Author Archives: atsioneva

I couldn’t post last night – No reception!

So, let’s see. I was up at 6 am – I’d spotted a box of pancake mix in the hikers’ cupboard at the hostel, so I decided to make pancakes for everyone, including fellow hiker BearSnack. It was only a boxed mix, and some improvising was required, but everyone seemed to enjoy them.

I was packed and on my way by 8:45 (late start).  The forecast was for possible rain, and clouds kept massing and drifting away again, so it was a constant game of “on the pack cover, off the pack cover”. It does keep everything from getting soaked, but when it is on, you can’t get at anything inside the pack.

I made good time, at first anyway, but stopped for an undesignated snake crossing – the biggest blacksnake I have ever seen, casually crossing the path. Right then, I heard a funny rattle from the side. Could have been leaves rustling, but given that this part of PA does have timber rattles, I didn’t get closer to investigate. Made tracks out of there!

Around the 7.7 mile mark, I was losing steam, and the feet were really complaining. There was a locked ranger cabin at that point – I lay down on the bench outside for 30 minutes to rest, and watched the trees overhead dancing in the wind. So peaceful. After resting, I was much more capable of doing the remaining 2.4 miles to the shelter.

What also helped mentally and physically was the outdoor cathedral-forest of tall pines and oaks after a short climb. A hushed feeling, towering trees, soft carpet of needles underfoot, shaded and serene. If the whole trail was like that…

I caught up with hiker Morning Song at the shelter last night, hadn’t seen him in a few days. There were only three of us at the shelter, and one poor guy tenting – around about sunset, it downpours. Hard. It was nice to be under a roof! This shelter was unusual, for having bunks built into the walls, instead of everyone on the floor.

And there were mice. I never saw the, but Morning Song left his toilet paper out, and they had a great time shredding it!

I’ll do the entry for today later. Still a couple miles to go.

I hike on.

Ziptie, it must be admitted, is tired today. Today’s alarm clocks were a sunrise, wild geese, and a woodpecker. I pushed hard yesterday to get up to Chimney Rocks to camp, because the view is to the east, ergo perfect sunrise photo time. And if I turned around and looked west, I could get some great shots of the near full moon framed by trees. It was worth the climb.

But it left me very clumsy and stumbling today. Those hiking poles saved me from what would have been a serious injury – I tripped, and if I hadn’t had a firmly planted pole to stop me, I would have done a full face plant. Onto solid rock. With the additional weight of a 35 lb pack adding momentum.

So I got to a shelter 4.5 miles from starting point, but it was too soon and too early to stop… Pushed on through to Fayetteville, PA, where I am staying at a hostel about 2 miles from trailhead. Laundry. Shower. Long phone call to Navient to see what the heck is going on. I’m not taking a zero day; I did about 8 miles today and will do at least 7 tomorrow. Everyone I meet on trail keeps telling me not to overdo it the first two weeks, and I’m only a week and a day in. So, no guilt.

This hostel is beautiful! Two reading rooms, a full, free to everyone kitchen, nicely appointed bedrooms. And only $22 a night! The only problem is that I am seriously craving a beer, and they have a rule – No alcohol.

The Harper’s Ferry flip flop hiker ‘bubble’ has burst, as people spread out more along the trail. Some (okay, most), are ahead of me, some are behind me. But people seem to enjoy my entries in the registers – when they catch up and intros are made, a lot of them do a double take – “YOU’RE Ziptie?” I dunno… Maybe I don’t look like a Ziptie.

I hike on.

It was a milestony day!

• Crossed the Mason-Dixon line
• Finished the 41 miles of MD and started the 230 miles of PA
• First day with total mileage over 10 miles (including a 900 ft elevation gain at the end. Legs complained.)
• First day hiking with hiking poles, and oh my good Lord, did they ever matter!!! The difference is amazing!
• First day solo camping away from shelters. My attempt at hanging a bear bag is pathetic, but I will get better. At least the food stuffs are up elevated and not near my tent. At this point, almost too tired to care if a bear gets my Oreos.

I will have to be careful tomorrow with water – this stretch of trail doesn’t have many water sources. Tonight’s meal was pita pockets, a salmon packet, and a tuna packet. Tomorrow’s breakfast likewise will be non-cooking – oatmeal squares or breakfast bars or something.

I’m currently camped up by Chimney Rocks in PA, a few miles south of South Mountain, PA. I am very tired, but pleased that I made the extra effort to climb up here tonight – the view is easterly, so sunrise should be great. Plus, now I only have to walk 10.8 miles tomorrow on fairly level ground, instead of 12.2 miles with that killer climb at the beginning.

Just tired. But still smiling.

I hike on.

