First A.T. Hike - Pen Mar to Chimney Rocks
[Day 1 - Yellow, Day 2 - Blue, Day 3 - Green]
Deer Lick Shelter
Mileage: 1040.1
Dec 27, 1991
Finally stepped foot on the Appalachian
Trail! Started at 3:01pm at the 0.1 mile mark at Pen Mar
(Sec 14 of PA). Had a nice talk with a couple when I
crossed Route 16. They asked "How far does this trail
go?" what a joke! Ended up staying the night at Deer Lick
Shelter. Made a campfire and did some star gazing before
bed. Woken up by 3 or 4 motorcyclists, other than that a
great night.
Tumbling Run Shelter
Mileage: 1043.5
Dec 28, 1991
Woke up to nice weather but cold, my water
was all frozen. Once I started hiking it was all but
forgotten. Crossed the pipeline but took a detour to take
a look down the hill. Why this isn't marked as a vista is
beyond me. Then I went down what the trail guide refers
to as a "descending gradually" slope. If that is gradual,
I would hate to see steep. I arrived at Antietam Shelter
around 11:00. Looks like a very old shelter (and used
more for parties than hiking). Continuing on I reached
the "Safe water" source witch had a sign stating "water
infected with Griardia boil for 20 min before drinking"
so much for safe. Reached Tumbling run shelter around
noon. Talked to a hiker who told me the forecast called
for rain tonight and tomorrow. Gave me a few ideas what
to do this afternoon. I took his advice and hiked up to
Chimney Rock (Chimney Rock was great. What a view! It was
fun exploring all the little tunnels and rock formations.
Spent quite a bit of time just exploring. Worth the
uphill hike from the shelter to it.) [farthest point
hiked on A.T. 9.0 miles] Then I tried to return via the
blue blazed trail to Hermitage Cabin. But some how every
blue blazed trail lead from the Cabin back to the same
cabin. I guess I hiked 3 to 5 miles looking for the right
trail. Finally ended up back at Chimney Rock so I took
the A.T. back to Tumbling Run. A few minutes after
arriving, guess who shows up but the hiker from
lunchtime. He offered me a ride to my car saying "It's no
fun hiking in the rain this time of year." Talk about a
Good Samaritan. I found out he was from D.C. and has been
hiking for some 35 years. Never did get his name but
THANK GOD for him because it started raining shortly
after and all night [I drove my car back to the road
crossing before Tumbling Run Shelter and hiked back to
the shelter for the night]. At about 1:30am I had
visitors who moved in next door. Considering I was
expecting a beer party, they were not bad and I fell back
to sleep around 2:00 I guess.
Dec 29, 1991
Next morning they were gone [I did find
something they left behind. Part of a book entitled "Las
Vegas Rules of Gambling" .... Now I know what they were
doing] Still dripping but the rain stopped. No ice in my
water today, but I knew my car was near so I pulled out
after breakfast - Aprox miles 8.0 on AT, 0.3 on road to
shelter, 3.0 blue blazed trails for a total of 12.2
miles.
