July 14-19: Two Halfway Points on AT

July 14 to 19, 2013:  Snapshots of the AT

Guest Poster – the Mom

 

Adam arrived at the psychological halfway point of the trail, in Harper’s Ferry, WV, on July 14, but got to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Headquarters after they closed that evening.  The ATC takes a photo of all hikers who pass through during the year and saves their photos in a book which is archived at the AT Museum.  http://athikerpictures.org/searches/welcome  

 Adam didn’t want to miss out on this official recording of his hike, so he hiked two miles ahead to a shelter, then found a shuttle to return the next day for his official photo.  His photo will now be posted and archived at the Appalachian Trail Museum with the 2013 thru-hikers.

On July 17, Adam arrived in PA, making it the sixth state he had hiked, with only eight more to go.

The second, and real halfway point for the trail, was in Michaux State Forest, several miles south of Pine Grove Furnace State Park in PA.   Adam made it to the halfway point at 10 a.m. on July 19.  When they arrive at Pine Grove, it is a hiker tradition to participate in the half-gallon challenge:  Hikers eat a half-gallon of ice cream in one sitting.  Adam will never let a challenge pass him by, so he enthusiastically took it on!  He finished the first three pints in 20 minutes, then slowly consumed the final pint over the next 35 minutes.   (Given the heat in this area, that final pint may have turned into a melted milkshake!)

At that midpoint, Adam had hiked every step of the Appalachian Trail, 1,092 miles, starting in Springer, GA, to Pine Grove Park, PA, with his eyes set on Mt.Katahdin, Maine, mile 2,184.