Help Preserve Pennsylvania Hiking!

The Pennsylvania Game Commission has recently announced proposals affecting their State Game Lands: one would require hikers to carry permits and another would ban non-hunters during some of the best times of the year: the end of September through mid-January and mid-April through the end of May.  During these periods, the trails would only be open to hikers on Sundays, eliminating any chance for a long-distance hike.  The proposal is located here at this link. 

This would affect 95 miles of the Great Eastern Trail and would limit the season for both northbound and southbound thru-hikers, in addition to severely restricting the opportunity for people to hike sections of it during pleasant times of the year.

Please take five minutes of your day today to write to the Pennsylvania Game Commission to let them know your thoughts.  The next meeting will be on the 25th, so please send in your comments as soon as possible!  The Keystone Trails Association sums up the situation nicely and provides contact information at this link.  

Wait, so, what?!

Here is the entire plan for summer 2014:

In a few days we are leaving for State College, Pennsylvania.  In Pennsylvania and Maryland, the Great Eastern Trail has two official routes.  To thruhike the trail, you need only choose one route and last year we took the eastern route, hosted on the Tuscarora Trail, Standing Stone Trail, and Greenwood Spur of the Mid State Trail.  

This year we want to explore the western route of the Great Eastern Trail.  We are returning to Detweiler Junction on the Mid State Trail, then heading south along the MST.  The MST is very proud to use the metric system, so we'll be brushing up on that while we hop over rattlers and sweat our butts off.

At the Maryland border, we will follow the GET through Green Ridge State Forest before our final GET jaunt along the C&O Towpath towards Hancock, Maryland.

From Hancock, Maryland, it is only 90 miles to Bruceton Mills, West Virginia where the northern terminus of the Allegheny Trail lies.  Had we more time we'd walk there, but instead we will be finding a shuttle.

You can read more about the Allegheny Trail by clicking here.  

Map courtesy of Cookerhiker.

The Allegheny Trail ends on the Appalachian Trail, about 16 miles north of Pearisburg, Virginia.  We will hike the newly-relocated section down into town and then flail our arms around until we figure out a way back to Mullens.

Even more info available at WVSTA.

Originally, this 500+ mile trip was planned to be a super-relaxing, no-stress 7-week trip.  We envisioned lots of time to chill out and visit with people.  Then Jo's summer gig needed her a week earlier than she had guessed.  Then Bart's school got extended a week in June due to snow days.  So our 7-week trip turned into a 5-week trip.  We are still looking forward to visiting with friends along the way -- we might just make you hike with us rather than relaxing with you. :)

Slideshow

Hi friends!  I've finally put together a slideshow about the places we saw on the hike.  Enjoy! 

-Jo

3 Springs

Today was the kind of day that just makes a person happy to be alive. Great trail, healthy forests, one porcupine butt, blue skies, great food, and new friends. 18 miles to get here in Three Springs, PA.

Onto the Standing Stone!

Odd day today. Woke up late in the morning with lack of motivation because of the cold temps and heavy winds. We manage to bring it together and hike even with the thought of cold rain ahead and leaving shelter and warm bed. Glad we did. It was very cold and high winds but wonderful start to the Standing Stone Trail in PA. We're cold but dry and my belly is full life is good! HillBillyBart

Shelter in a storm

Looks like a powerful storm brewing. Glad to have access to Big Mt. Shelter tonight.

Purple Pen

Today my purple pen died on me. It has come 1300 miles, chronicling every day. It was a good pen, faithful and true, working in freezing temperatures and hot. For 900 miles I have carried a backup, expecting mine to run dry. I am sorry I had so little faith in you, purple pen. I am sorry you will never see New York.

Wildlife in town

My days wildlife experience came when a robin went dumpster diving for maggots.

The GET's version of the Doyle

Our night out of the rain. Glad they have central heat this time of year.

Mmm

Breakfast of champions. It's my turn to post a geeky pic of Bart with beer. It's (kind of) nice to have reception. Note the air conditioner in the background.

Hot. Hot. Hot.

Mmmm, 100% humidity, blazing sun, and mid-60s at sunrise. I don't care what the calendar says: this is summer. Whew!

Does anyone know what to do for an itch underneath a callous?

Tiger!

Trail angel Tiger and me

Today was a hot, beautiful, and hot day. We walked down into McConnellsburg to get an ice cold shower or three, some cold drinks, air conditioning, and some much-needed rest.

Tonight my friend Tiger visited us! We ate and caught up and told stories of the AT. Yay sobo '09ers! Thanks for visiting, Tiger!

Daaaaay 1

Well, we hit Pennsylvania today, our 2nd to last state. We are glad to be here, despite a rather terrible day (they do happen).

Last night was my first night attempting to sleep on my destroyed Thermarest. It did not go well. I woke up bleary and crabby...
...to find that my Platypus is leaking (again!) and got my pack sopping wet. Sigh.

So we hiked. We hit the Md-Pa border. Then we took a wrong turn, lost an hour, some sanity, and 2 miles. Also, it was 85 degrees.

As soon as we started the1500 ft climb, the temp hit 90. Also: gnats. Everywhere. Also: multiple angry rattlers.

Thrilled to hit the top, we were dismayed to find that the rocks made us travel at 1mph. The heat made them slippery. Often, the "trail" is really a route through the rocks. I wiped out 3 times.

So we are camping miles upon miles from where we needed to be.

It's gonna be awhile before I can look back and laugh. Someday.

Moonview

Yes that is the moon. Sun on one side of the mt and the moon popped out on the other.

Tuscarora Mtn!

Sunset on top of Tuscarora Mountain.

C&O

The C&O Trail was lovely.

C&O Bicycle

What a pleasant hiker town Hancock MD was. It was bustling with all kinds of outdoor activities from fishing boats , kayaks, bikers, hikers, joggers, walkers etc.....loved our stay at C&O Bicycle would stay again thanks Dennis!

Ice cream!

Happy Hiker!

Oh boy.

Rain? What rain?

Thanks John!

John Spies was such a wonderful host and has a fantastic slice of heaven in the woods. Wish we could spend more time with him and maybe we can if he joins us further up the trail. Thanks for the meals, shower for us and our clothes, good conversation dry comfy place to sleep and cold beer!