7/5/99 Tumbling Run Shelter   Miles Today : 17.8 Miles to Katahdin : 1113.8

Forward progress! Yes, after several days of feasting in Baltimore, Colorado, DB and I finally got back on the AT.

Mr. P dropped us off at the trail today around 10 this morning. I really can't thank the Pilachowski's enough for everything that they did this weekend. You were the best! And thanks to Drive-Byette, who got be a beer tunnel to hike with! I now have something original and the best thing is that it has a second function: piping a slow spring.

The three of us actually hiked more than two miles today before taking a break. Our first break was an outlook point called High Rocks. We were fortunate to be able to see the launch of a hang glider off this point! While getting the craft and person in the air is a little on the tricky side, once launched, it is a very graceful thing to watch. The air currents were good today and the guy quickly climbed to 500 ft. Three turkey vultures were circling as well and instinctively saw I was watching them and said "they are masters out here, we are just doing our best impersonation."

A few miles later, we entered Pen Mar Park, which also had a nice outlook. Most importantly, on the north side of the park was the Mason/Dixon line...and into Pennsylvania we marched.

That was pretty much it for highlights today. The temps were over 100 degrees (Note: this is the actual temp., as I think the heat index thing is a bunch of bull invented by the media to make the weather sound worse. I don't mean to get on a rant here, but is there nothing the media won't do to seasonalize something? I mean why stop at the heat index? There are more factors than temp and humidity that make me "feel" hot. How about the "standing directly in the sun with a black shirt" index? Or the "just stepped out of a 65 degree house" index? I am confident that with a little work, we can set up an artificial heat number up over 150! Now wouldn't that get ratings!)and tomorrow looks to be as high as 105. Fortunately, there is a state park 10 miles away with a public swimming pool. The plan is to take 12 to 2 in the afternoon off and try to stay as cool as possible.

We are shooting for a 20 miler tomorrow, but that could be scrapped if the heat gets too bad. I had another 12 liter day today and I imagine tomorrow will be the same. Still, I am happy to be moving again!

-Chomp

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