Appalachian Trail day 99 - Pen Mar Park To Deer Lick Shelters (Mile 1067.4 to Mile 1072.3)

I parked my truck at Pine Grove Furnace State Park and lined up a shuttle with a woman from the Pen Mar area.

She drops me off at Pen Mar at 4:30 PM and the second we pulled in,  big fat rain drops start falling.  The forecast is for rain starting tonight and rain all day tomorrow. Of course it is. That's the theme of this month.  Rain, rain, and more rain. 

I pay the shuttle driver and jump out of the car heading straight to the pavilion where I finished my hike a few days ago. A thru hiker is sitting in the pavilion and we chat for a while I pull out my rain gear and fix my umbrella to my pack. His name is Overdone. He started the beginning of March. I say goodbye and head up the trail. In the rain, again. Ugh.

Appalachian Trail day 98 - Raven Rocks Shelter to Pen Mar Park (Mile 1062 to Mile 1067)

I woke frequently last night.  One of the guys above us rocked and rolled all night,  someone was snoring, and around 1 am someone's phone made the absolute worst noise I have ever heard in my life. It ends up that it was a moisture alarm. Not to mention I had to get up not once, but twice to water the leaves.  

GG is awake and turns on her headlamp around 5:15. I snuggle in my down quilt and try to close my eyes for a few more minutes.  By 5:40, however, I give up and get up.   GG, Early Bird, and me are ready to head out before 7 am.

The rain has stopped! I'm so glad we don't have to hike in the pouring rain. I'm really chilly,  and since it's a town day, I don't have to change out of my wool layers that I slept in! I can wear them this morning and stay nice and toasty warm until the air warms. 

The elevation profile for the hike to Pen Mar looks really easy.  Only five miles with a little uphill climb and then a fairly easy down into town. 

We are heading home for the weekend, and it's Friday, which means beach traffic will be horrendous. 

Appalachian Trail day 97- Pine Knob Shelter to Raven Rock Shelter (Mile 1049 to Mile 1062)

GG and I are up early but Tigger is still sleeping so we pack up as quietly as possible.  And surprise! it's raining. 

Rain is forecast for the entire day, so I prepare accordingly. I'm wearing my raincoat in my top half,  and gaiters on my lower legs covered by oversized frog toggs over my shorts, the bottoms cut off to save weight.  My gaiters stick out from under my rain pants and GG says I look like the Gorden's fisherman.

I have a rain cover for my pack, and it helps marginally with the rain; it certainly doesn't keep my pack dry, because a lot of water still gets in from the smallest exposed piece of the pack. I'm sure by the end of the day I'll be carrying an extra pound of water weight.

 I strap on my umbrella and leave the shelter at 6:37. Tigger is still fast asleep on her stomach. I'm really impressed; I didn't know people can sleep on their stomach on these hard floors.

Appalachian Trail day 96 - Ed Garvey Shelter to Pine Knob Shelter - Maryland! (Mile 1033 to Mile 1049)

At some point after we went to bed it started raining.  I got up to water the leaves and the rain is steady but light. I try to creep out and back quietly, as there's about 10 people in the shelter between the two floors.

At 5 am,  GG and I are both up.  I try to pack as quietly as possible,  but it's kind of impossible to be absolutely quiet and there's nowhere else to pack because of the rain. A few more people wake up and start packing while we are doing so periods well.  The woman that we met on the way up the trail yesterday is in her sleeping bag, as is her friend, but they lift their heads up and tell us happy trails before we leave.  They are planning on only hiking four miles to the next shelter.  I give her words of encouragement, telling her she will be fine as long as she takes it really easy. We say goodbye and I am out the door by 6:07 am.

The first section of today's hike is super easy.  I've hiked this section so many times, I don't have to look at my map. Gathland State Park is a great stopping point for hikers .  In season there are real bathrooms and there's a water pump next to the bathroom for refilling water.  A big picnic pavilion is close to the bathroom that is reservation only, but serves as a great stopping area for hikers.  GG and I plan on rendezvousing at the park. 

Gathland State Park