Make it count: Day #80 - AT Hike - Pennsylvania starts

Sunday, May 31 - Day #80 - AT Hike

Miles Hiked Today - 18.5
Total Miles Hiked on AT - 1067.5/2,193 (48.68%)

Pine Knob Shelter (1049.0) to Falls Creek Tentsite (1067.5) - tent at Falls Creek Tentsite

Total ascent - 3,015’
Total descent - 3,305’

Total States Completed - 6/14

**No Rain - another perfect day for hiking. Clear with highs in the upper 60’s

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Alright - making some things happen. Maryland - DONE!! I’ve now completed 6 of the 14 states on the AT (Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland). 8 more to go.

Within the AT journey - there’s all these different little challenges that people have established. One of them is the 4-state challenge. That is walking across 4 states in a 24-hour period. It’s done by starting in Virginia - walking the 7 miles across West Virginia - and then walking the 41 miles across Maryland into Pennsylvania. It’s 48-50 miles in 24 hours. I knew I didn’t want to do this - nor could I have done it even if I had a desire to do so. However - I made up my own challenge (3 states in 36 hours). I was able to make it from West Virginia - across Maryland - and into Pennsylvania in 1-1/2 days (41.4 miles). I’ll take it!

Today was a picture-perfect weather day. Lows in the mid 40’s with highs in the upper 60’s. The course was much more demanding today because of all the rocks. The last 7 miles or so were pretty brutal with a ton of ankle-turning stones to navigate. I started the day with my Hokas and then switched back to my Altra Lone Peaks mid-day. Tomorrow - I’m going to reverse that and start with the Altras and switch to the Hokas. I’m really giving these shoes a true test to see which is better for me. Still holding off on my analysis for now.

The last couple days have been pretty cool on trail with a lot of people out. Also - the trail has been going through some neat parks with a lot of history along the way. I really like new scenery. The deep woods gets old - it’s the same stuff, different day. I don’t mind walking in more urban areas to get a unique flavor — you see people, I’ve been able to take breaks on park benches, use restrooms, get water out of water spigots in parks - it’s a nice change of pace.

I’m camping at a Tentsite tonight. Nobody here but me. It’s OK - I’m really tired again and will be shutting it down soon. It’s 8:30pm right now. I’m hoping to get an early start tomorrow - we’ll see how it goes - but I may try for another 20-miler.

OK - so before turning in - I wanted to introduce the state of Pennsylvania. When I think of Pennsylvania - I think of Philly - when I think of Philly - I think of Rocky - when I think of Rocky - I think of “The Eye of the Tiger”

Queue the Band:

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“Risin’ up, back on the street
Did my time, took my chances
Went the distance, now I’m back on my feet
Just a man and his will to survive

So many times, it happens too fast
You trade your passion for glory
Don’t lose your grip on the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive

It’s the eye of the tiger, it’s the thrill of the fight
Risin’ up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he’s watchin’ us all with the eye of the tiger

Face to face, out in the heat
Hangin’ tough, stayin’ hungry
They stack the odds til’ we take to the street
For the kill with the skill to survive

It’s the eye of the tiger, it’s the thrill of the fight
Risin’ up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he’s watchin’ us all with the eye of the tiger

Risin’ up, straight to the top
Had the guts, got the glory
Went the distance, now I’m not gonna stop
Just a man and his will to survive

It’s the eye of the tiger, it’s the thrill of the fight
Risin’ up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he’s watchin’ us all with the eye of the tiger”

“Eye of the Tiger” — Survivor

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Not a surprise if you know me pretty well. And yes - I have run up the Art Museum steps - on 2 separate occasions!!

Good night from Pennsylvania!!!