I’m planning a short section hike over Spring Break down in PA. When I did a thruhike in 2006, I remember the southern half of the state being a blissful stroll and the northern half cutting my feet to ribbons. Does anyone know exactly where the glacial rock fields begin?
Helium
Hey Helium,
On my 08 Thru - everyone told me that the PA rocks really started to kick in just north of Duncannon. I didn’t find this very accurate. The first time I considered the trail rocky enough to effect my hiking was right around the 501 shelter. In my opinion the rocks are pretty consistent from there all the way to about High Point, NJ - maybe a little bit south.
Hope this helps.
Low
That seems pretty accurate. In all honesty, I think the rocks in Pennsylvania are more of a mental obstacle than anything. NOBO thru-hikers hit them at a time when many are experiencing mid-hike doldrums, and often when factors such as heat and humidity seem to intensify frustrations. Going into them fresh on a spring section hike with a good attitude will make them far more tolerable.
Gesh
We did Duncannon to Port Clinton last year and mixed it up a little to get off the rocks. Going north from Dun, past Peter’s Mt. you pass a tic called Yellow Springs-on the AT map, an old mine, hook a right (south) and head down the old ore trail. After a half mile the trail is washed out from a slide. Keep going and you hit a rail trail recently finished. Turn left and stroll about 5 miles to the intersection of the AT near Raush Gap and back onto the AT. Also past 501 Shelter take serice road on the ridge instead of going in the woods to Eagles Nest. Plenty of open space and no ankle twisters. We followed this road all the way to Port Clinton having already done the rocks. Here’s the bit of journals and pics. www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=218495
Bushwhack
Did the section from Duncannon to High Point a couple of years ago; there are stretches of rock from MD north. A nasty strip from 501 shelter going north 6-8 miles. From Palmerton to DWG it is persistent ankle twisters, about 40 miles. On the NJ side of DWG I thought it wasn’t bad, just a rough spot here and there.
dioko
(please excuse all the ‘emoting with caps’ and such folks, but this thread has originated under the auspices of an old '06 acquaintance whom paw-ee and i haven’t heard from in a while, and dang!.. it’s good to know he’s still kickin"!) :^P
…anyway, helium!..how the heck are you?..hey…here’s an idea!..just skip PA and head on out to the PCT with us this year! (we’ll be leaving mid april!)…naw…looks as if you’ve still got a bit of school to finish up and perhaps can only get away for a quick hiking fix?..sooooo…i guess the best information we can offer (after having reviewed our journals) is that it seems northern PA is generally ‘ouchier’ than the southern part…we tend to agree with gesh, though…on our second hike through there, it really didn’t seem so bad…there are parts of PA we really loved! (and can understand why you might choose to go back there!)…if memory serves me well (okay, i’m old…it may not), but just past eckville, the ‘fun’ begins!..and this isn’t necessarily ‘tongue-in-cheek’ as we really thought the ‘knife edge’ just past there was awesome!..and even lehigh gap!..i’d go back to hike there in a heartbeat! exciting! (only, just don’t eat leftover pizza before you go up, eh?)…past lehigh gap, though, i have written my most ‘unflattering’ descriptions of PA trail!..but there are some sections south, you’ll remember, that were a little TOO tame (like that 20 miles past boiling springs)…ya DO, however, HAFTA work in a burger and fries at the port clinton hotel! that’s part of the EQUATION! (if you get my drift!)…shoot us an e-mail, man!..give freckles a nice pat on the head from us!
maw-ee
Rocks in PA start in NJ and end in MD. Kidding. The area around the 501 is def. the worst, you’ll be aware of the rocks around starting around there. Gesh is also right, I live in Philadephia and have hiked the AT in PA and NJ for a long time. Day hikes they are a factor in terms of footing in places but not the obstacles to be feared they have the reputation for being.
thunder314