staying at the campsite with me tonight are: 'Piper', 'Garrity', 'Raindog', 'Hitchin' Post', 'Haze', 'Just Do It' and grandson, 'Jay Bird', and 'Rick', a section hiker. Well goodnight all from pretty little Boiling Springs, PA. (pictured) |
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Last night I had the worst night's sleep on the AT so far. The hostel
bed had a sagging spring base, and I couldn't get comfortable. 
It was a great, grassy campsite, with a portable toilet. I set up my
tent and headed into town with 'Haze' who is a young guy from Portland, Maine. We went to the pizza place and had a good feed,
then across to the ATC office to fill our water bottles. Right next to the ATC, there was a fishing competition for kids at the
local town lake, which had been stocked with fish for the day. It was around 5:30 P.M. and raining and yet these young kids (about 50 of
them) were having a ball and didn't seem to notice the rain.