Started: Port Clinton, PA
Stopped: 1 mile south of The Pulpit
Daily Mileage: 161.8
Total Mileage: 2.0
For the next week or so I'll have to write my trail journal by hand, as I have misplaced my phone. ON the bright side, capturing everything by pen and paper is much easier than working the tiny keyboard provided by the phone.
We made a grand total of two miles today, having spent most of the day with Bogey's parents, one of her sisters, and our dog Pancake. Kutzville proved to be a very charming town. Of all the places to eat we found on the main drag, we chose a nice family-owned fifties-themed burger and ice cream place. They also had sidewalk dining, which was important since we had Pancake with us.
In addition to a hot meal in nearby Kutzville, Blue Rocks Family Campground also afforded us access to showers and a laundry machines. The showers were free and better than expected. They didn't provided towels and washcloths, so I used a bandana as a washcloth and my pack towel to dry off with.
The campground charged not per site but per car and per tent. The cost per tent of $32 but the guidebook referred to a hiker discount. Upon inquiring, the lady said that was only available Monday through Friday (we were checking in on Saturday night). However, she called the manager who offered to provide the discount since they had room. We had paid for one tent, so Bogey set up her tent and I simply spread my ground cloth out, inflated my Therm-a-Rest, and crawled into my sleeping bag.
Back to today: We left the campsite around 5:30 and made our way up the one mile blue-blazed Blue Trail to the AT, where we said goodbye to Bogey's family and Pancake. After that, we followed the Trail up to Pulpit Rock, giving us a 800+ foot ascent from the campground.
After admiring the view from Pulpit Rock and talking to a local club member who wander up (and told us all about the copperhead snakes lurking in the crevices around the lookout), we hiked for another 30 minutes. We were able to find a suitable campsite well enough off the trail to not draw the attention of the game wardens. The Thru-Hikers Companion didn't say anything about not camping along that stretch, but the gentleman with whom we had chatted at The Pulpit said the game wardens were known to patrol the area and issue $200 citations to each camper for camping in the wrong areas. In any case, we weren't sure we'd find a flat and level campsite before dark so we took our chance in a little grove which was hidden from the Trail by a slight rise and then a dip in the terrain, plus a field of ferns which prevented a clear view in the direction of our tents. To be on the safe side, I rolled up the rain flaps (where were, of all colors, red) and tucked my tent's guy lines, which sported reflective white stripes so one can see them by headlamp and not trip, under my tent or under leaves. Here's hoping that no rain or winds come tonight!
Stopped: 1 mile south of The Pulpit
Daily Mileage: 161.8
Total Mileage: 2.0
For the next week or so I'll have to write my trail journal by hand, as I have misplaced my phone. ON the bright side, capturing everything by pen and paper is much easier than working the tiny keyboard provided by the phone.
We made a grand total of two miles today, having spent most of the day with Bogey's parents, one of her sisters, and our dog Pancake. Kutzville proved to be a very charming town. Of all the places to eat we found on the main drag, we chose a nice family-owned fifties-themed burger and ice cream place. They also had sidewalk dining, which was important since we had Pancake with us.
In addition to a hot meal in nearby Kutzville, Blue Rocks Family Campground also afforded us access to showers and a laundry machines. The showers were free and better than expected. They didn't provided towels and washcloths, so I used a bandana as a washcloth and my pack towel to dry off with.
The campground charged not per site but per car and per tent. The cost per tent of $32 but the guidebook referred to a hiker discount. Upon inquiring, the lady said that was only available Monday through Friday (we were checking in on Saturday night). However, she called the manager who offered to provide the discount since they had room. We had paid for one tent, so Bogey set up her tent and I simply spread my ground cloth out, inflated my Therm-a-Rest, and crawled into my sleeping bag.
Back to today: We left the campsite around 5:30 and made our way up the one mile blue-blazed Blue Trail to the AT, where we said goodbye to Bogey's family and Pancake. After that, we followed the Trail up to Pulpit Rock, giving us a 800+ foot ascent from the campground.
After admiring the view from Pulpit Rock and talking to a local club member who wander up (and told us all about the copperhead snakes lurking in the crevices around the lookout), we hiked for another 30 minutes. We were able to find a suitable campsite well enough off the trail to not draw the attention of the game wardens. The Thru-Hikers Companion didn't say anything about not camping along that stretch, but the gentleman with whom we had chatted at The Pulpit said the game wardens were known to patrol the area and issue $200 citations to each camper for camping in the wrong areas. In any case, we weren't sure we'd find a flat and level campsite before dark so we took our chance in a little grove which was hidden from the Trail by a slight rise and then a dip in the terrain, plus a field of ferns which prevented a clear view in the direction of our tents. To be on the safe side, I rolled up the rain flaps (where were, of all colors, red) and tucked my tent's guy lines, which sported reflective white stripes so one can see them by headlamp and not trip, under my tent or under leaves. Here's hoping that no rain or winds come tonight!
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