Less than 1000 miles to go! (Day 91)

After walking just 1.5 miles this morning, we made a short detour down Route 72 and stopped at the Stay-AT-Swatara Hostel to charge our phones and pick up some drinks. Yesterday, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy issued an extreme heat warning that will remain in effect for the next 4 days. I bought Gatorade at the shelter to make sure I got enough electrolytes.

I didn’t think the heat was terrible today, but I drank more than usual and stopped to refill water at almost every fountain. I’ve always been pretty bad about drinking enough, so I consider this a big improvement.

1200 mile marker!

I decided to set up camp shortly after the 1200 mile mark. There were actually two markers, one written with twigs and the other with stones. I guess that’s how you know it’s real. We have just under 1000 miles left to hike the Appalachian Trail. We are officially down to triple digits.

Sunset

At the site of the tent there is a rock outcrop with views to the west. So even though we are under an extreme heat advisory and I am tired and hot, I sit outside and watch the sun set. Two crows fly above us, floating on the breeze. The rocks are hot and I lie down with my feet out. They’re covered in dirt and I feel a cut burning on the bottom of my toe.

But it’s really beautiful: the sky above and the trees below. I wonder how something so unforgiving can be so beautiful. This landscape chilled me in spring and burned me in summer. But I’ll stay anyway. She only does what she knows.

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