My next town will be Boiling Springs, PA, in about 60 miles and 6 days, but I will not motelize; I blew too much money in Waynesboro, and will need to exercise more restraint in future. I will camp out.

I will also pass through Duncannon, PA, a few days later, and that might be a better place for a maildrop, if anyone is sending me anything (Cathy). The address there would be:

General Delivery

C/O Elisabeth Hagen

Duncannon Post Office

203 North Market St.

Duncannon, PA 17020

And for six days, she walked, but on the seventh day, she rested*. And it was good!

* After two mile long roundtrips to the post office before noon, one to pick up boxes, one to mail the filled boxes.

So. Let me take you through a typical hiker day, as it is evolving.

1. Sunrise… All around, the birdie alarm clocks begin going off, and hikers begin stirring. The first order of business is to grab the roll of toilet paper, slide my feet into my camp shoes (crocs), and head for the privy. Priorities!
2. The food bag is retrieved from where ever it spent the night hanging. Take out the propane stove and fuel canister, the cooking pot, and the matches.
3. Measure enough water into the pot for a full cup of pre-prepared oatmeal mix, plus some extra for instant coffee. Breakfasts are crucial fueling up times, to generate enough energy for walking four or five hours.
4. Fire up the propane stove; while waiting for the water to boil, begin packing up sleeping gear – bag, pad, pillow.
5. Once the water is boiling, pour two cups into a Ziploc freezer bag, add the oatmeal, and set aside to soak. Mix the coffee in the remaining water in the cooking pot (which has handles so it can double as a cup). While waiting for the oats to cook, finish packing up gear. Also a good time to refill the “snack bag” with GORP, and/or peanut butter crackers, and/or fruit leather, you get the idea. Always life savers, for quick energy boosts.
6. Eat. Drink. Be merry. Take medications; brush teeth and clean out the cooking pot. Make a trip down to the water source to filter 64 oz of water to start the day off with. Sometimes I’ll mix Crystal lite drink flavorings in for variety – I like the ones with caffeine.
7. Finish stuffing everything into the pack, and arrange the stuff on the outside – snacks and maps hang on the left side, camera case on the right, water on the left and right at waist level. First aid kit and toilet paper (each in Ziploc bags) in the big pouch-pocket on the back. The water filtering system goes inside the pack, but always at the top.
8. Take off camp shoes; carefully clean feet with antiseptic wet wipes before putting on socks and boots. The camp shoes hang off the pack when stowed.
9. One last trip to the privy. Start off!
10. I rarely stop for a formal lunch – once I get going, I like to keep going. So I simply ‘graze’ along the way… Stop for ten minutes here or there on a handy rock or log to have a snack, a rest, and a long drink of water. Others stop at shelter picnic tables for 30-60 minutes for one long break, some cook lunch. We all hike our own hike.
11. My maps indicate where shelters, landmarks, and water sources are. Usually twice along the way, sometimes more, I’ll stop to refill on water. You drink a lot of water. You have to, otherwise… Agonizing cramps. Once was enough.
12. Once you do reach camp, you pretty much repeat all the steps – filter water, cook, brush teeth, spread out gear in the shelter or pitch the tent, anything that might remotely interest a bear or mice gets hung up high out of reach. Sometimes there will be a campfire. Not often though. Everyone turns in, pretty much when it starts getting dark.

And then we get up and start it all over again…

So I sez to Velcro, I sez, “I’ll go see if River Rat and Morning Song want to come with us and Stumblefoot to find some dinner around 6 p.m.”

Ah, couldn’t post yesterday, the phone battery died. So today May well be a longer one to make up for it.

Yesterday was all about the ups and the downs. It was only a 5.5 mile day, but I had multiple reasons for stopping early, mostly logistical. There was a lot of downs, but even steeper ups, and I really don’t think I would have made it without a makeshift walking stick I found in the woods, and used for two days. With the stick though, I did a lot better… I will do best of all with hiking poles.

Rain threatened last night and today, so I was lucky to arrive at the shelter early, because,  camper sardines. It was a two level shelter, every spot was filled, someone slept on the porch, and people still had to tent… I managed not to step on anyone on a late night visit to the privy. And after all that, It didn’t even rain until after daybreak.

Interlude. Let’s have a quick note about the privies. Some have doors. Some give you views of beautiful vistas, but no doors. Everyone is careful and polite though.

Today, only five miles. A lot of us planned to stay in Waynesboro, PA tonight and tomorrow, so we hiked to Pen-Mar County Park to get rides/shuttles.

Technically, I am still two miles shy of PA, in hiking terms. But I am at a Days Inn right now… A vast change from the rock maze I found myself in earlier. I actually lost the trail and had to retrace my steps uphill to find it again. I also slumped on water, because I was in such a hurry to get to the park, and I could feel early warnings of leg cramps. I will not do that again.

