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Appalachian Trail – Port Clinton, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania
Port Clinton

“Could I have been anyone other than me?”

- Dave Matthews

The Evil rocks of PA

Journal Entry 6.2.00
“6pm at Rausch Gap Shelter. 17 miles today from Peters Mountain Shelter. Yesterday I left the Doyle, went to the post office (EXTREMELY rude to thru-hikers there), and got out of town. I was dragging all day – no energy, tired muscles, hot temperatures. I took a long break at the first shelter out of town and then did another 7 miles. The high today was 93F but it didn’t feel that hot. Today I had one downhill, one uphill and the rest was flat. So far PA has been kind. I’m here tonight with Red Forest, Sideshow, Wholesome, No Fuel, and Missing Link.”

Journal Entry 6.3.00
“I’m at the 501 Shelter waiting for PIZZA! 17.5 miles to get here. A beautiful day – 70′s, nice breeze, sun. This shelter is really close to the road so we are able to get food delivered – can’t wait to chow!”

Journal Entry 6.4.00
“2:30am at the Port Clinton Hotel. I’m sleeping (or trying to) on the floor, sharing a room with Red Forest, Side Show and Wholesome. They have $1 Yuengling drafts at the bar downstairs – had myself several of those earlier today! 23.7 miles today – a long day over many rocks. The rocky section of PA has finally begun. So many rocks. Legs were tired. Wish I could sleep!”

Eckville Shelter, PA

The Eckville Shelter, Hawk Mountain, PA

Journal Entry 6.6.00
“7pm in Eckville shelter. Took a big zero day yesterday in Port Clinton – no real reason but to rest and drink beer. I went to town early to check email at the library. I got a hitch right to the door only to find that the library didn’t open until noon. So I went across the street to this print shop and they let me use a computer in someone’s office for free! It was awesome. When I hitched back to the hotel I found No Fuel, Missing Link, Goodwheels, and Kara drinking at the bar, and before I knew it I had agreed to stay and share a room with No Fuel. We all went to dinner at Cracker Barrel last night after drinking with the locals at the bar all afternoon and listening to their awesome juke box – Stevie Wonder, Tracy Chapman, the Beatles, and Dave Matthews. This shelter is fully enclosed with bunks, bathroom, ice cream sandwiches and soda. PA has been VERY kind!”

Journal Index

Georgia – Overview And the poop on the Trail Divorce

0 (miles from Georgia) – Springer Mountain, Georgia Whose idea was this again??
87.7 – Georgia / North Carolina Aint no all-inclusive package vacation story…
161.7 – Fontana Dam, North Carolina No Rain, No Pain, No Maine
204.6 – Great Smoky Mountains National Park I My deodorant gets the heave-ho!
268.7 – Great Smoky Mountains National Park II The Food Appreciation Trail
336.5 – North Carolina / Tennessee & Trail Names How the Gimp got her name
390.7 – North Carolina / Tennessee The famous Roan Mountain hitch
452.9 – Crossing into Damascus, Virginia 3 states down, 11 to go!
516.7 – Grayson Highlands State Park Roughin it at Partnership Shelter
573.3 – Bland, Virginia My wonderful trail angels!
665.3 – Pearisburg, Virginia The switch from boots to sandals
767.4 – Catawba / Troutville, Virginia Heat wave in Virginia
839.4 – Montebello / Rockfish Gap, Virginia ‘Hiking with Gimpy Sr.
920.0 – Shenandoah National Park Rattlesnakes, Jack Daniels, and bears – oh my!
988.3 – Front Royal, Virginia Invasion of the Boy Scouts
1001.1 – Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia The mental half-way point
1061.4 – Maryland / Pennsyltucky Y’all done drank enough beer!
1123.8 – Duncannon, Pennsylvania The Half-Gallon Challenge
1208.9 – Port Clinton, Pennsylvania $1 Yuengling drafts and the rocks of PA
1283.9 – Pennsylvania / New Jersey Friends and family visit WonderGimp
1334.2 – High Point, New Jersey Rain, rain, rain, trail magic, and more rain
1440.7 – Bear Mountain, New York Hike Naked Day!
1486.1 – Kent, Connecticut Gimpy Sr. and Barkeater hike with W.Gimp
1543.8 – Great Barrington, MassachusettsWelcome to Mosquito Hell
1618.0 – Massachusetts / VermontPhoton and strobe lights for the 4th of July
1687.3 – Killington, Vermont The Inn at the Long Trail
1738.1 – New Hampshire Live Free or Die!
1794.4 – North Woodstock, New Hampshire Gettin’ above treeline
1814.4 – AMC-land, New Hampshire Entering the White Mountains!
1854.0 – Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire Mooning the tourists on Mt. Washington
1869.2 – Gorham, New Hampshire My first Moose sighting!
1920.7 – Andover, Maine The way Life should be…
1979.3 – Rangeley, Maine Closing in on the end
2015.6 – Kennebec River, Maine Eye of the Tiger!
2095.7 – Monson, Maine 100-mile Wilderness
2152.0 – Abol Bridge, Maine Katahdin is in sight!
2167.1 – Baxter Peak, Mount Katahdin, Maine Goodbye Capilene – Hello Cotton!!

Other Pages:
Map – Yep, 14 states
Gear – What to Bring
FAQs – See for yourself
Glossary (learn the AT lingo)
Links to Additional Info
Trail Injuries Everything from blisters to swampfoot
Trail Privies Bring your own TP
Class of 2000 Katahdin Thru-Hiker Pictures