Samwise Hikes the Appalachian Trail! - Trail Journal -
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July 8, Peters Mtn Shelter - mile 1138.8

It's only been an 11 mile jaunt out of town to get here tonight, but I feel as wiped out as I do after an 18 mile day. I wish I knew why - I can think of several excuses but none really make perfect sense. As usual, I'm carrying a bit too much food from my re-supply, plus I also carried an extra liter of water today to be sure I could make the whole stretch. So my pack was heavy, & the humidity today must be at least 95%, & that makes my breathing more difficult. After several days of hiking with Doreen, we have theorized that I may have exercise-induced asthma. I tried to visit the health clinic in Duncannon yesterday but when we got to town, I found out it's closed on Saturdays. So I will wait until Port Clinton.

I stopped in for Sunday morning services at the Presbyterian Church today on my way out of town. More than anything, I enjoyed being there because it reminded me of home & our own church. I must confess to several head nods, though due to a rather short night's sleep at the Doyle. Our resident fighting couple finally calmed down around 11 P.M., & after that I slept great until a massive thunder clap woke me up around 5:30.

Tonight the shelter is very, very crowded with a lot of people I'd rather not be hanging out with, to be honest. So I'm happily in my tent but still close enough to hear all the conversation, so who knows when I'll get some sleep, but hopefully not too late. We are hikers, after all.

July 9 Rausch Gap mile 1156.3

It's very ironic that everyone who had planned to go to the shelter is camped here along side the stream instead. A couple of the first arrivals went down the long side trail to the shelter to check it out & apparently it's tiny, dumpy & the water is all rust colored. So we have all opted to tent along the creek where there are tons of campsites, & it's become quite a little community here.

Well, I'm on my second day of introduction to the infamous Pennsylvania rocks. & I don't much care for them! They come in every variety imaginable here. Some sections of trail are essentially a boulder - climb, where you end up on hands & knees, clambering over rocks the size of Lazy-boy recliners. Others are a labyrinth of basketball-size rocks, & you're trying desperately to find enough ground in between them to put your feet. Then there are places where there is no ground - the trail is only a jumble of small, sharp-edged rocks & you can only dance your way across them. In every case, your eyes have to stay glued to the ground so that you don't twist an ankle or slip & fall on your arse, like I did today. Luckily I didn't hurt myself, I just slid down the rock & sat down, basically. What's depressing is that the south bounders I've met today, still say "You haven't seen anything yet"!