{"id":6538,"date":"2020-03-07T00:30:49","date_gmt":"2020-03-07T00:30:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/?page_id=6538"},"modified":"2021-06-18T17:35:15","modified_gmt":"2021-06-18T22:35:15","slug":"potomac-heritage-trail-2020-21","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/potomac-heritage-trail-2020-21\/","title":{"rendered":"Potomac Heritage Trail 2020-21"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.22.3&#8243;][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;3_4,1_4&#8243; make_equal=&#8221;on&#8221; module_class=&#8221; et_pb_row_fullwidth&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; width=&#8221;89%&#8221; width_tablet=&#8221;80%&#8221; width_phone=&#8221;&#8221; width_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; max_width=&#8221;89%&#8221; max_width_tablet=&#8221;80%&#8221; max_width_phone=&#8221;&#8221; max_width_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; make_fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;3_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.7&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h1 class=\"blue-headline\">Potomac Heritage Trail 2020-21<\/h1>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.7&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<ul class=\"display-posts-listing\"><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/one-week-to-go\/\">One Week to Go!<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(3\/7\/2020)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">In one week, I'll be on a plane headed for Washington, D.C. and the start of another thru-hike. This time it will be the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, the fifth National Scenic Trail that I'll be tackling. As always, I'm freaking out a little. I'm not fully prepared yet \u2013 life always seems to get in the way of my hike-planning and packing.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-1-smith-point-terminus\/\">Day 1: Smith Point Terminus<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(3\/13\/2020)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">I wasn't sure I'd make it to Smith Point today, one of the Potomac Heritage Trail's two southern terminuses. That's because over the last 24 hours, there has been a huge shift in nationwide concern and action over COVID-19. Suddenly schools are closing, major sports tournaments are off and all sorts of things.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-2-reedville-to-heathsville\/\">Day 2: Reedville to Heathsville<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(3\/14\/2020)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">I thought today's hike from Reedville to Heathsville would be easy. I guess because it was a road walk on the bike trail. Boy, was I wrong! I guess I can't say it was a hard walk. It was all roads, after all. But here's the thing. The route was constantly going up and downhill, and a lot of the uphills were those sneaky, long-but-gradual climbs. <\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-3-heathsville-to-montross\/\">Day 3: Heathsville to Montross<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(3\/15\/2020)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Drove to Heathsville this morning to drop my car. It's interesting \u2013 I'm not seeing anyone parking on the street in this area. So I gassed up at a station and asked the attendant about that. She said I could park my car there, so I did. And then I began walking.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-4-northern-neck-is-finished\/\">Day 4: Northern Neck Is Finished!<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(3\/16\/2020)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">The Northern Neck is a done deed! The one nice thing about the PHT being a braided network of trails is that you can cross off these little sections at a time. The first section I tackled was Virginia's Northern Neck, and today I crossed it off the list.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-5-point-lookout-to-st-marys-city\/\">Day 5: Point Lookout to St. Mary&#8217;s City<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(3\/17\/2020)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Today I moved down to Point Lookout, the southernmost point on Maryland's Potomac Heritage Trail miles. The drive took about 90 minutes. I'd been trying for weeks to find someone to shuttle me between Point Lookout State Park and St. Mary's City with no luck. On impulse, I asked a young park ranger I spotted as I drove into the park if she knew of someone. <\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-6-st-marys-city-to-leonardtown\/\">Day 6: St. Mary&#8217;s City to Leonardtown<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(3\/18\/2020)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">I was excited to start the day in St. Mary's City, which was Maryland's first state capital. It's also the site of Historic St. Mary's, a living history museum. After a quick breakfast of oatmeal with peanut butter (and coffee!) at my campsite, I was off.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-7-dynard-elementary-to-leonardtown\/\">Day 7: Dynard Elementary to Leonardtown<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(8\/24\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">This afternoon I hiked from Dynard Elementary School to Leonardtown, Maryland, and I couldn\u2019t have been more excited. Because I\u2019m back on the PHT, baby!\u00a0In my previous post, dated March 18, 2020, I\u2019d arrived in Leonardtown just six days into what was to be a five-week thru-hike of the Potomac Heritage Trail.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-8-dynard-elementary-to-capt-billys-crab-house\/\">Day 8: Dynard Elementary to Capt. Billy&#8217;s Crab House<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(8\/25\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Today\u2019s destination was Capt. Billy\u2019s Crab House. Thanks to my Lyft driver last night (Charlene), I learned I could schedule a ride. So I scheduled one for 8:15 at Capt. Billy\u2019s, to be shuttled back to Dynard Elementary. I got there plenty early, so I had time to check out the great views of the Potomac River.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-9-capt-billys-crab-house-to-doncaster-state-forest\/\">Day 9: Capt. Billy&#8217;s Crab House to Doncaster State Forest<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(8\/26\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Today\u2019s destination was Doncaster State Forest. But first, last night. My campsite at Goose Bay is nice. I\u2019m tucked among a gazillion RVs whose owners aren\u2019t around. The bay is so pretty (see photo), but my tent is in a site right by huge spotlights. That bothered me all night. I decided I\u2019d drape my towel over that portion of my tent tonight.