Pennsylvania, also called Rockslyvania, is notorious for its rocky trail. It is perhaps the most dreaded state of the AT, the place where boots go to die.
The miles and miles of rocky trail soon wears on the body and mind. Many hikers have gone mad stumbling through a section, and it is not uncommon to hear cries of anger floating through the trees, the sounds of hikers at their weakest moments, cursing the trail makers and yelling at the rocks.
And rocks are the worst thing to get angry at. You can stab them with a trekking pole, throw them, yell at them, step on them, but they won't react. They just sit there and take it. Anger doesn't change them or make them go away. Instead they silently mock you as you trip along.
There are three kinds of rocks on the trail: the boulder fields, the ankle turners, and the shark teeth.
The boulderfields are areas made up of huge boulders, and are rather fun at times, as one can hop from boulder to boulder. They pose a good challenge and allow one to practice rock scrambling skills. When wet, they become quite dangerous and one must proceed with caution.
The ankle turners are rocks about the size of bowling balls, spaced just enough to maybe squeeze a foot in between, but a slip or misstep is potential for a sprained ankle. People with small feet have a distinct advantage, as they can usually tiptoe over the tops or easily step in between. It requires a lot of focus to navigate these obstacles.
The shark teeth are tiny jagged rocks so close together one has no choice but to step on the tops, causing immense foot pain over long periods of time. These are terrible; imagine walking barefoot on sharp marbles and you may get an idea of what it's like with boots on.
You get the picture. I won't focus on the misery any longer, for there were nice things throughout PA as well:
Hail on 'hike naked day.' No, I did not participate, but I felt sorry for the bare bodies of those who did.
My Birthday! Mom sent me a care package and we got a hotel room to celebrate. Hang gliders. We watched these guys for an hour, jumping off the cliff and flying away.
A barber shop next to the trail, a hiker hangout spot. A unique local place, the barber would stop mid-cut to talk or play music.
The largest Cabelas in the US!
Zero with some other hikers at an awesome campground
A visit to an observatory, looking at the sun through special glasses and sun flares through a telescope.
Berries! So many berries. I always have to stop and stuff my face. We hiked through an old zinc site where we were warned not to drink the contaminated water. I wondered if the berries were contaminated as well. But they looked so delicious. I finally understood how Eve felt in the Garden of Eden, where the fruit was "pleasing to the eye," and despite a pack full of food I couldn't resist. You need zinc anyway, right? It's a trace mineral in your body...
Trail Magic! PA was fantastic with trail magic.
Ice cream!
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