Total Miles: 1096.8
What an incredibly rewarding day. The rain had finally stopped, and I was ready to head back to the trail this morning. It was still wet and flooded in some areas, but I was surprised at how dry it was in most places.
I found myself at Pine Grove Furnace State Park early, the home of the AT Museum and the Half Gallon Challenge. The museum was closed so I wasn't able to explore. It's supposed to contain items from some of the early AT hikers like Earl Schaffer and Grandma Gatewood, and it would have been interesting to see how different it is now. The Half Gallon Challenge is supposed to mark reaching the halfway point on the trail, and hikers strive to finish a half gallon of ice cream in one sitting. I didn't participate. Being by myself, I felt that it would be more depressing than anything! Besides, I don't think I need a special challenge to finish off a half gallon. I think I was capable of that before I even started hiking the trail.
A few miles later, I saw the sign marking the midpoint on the trail from a few years ago. I still had a few miles left before passing the real midway point, but there was no marker at the real one. I thought I would be more excited about reaching this point. I think I tried to make myself feel more than I really was. It was just another day, just another mile passed on the trail. Maybe Harper's Ferry will feel more significant (this is accepted more as the mental halfway point on the trail). As I was reading the register at the midway point, a park ranger walked up with a group of college students. They were learning about the AT in their American Studies class, and she asked if I would mind answering some questions for the students about the trail and being a thru hiker. I agreed to do so, and it was great to see their interest in it. Maybe some of them will be future thru hikers themselves.
When I was talking to the ranger, she was saying that one of the Tom's Run Shelters was burned down just last week. They don't know the cause, but it was unfortunate to see. I sincerely hope that someone wouldn't do something like that intentionally. So many volunteers work so hard to manage the trail, and to see some of that work erased so quickly is disheartening. I even passed some volunteers on the trail today who were trying to divert some of the water that had caused the trail to be become a stream. They wasted no time after the storms to get out to the trail and continue to maintain it. It was impressive, and I made sure to thank them as I do all the other volunteer trail maintainers I pass.
I was excited to get through the next few miles of the day. I have a friend in Texas who absolutely insisted I get in touch with her family when I passed through PA since they only live a few miles from the trail. Today was the day I would be staying with them. Service was terrible at the trailhead, but I managed to get a message out after having to stand on a fence for some height advantage.
I have to say I have been completely spoiled today. Kelly and her family were so hospitable and inviting, and I couldn't have asked for more. It was a great end to an incredible rainy stretch, and they did so much to make me feel at home. Thanks to Ashley for urging me to make the arrangements, and to the whole family for being so welcoming and incredible all around!
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