Anyway, once I reached town, there were still chores – food resupply at Walmart, laundry, SHOWER. A looooong, hot shower, you have NO idea how good it felt. And, of course, a trip to Blue Ridge Summit PO, where, hiking poles! Resupply box! Combs and dehydrated strawberries! Ziptie is in seventh heaven!

Today was a hike and chores. Tomorrow will be a true zero day. Nothing is planned except Saturday vigil Mass. Sunday I will start back out again at the point I left off, and cross into Pennsylvania for real.

Interlude 2: The people are great. I hike alone during the day, I prefer solitude, but at the end of the hike each day, I generally see familiar faces, some of who I listed above. So that is social time. Everyone generally turns in pretty early, at dusk, but we are up with first light, and usually on our way by 8 am.

I am having a great time. I love this. I love the challenge, I love leaving zany notes in the shelter logbooks, I love feeling self-sufficient. Well, most of the time. Sometimes I just want to whine, “I’m tired, you do it.” but they are just as tired. 🙂 And I am getting stronger on the climbs, I can tell that.

Tonight, I stay.

Man, oh man. The first five or so miles were easy easy, and then. Then. Then came the bouldering and rock scrambling. At least a half mile of rocks and boulders. It was quite a challenge! It was uplifting to get through it without poles, but I am so eagerly awaiting having them!

For some reason, the blisters have formed on the bottom of my feet between my big toe and second toe. They are irritating, but not debilitating. Sooner or later, they will turn into calluses.

When I have more charge on the phone, I will detail what a typical day starts as. For now, I’ll just say that flat rock surfaces are great for catching quick naps on!

I hike on.

A very late start this AM, but what of it? It is so pleasant to sit at the picnic table, enjoy a cup of coffee and a Mountain Home dehydrated breakfast someone left, just relax. A shorter day today – only 6.5 miles, unless I push it to 10. My feet are still tingling from a special footpath I gave them this morning. Life is good. Live it!

Today was the easiest day yet, in terms of terrain! The rocks let up, some grass, some pine forest, some dirt road. I learned some Civil War history I didn’t know, I passed by the original Washington Monument near Boonsboro, I took many fine pictures. 7.5 miles today, 8.2 tomorrow.

Oh, and the overpass over I-70 scared the living daylights out of me. Bridges over water are bad enough, but knowing that if the bridge went, a truck going 70 mph would smoosh you in an instant… High bridges are a phobia of mine. I trek on.

I will have hiking poles waiting for me on Friday! I am so excited! Thanks again, Neva!

Battery is down to 40%. Trying to conserve it until Friday by keeping it turned off except for short periods… So expect another report tomorrow.

Ciao!

I guess updating has become a habit.

Today was very hard, in a way different than yesterday. It was not as steep, but rocks, rocks, rocks. I very sorely missed my hiking poles. I really needed them for this section. I meant to reach a campground 10 miles from my starting point, where hot showers and pizza could be obtained, but I just ran out of juice 8.5 miles in, and pitched a tent near Rocky Run Shelter on the AT, where I settled for a sponge bath in the privacy of my tent, and a Knorr’s pasta side for dinner. I am a total of roughly 15.6 miles from the point I started at.

I won’t deny that today was extremely discouraging. Never fear, I am not quitting, but it was hot, tiring, and the rocks just would not stop. Plus, I felt so grubby – alleviated somewhat with wet wipes and a change into clean clothes. But I signed up for this, all of it, so I will continue on, and it will get better. Bonus – No leg cramps today at all! It might have something to do with the consumption of at least 128 oz of water during the day. And I am still thirsty!

Ah, well,tomorrow is another day. 7.5 miles planned. I am getting it done.

It’s dark. Hiker midnight. Ziptie out…

I may not always be able to do this, but I can today, so…

I’m sitting here at the shelter picnic table, waiting for the oatmeal in the Ziploc bag to absorb boiling water and soften up enough to eat. The view is over a lovely valley; there’s a woodpecker drilling for breakfast nearby. Mine took less effort – the propane stove actually lit for me!

Yesterday was a late start, but that was planned. I still would have been a lot better off if a couple hadn’t misdirected me, and I walk a mile the wrong way, then had to retrace my steps. That was NOT planned. It turned a 7.1 mile day into a 9.1 mile day… About six miles on the hardpacked, smooth C&O towpath, and then a lot of steep switchback – my legs cramped up, but I took it easy, rationed food, dosed myself with lifesavers and cheese and crackers, and once took a thirty minute break stretched out on a log. It worked.

I think the oatmeal is ready. I need to eat and get moving, 10 miles today. More later!