✨️ Saw John Kelly, first taste of the rocks of Pennsylvania, half way & ice cream challenge

Day 87: A relaxing day in Harpers Ferry

Mile Marker: 1088.0 Miles today: 19.9

What a surprise this morning. As I was filling up my water by the creek around 6:00 AM (which is just on trail), guess who I see ? John Kelly running just pass me who was going on his attempt to set the FKT on the AT…

Appart from that, the day was relatively normal. I recall the water near Rocky Mountain Shelter where I stopped for lunch had a steep downhill to get to it. Then, I had my first “rocky day” of the state…at least that first entry I wrote in my journal.

Shortly after Caledonia State Park, the day finished at Quarry Gap Shelter. A very nice shelter where a fire was already going as I got there around 6:00PM.

Day 88: Pine Grove Furnace – officially made it half way !

✨️ Snakes, trail friends, half way point (1100 miles +) & half gallon ice cream challenge

Mile Marker: 1105.2 Miles today: 17.2

Waking up with a tons of excitement ! Today is the day I make it to the official half way point! That is more than a 1100 miles hiked, with my legs! Crazy.

I saw lots of people today that I did not see for a while: Post-it at the start of the day at the footbridge (wich I did see yesterday), Beans at Birch Run Shelter, Blue Moon at the ceremonial half way point, and so many more at Pine Grove…

Just before Birch Run Shelter a saw a rattle snake. Never get use to it.

A few miles after the shelter, an other rattle snake ! A big very big one in the bushes on the side of the trail. Luckily, there was some trail magic not to far after at Shippenburg Rd.

Then, just before lunch at the Toms Run Shelter, I made it to the official half way point !!! Walked more than a 1 100 miles (1098.7 miles to be exact is the half way point of 2024) . I took soo many pictures ✨️

Also, just at the 1 100 miles marker, guess what: rain ! Yup, the rain is not over. As we say:

No rain, no pain, no Maine

The excitement of the day did not end there ! Oh no, still had the half gallon ice cream challenge to do once at Pine Grove Furnace ! And so, when I got there, that’s what I did: butter pecan flavor (had initaly coffee but switched it out with someone before starting) and bubble gum flavor!

Officially made it part of the member of 2024 Half Gal Club. Yay.

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