Day 76: Hike from Boiling Springs to Darlington Shelter (Carlisle, PA)

“If you’re going through hell, keep going.”
~Winston Churchill

May 30, 2022
AT miles: 14.3
Ascent: 1396’
Descent: 601’
Weather: hot and sunny
Sightings: lots of hikers
High points: all the shade in the Cumberland Valley

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Our stay at Lisa’s Hostel was a bit odd — we stayed in a shed and due to lack of pizza delivery we ended up with grilled cheese for dinner. We were on our own for breakfast. However, we had a great time with the other hikers, and having a shower and clean clothes is wonderful!

Today’s walk across the Cumberland Valley marks the end of the Blue Ridge Mtns. Once across the valley the AT follows the Kittatinny Ridge in PA for over 100 miles!

We got a shuttle back to  Boiling Springs and headed off on what we thought was going to be a 13-mile trek across farm fields in 90 degree heat. Thankfully the dreaded march through open fields was only a small part of the day.

For the first half of the day we walked mostly in shade next to farm fields. The trail was wonderfully flat!

Eventually the trail left the small wooded section and entered beautiful lush farm fields. Of course the temperature was in the 90’s, so it was HOT!

We walked by an Amish farm stand and went in to buy some strawberries. A woman and her six Amish children served us. The strawberries were delicious!

We walked and walked through the hot sweetly-scented fields.

We crossed over the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

After crossing over a decent-sized stream we followed it for quite a ways. There were lots of flowers and even an easy boardwalk.

In the last mile the trail did a fairly steep ascent up to a spring. Just above the spring there was a nice view— the first I’ve seen in Pennsylvania!

I arrived at the shelter around 2:30 and have had a social evening talking with Bimble, All Heart, Phoenix, Daniel, and playing rummy with Cheese and Bugs.

Today is a great day for a long walk in the woods.