Pennsylvania

Hell. Get me out of this state. Our guide books show the elevation to be nice and flat which it is except for directly under your feet. Every step you take you have to place your foot at a different angle to avoid rolling on rocks. The trails is littered with rocks the size of your fist or bigger. I haven't taken a comfortable step in this state. To add insult to injury it is blistering hot and all the bugs have finally come out. Enough complaining about the state.

4th of July

Lighthouse, Bobsled, and I decided we have been pushing ourselves way too hard and it is time for a zero. We decide to stay in a cute little town called Boiling Springs. There weren't any normal hotels so we got to stay at The Allenberry Resort. For $40 dollars we were treated to two beds, a hot shower, A/C, and 5 channels on tv. I wouldn't consider this place a resort at all but it's good enough for any hiker. Oh, and my parents decided to surprise us, bringing watermelon and lots of other goodies for the other hikers in the hotel.

Ahvo's House

A ways into PA a fellow hiker named, Ahvo invited to stay at his parents house for a zero once we reach a certain road. I had no clue what to expect once we got there, I mean we barely know this guy. We get there and his parents immediately start pampering us. After a hot shower and a delicious home cooked meal they insist that we get in their jacuzzi. The jets on that thing massaged and rejuvenated every aching muscle in my body. We get out and BAM there is another meal waiting for us. We hit JACKPOT. Thanks Ahvo!!!!!!

Bye, Bye Bobsled :(

Man, oh man I never thought this day would come. Since day five I have been hiking with a dude named Lighthouse and a girl named Bobsled. We became the three bestest friends that anyone could ever have. It is so rare that a group hikes together so long on the trail but all good things must come to an end. She only planned to go to Harper's Ferry but we are hardcore and made it to her home state of New York before she had to leave.

This one's for you Bobby!

Bobsled on our second night at camp.

On a rock.

With a cow.

Looking hot in the AM

Entering Virginia

Looking at her guide

"The Three of Us"

Bobsled we miss you! Come back!

The Four State Challenge

Walk Hard is going to attempt the 4 State Challenge, a forty three mile walk through the top of Virginia, into West Virginia, through Maryland, and finishing in Pennsylvania all in 24 hours.

West Virginia and Maryland

West Virginia

West Virginia is Harper's Ferry. It seems the only reason the Appalachian Trail goes through WV is to see Harper's Ferry. Harper's Ferry is the mental half way point. All hikers that reach this point are asked to stop by the ATC(Appalachian Trail Conservancy) for a nice little photo. I was hiker number 805 to come through. I was told by a ridge runner that 50% of the people that make it to Harper's get off trail from malnutrion alone before reaching Mt Katahdin. This doesn't include injuries, boredom, and the million other reasons to get off. There isn't much walking done in WV. The moment you cross the bridge out of Harper's Ferry you are in Maryland. Oh did I mention I'm halfway there?????

Maryland

The trail in Maryland goes for thirty some odd miles and has been some of the best walking so far. It features nice flat ground and no hills. The shelters here are prime. Each shelter is given a caretaker and the ones in Maryland must be competing to see who can have the best shelter. Some of the shelters include potted plants, porch swings, firepits surrounded by gravel for easy footing, and even wooden ducks(?). That is Maryland in a nut shell.

Shenandoah Valley and the End of Virginia

Shenandoah Valley

Oh what a wonderful place.... FOR TOURISTS.

The Shenandoahs is one of our last stops through Virginia. It is like the rest of Virginia (a green tunnel) so of course we a flying through. The Shenandoah Valley is so crowded with tourists it is as if the animals here are numb to humans. I've seen at least five bears and countless deer. Not to worry though the bears are practically harmless. You really have to instigate the bears if there is going to be an attack. Also, I've never seen deer just let you walk with in inches of them before stepping back.

 The Roller-coaster

There is a famous part of the trail in Virginia titled "The Roller-coaster". Apparently this is supposed to be one of the hardest parts of the trail just going straight to the top and right back into the valley of thirteen "hills" for 13.5 miles.  Many say it is the hardest part because the state of Virginia is flat and "The Roller-coaster" is where we start to see hills again. Both are over-hyped and in my opinion just some joke that previous thru-hikers have made up. Once you finish the torturous(sarcasm of course) roller-coaster you find yourself walking into 1000 miles and right into West Virginia.. Finally.

Waynesboro, Va

   After hiking in Virginia for over 200 miles everything begins to looks the same. You just wake up every morning and hike, eat lunch, hike, get water, hike, set-up camp, sleep, and repeat. After being in the Green Tunnel for two months now it kind of gets a little old.  Apparently there is a popular sickness hikers catch here called the Virginia Blues. I think I may have caught a minor case. I have to constantly think about how a bad day out on the trail is better than any good day out in the real world. My group (still Lighthouse and Bobsled) has started to set short term hiking goals to cope with the sickness. Last week the goal was to make it from Daleville, Va to Waynesboro, Va, 130 miles, in just seven days. Hiking nearly twenty miles every day for a week in Virginia isn't the hardest of tasks but it feels so rewarding when you finish a planned goal. I don't have many pictures to post this time but I will have some next time when I finally get out of Virginia and into Harper's Ferry, West Virginia.

Update from Marion, VA

   Putting pictures on here seems to be a bit strange so I will upload most of them to Facebook. If I haven't said so already my trail name is Simba. I guess I look like a lion? Who knows, I like it though.
   Anyways, it is Wednesday, May 5th and I am now 1/4 of the way done with my hike. The past month and a half have gone by so quickly. In the beginning the trail was littered with thru hikers but ever since Trail Days on May 17th-19th people have been dropping like flies. The trail no longer seems like a social event around a camp fire. As you have probably guessed I am still hiking with Lighthouse and Bobsled. Lighthouse and I believe we may have gotten some kind of food poisoning from bad pepperoni or summer sausage. So for a few days it got a little tough, but we still managed to average about 20 plus miles everyday the past week. After 530 miles I am officially hiker trash.

A few things I have learned:

1. Most people thru hiking the AT had no previous hiker experience. Thankfully I was not the only one.
2. Hitch hiking is fun for the first couple times. After that it is pretty boring and repetitive.
3. It will rain almost every day.
4. It is a very small world. Forget six points of seperation; more like two points of seperation.
5. Carry plenty of toilet paper.
6. The trail provides.

What I am eating:

Ramen Noodles, Instant Potatos, Snickers Bars, Trail Mix, Beef Jerky, Tuna, Peanut Butter

What I'm tired of eating:

Ramen Noodles, Instant Potatos, Snickers Bars, Trail Mix, Beef Jerky, Tuna, Peanut Butter

Oh and I miss my family.

Simba

"Everything the light touches..."