2014-05-30: Port Clinton, PA

Start: 2 miles north of Hertlein Campsite
Stop: Port Clinton, PA
Day's Mileage: 16.1
Trip Total: 152.8

Today was long. Water was a little difficult to find or was far enough off the trail that we chose to ignore it, hoping we'd come to creeks or unmarked springs instead. The scarcity was a little surprising given the steady drizzle that fell overnight, which I thought would recharge the springs. As it was, we rolled into Port Clinton on empty. Well, at least I did, having gulped the last of my water 30 minutes prior to the big and dreaded descent into town. Downhills are always nerve wracking and more physically demanding for me than are the uphills.

Tomorrow will be a light day. We're going to try and get to Cabellas in Hamburg plus the Walmart so we can do a restock. Plus, our feet our beat up from the rock fields and boulders which occupied most of the afternoon.

I'm now taping up both feet in the morning and it's really made a difference. I may look like a mummy from the ankle down but I can walk for hours with no pain!

Bogey enjoying breakfast. It had rained overnight, so we opted to stay in our tents while leaning out to do our coffee and heat our breakfasts.

A marker one mile north of our campsite. The marker commemorates a lookout post officially known as the Fort at Dietrich Snyder's. The structure, when used, wasn't truly a fort but rather a log cabin used as an outpost to keep tabs on people, namely native Americans, who used the nearby road over the mountains.

Taking a break and filling our water bottles from a creek. I was too lazy (tired) to do anything but point the camera from where we sat and past our packs to the creek.

One of a handful of road crossings today. Many of the roads through state wildlife management areas are unimproved and probably don't see a lot of traffic. The crossings are a nice break from just staring at trees all day, plus you can see the sky!

Sign with rules. Different properties have different rules and you have to keep them straight lest you get on the wrong side of a game warden, park ranger, sheriff deputy, or a property owner. The Trail passes through federal and state lands of various sorts, county and municipal parks, and even private property.

Crossing the Northern and Reading Railroad upon entering Port Clinton, PA. It was a steep descent into town -- 1100 feet in less than a mile -- absolutely brutal after 15 miles. Our plans to stay near Phillip's Canyon Spring were scuttled when we found the creek dry and we couldn't locate the spring. Without water, we were forced to push on an extra four miles to Port Clinton. However, the city allows hikers to camp in the city park and a thoughtful woman 2 blocks away allows hikers to draw water from a spigot. We ran into other hikers we know, including Trouble, whose on his second thru- hike, plus met some new people.