Michaux SF lacks internet coverage. But up high where i have been staying is almost 1000′ higher and a bit cooler. Handling 90 some degrees is killer.
On the 3rd I walked the length of the Union lines @ Gettysburg on the day of the final battle. Little Round top, the angle, Pickets charge. I visited w/ 2 Union Officers, one was Grant, and a Confederate. Each were wearing replicas of uniforms. Union claimed the wool was actually cool by opening the tunic and letting evaporative heat loss to occur on the undershirt of linen. They can say that. yesterday during an enactment the troops benefited from new tech w/ ice and misting sprays. Lots of memorial markers.
A shower @ the YMCA on my health club membership. Back up @ Teaberry TH. On the 4th 4 separate mass horse rigs populated the parking area. Only 1 of mtn bikers. Hot and humid. Able to sleep w/ my slider door and driver windows open w/ mosquito netting.
On Thurs I drove to York to Walgreens for script refill,buy some backpacking food stuff, and check out Gung Ho bike shop where my replacement frame will be UPS’d, schedule delivery is Tues. No real backpacking stores to be found. I bought 2 dinners and a bfast freeze dried meals. made arrangements w/ the shop to support my bike build on Tues.
I decided that I would hike a short section of the Appalachian Trail from Tumbling Run shelter to Rocky Mtn shelter, a distance unknown but greater than 5 and less than 7. I loaded my never used Osprey pack. Thurs I camped @ a lower TH at the AT. Hotter.
Friday I laced up my old heavy leather boots, last worn back in 2005. 2 pairs of socks. I hoisted the pack onto my back… not too bad. Is 5 miles really going to be long enough? The trail climbed immediately from like 600′ to 1700′ The ascent was very rocky, too tough to mtn bike on which was not permitted. At Chimney rock side trail I encountered a woman thru hiker and her male support friend. She started in GA, she said that the bubble of north bound hikers is ahead of her. She and her friend were wearing fabric trail runner shoes and single pair of socks. I was over dressed but sufficient for the Pacific crest.I do have a pair of runners I bought in Hood River 2 years ago. To me the light weight shoes w/ little foot support would leave feet beat from all the rocks. Will I ever try new shoes and leave the iron maidens home? (that’s what we called leather boots on the crest, the light weight shoes were flying slippers, back then the slippers were not substantial enough to hike in.)
As the miles added up my stride became slower and less comfortable. I reached the intersection for the Rocky Mtn shelter, .3 miles off the trail. I found 2 new shelters unoccupied. I didn’t see any tenting spots meaning I would be staying in a shelter. I unloaded my pack except for my h2o filter, cooking pot, and hydration bladder and headed further off trail following blazes to the h2o source. B4 I arrived @ the spring I found tenting spots suitable for me. Nice cold flowing spring piped out. I filled my bladder and drank several cups of h2o. I moved my stuff down to the tent site. I set up my Pyramid floorless tent. I inflated my thermo rest and stuffed it into their backpacking chair that offers back support. All by myself. Boiled h2o for freeze dried dinner. lazy man’s food solution. My sleeping bag is rated to 20 degrees. At bed time it was 79 degrees. I pulled on light weight wool long under wear tops and bottom and laid on top of the sleeping bag. 73 degrees @ 5:30 AM. Too fucking hot.
I treked to the spring for a big fill up for the hot hike back. I packed up, everything fit back in the pack. I just put my head down and got it done hiking nonstop back to TH. Cold beer.
I stretched after each hike. I drove back to Teaberry TH for the night. My back stiffened up crippling me almost like i Pulled it again. Hot @ TH. Skies showed T storm relief, someone else received the benefit. Slept on top of covers. Too hot.
Today I planned on driving to Chambersburg to check it out & grocery shop. I stopped @ Caledonia SP and visited an old forge, destroyed by Confederates because it was owned by abolitionist Thadeus Stevens. i hiked a trail to a charcoal hearth over a mile away in the heat w/ a stiff back. The hearth is just a clearing about 30′ diameter where wood was burned to make charcoal. No historical info.
I drove on RT 30, the Lincoln Highway to Chambersburg that was the only major Union settlement to be burned during the Civil war. i found Giant grocery store where I lingered during my shopping enjoying the comfort.
I needed beer. I goggled beer sales in Chambersburg and found Good ta go shop. Walked in, their speciality is lots of beers and make your own six pack. Too many choices.
I will be heading back to Michaux for the night. Forecast is for cooler temps.
Tues the frame arrives. I plan on getting the bike built up then drive back up into Michaux, maybe not a ride but staged for Wed ride. Thurs maybe ride Alligrippis @ Rayestown, a trail Long Cane worked on then sprint to my dad’s house @ Mansfield, OH. The broken frame has cost me 8 days of riding. left rides on the table.