24-26 May Destination: PA 501 Start Location: Port Clinton Trip Miles: 23.8 Bob and I were able to get over 100 miles of backpacking completed this spring, two Appalachian Trail (AT) hikes and a portion of the Tuscarora Trail (TT). Weather was the most notable factor but amazingly, our feet stayed dry throughout. One day with a few…
Month: May 2021
2021 Appalachian Trail II – Day Three – 501 Parking Area
Wednesday, 26 May Destination: 501 Shelter Parking Today’s Miles: 5.6 Start Location: Hertline Campsite Trip Miles: 23.8 As usual the birds stared about five. I saw a flashlight and said good morning to Bob. It turns out that the flashlight was a northbound hiker on the trail before sunrise. Since Bob and I were finishing up today, we were…
2021 Appalachian Trail II – Day Two – One Hundred Miles
Tuesday, 25 May Destination: Hertline Campsite Today’s Miles: 9.6 Start Location: Eagles Nest Shelter Trip Miles: 18.6 When Bob and I started our hike out of Port Clinton there was a steep climb straight up without switchbacks. Switchbacks are a zigzag up or down the mountain. Switchbacks make the climb longer but less steep. As slow as we go…
2021 Appalachian Trail II – Day One – Eagles Nest
Monday, 24 May Destination: Eagles Nest Shelter Today’s Miles: 9.0 Start Location: Port Clinton Trip Miles: 9.0 Bob and I did a zero in Hamburg yesterday. After five days on the Tuscarora Trail, ten miles on the Appalachian Trail (AT) in 90+ degree weather did not have a lot of appeal. After a filling breakfast at a local diner…
2021 Tuscarora Trail – Epilogue
18-22 May Destination: Dry Gap Start Location: Hampshire Grade Road Trip Miles: 41.2 The Tuscarora Trail turned out to be as uncrowded as Bob and I had hoped for. Five days with only two day hikers before finishing the last two hours. The road walking was not planned as well. In hindsight, I did not pay enough attention…
2021 Tuscarora Trail – Day Five – Bob’s Alarm Clock
Saturday, 22 May Destination: Dry Gap Today’s Miles: 10.0 Start Location: Camp Trip Miles: 41.2 The breeze made it feel a little cool as the sun set. Bob and I put our rain flies on our tents to be a little warmer. Overnight the wind stopped for a while. This was our warmest night and morning. Did not need…
2021 Tuscarora Trail – Day Four – Pinnacle Camp
Friday, 21 May Destination: Pinnacle Shelter Today’s Miles: 6.8 Start Location: Barclay’s Run Shelter Trip Miles: 31.2 Bob and I were up early but in no real rush since we had a short day planned. After coffee and breakfast, we were hiking before 7:30. Even though we knew it would be warm we were looking forward to a day…
2021 Tuscarora Trail – Day Three – Barclays Run Shelter
Thursday, 20 May Destination: Barclay’s Run Shelter Today’s Miles: 8.8 Start Location: Basor Ridge Shelter Trip Miles: 24.4 Bob and I did not put the flies on our tents last night since we knew it works be warm and almost no chance of rain in the HR forecast. Sleeping was pleasant and we were up early since we knew…
2021 Tuscarora Trail – Day Two – Basor Ridge Shelter
Wednesday, 19 May Destination: Basor Ridge Shelter Today’s Miles: 9.3 Start Location: Shockey’s Knob Shelter Trip Miles: 15.6 Bob and I were up early after a pleasant night. A porcupine left evidence of his overnight visit in the privy. We were in no hurry, had our breakfast and coffee at the shelter and were hiking about 8:30. The morning…
2021 Tuscarora Trail – Day One – Shockeys Gap Shelter
Tuesday, 18 May Destination: Shockey’s Knob Shelter Today’s Miles: 6.3 Start Location: Hampshire Grade Road Trip Miles: 6.3 First a little background on the Tuscarora Trail. The Tuscarora is a bypass route of the Appalachian Trail (AT) that is about 250 miles long. The Tuscarora runs through Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. It connects to the AT near…