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-10-doncaster-state-forest-to-lantana-drive\/\">Day 10: Doncaster State Forest to Lantana Drive<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(8\/27\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Today\u2019s goal was Lantana Drive, some 18 miles (29 km) away. Maura was going to pick me up at 4 p.m. at Budget Car Rental, where I was dropping off my car. To make sure I\u2019d be there in time, I arranged a 7:30 a.m. Lyft ride from Doncaster State Forest. I prayed the car would come on time.\r\n<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-11-lantana-drive-to-oxon-hill-manor\/\">Day 11: Lantana Drive to Oxon Hill Manor<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(8\/28\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Today's goal was Oxon Hill Manor. We're still battling horribly hot temps, so that was a bummer. But I'm trying to think of it as another day down. Maura shuttled me to my start at Lantana Drive. I got going at 8:11 a.m.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-12-oxon-hill-manor-to-fort-bunker-hill\/\">Day 12: Oxon Hill Manor to Fort Bunker Hill<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(8\/29\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Today's goal was Fort Bunker Hill, part of D.C.'s Circle Forts. I was excited because John was coming with. He's Andy's dad, and Andy is our daughter Maura's boyfriend. Maura dropped us off at Oxon Hill Manor, where I'd ended yesterday. And then John and I were off.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-13-fort-bunker-hill-to-glover-archbold-park\/\">Day 13: Fort Bunker Hill to Glover Archbold Park<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(8\/30\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Today\u2019s goal was the southern end of Glover Archbold Park, which would conclude the bulk of my Circle Forts exploration. I took the Metro back to Fort Bunker Hill, then continued on from my stopping point yesterday.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-14-mount-vernon-trail\/\">Day 14: Mount Vernon Trail<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(8\/31\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">I was pumped to be hiking the Mount Vernon Trail today for a variety of reasons. First, Maura was going to hike several hours with me in the morning. Shortly after that, my good friend Colleen was going to join me once again (she\u2019d been with me a few days on the PHT back in 2020). Finally, I\u2019d be staying in an old CCC cabin in Prince William Forest Park.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-15-prince-william-forest-park-to-neabsco\/\">Day 15: Prince William Forest Park to Neabsco<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/1\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">I didn't plan to hike to the Neabsco area today from Prince William Forest Park. I'd hoped to pick up where I'd left off yesterday (Pope Leighey House), then hike the trails in the Mason Neck area and a little beyond. So why the change in plans? Well, I didn't realize how remote my cabin was in Prince William Forest Park.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-16-marine-corps-museum-and-mason-neck-2\/\">Day 16: Marine Corps Museum and Mason Neck<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/2\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Today\u2019s goal was Mason Neck, although that wasn\u2019t the original plan. Yesterday, today and tomorrow were\/will be scattered itineraries, thanks to Hurricane Ida and some other issues. So today, I\u2019d hoped to hike yesterday\u2019s planned itinerary, which was to hike from the Pope-Leighey House to a few miles past Mason Neck.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-17-occoquan-area\/\">Day 17: Occoquan Area<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/3\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">I was stoked today to hike through the Occoquan section of the PHT, since this would mark the end of my exploration in this area of the trail. Before heading there, I first hiked a few miles out of the park in the opposite direction that I'd taken a few days ago, to officially finish this area.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-18-balls-bluff-to-algonkian\/\">Day 18: Ball&#8217;s Bluff to Algonkian<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/4\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Today starts a new section of the PHT \u2013 an angled path along the Potomac (Virginia side) from Ball's Bluff to D.C. As it's a Saturday, Maura decided to join us for the day. So we headed out for Ball's Bluff Regional Park bright and early in the morning.\u00a0\r\n<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-19-algonkian-to-scotts-run\/\">Day 19: Algonkian to Scott&#8217;s Run<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/6\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Today&#8217;s goal was Scott&#8217;s Run. For those of you (like me) who aren&#8217;t from this part of the country, a &#8220;run&#8221; is a small creek. This may not be a totally accurate definition, but I&#8217;m not finding one online. Anyway, Maura drove us to Algonkian Regional Park, where the NPS app indicated we&#8217;d have to [&hellip;]<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-20-scotts-run-to-civil-war-forts\/\">Day 20: Scott&#8217;s Run to Civil War Forts<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/7\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Today\u2019s goal was to finish the PHT along the Potomac in Virginia, plus pick off the last few miles\/kilometers of the Circle Forts tour. So yesterday, we finished in Scott\u2019s Run on a PHT detour in the park, due to flooding. Maura wouldn\u2019t let us hike the connecting road route \u2013 the dangerous Georgetown Pike from Scott\u2019s Run to Turkey Run \u2013 and planned to drive us to Turkey Run to start the day.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-21-start-co-to-swains-lock\/\">Day 21: Start C&#038;O to Swain&#8217;s Lock<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/8\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Today\u2019s destination was Swain\u2019s Lock on the C&O Canal Towpath. Yes, I\u2019ve made it onto another major section of the PHT! Woot, woot! It\u2019s also my 60th birthday, a major milestone.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-22-swains-lock-to-marble-quarry\/\">Day 22: Swain&#8217;s Lock to Marble Quarry<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/9\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Today\u2019s goal was the Marble Quarrycampsite along the C&O Canal Towpath.\u00a0I\u2019ve been having so much fun with MK, Andy, John and Ed that it was hard to leave them this morning at Swain\u2019s lockhouse. But that\u2019s the way it goes.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-23-marble-quarry-to-huckleberry-hill\/\">Day 23: Marble Quarry to Huckleberry Hill<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/10\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">I was nervous about today\u2019s destination \u2013 Huckleberry\u00a0Hill\u2013 because it was nearly 25 miles (40.2 km) from Marble Quarry. At least the high was only supposed to be 75 F (23.9 C). I got up before 6 a.m. and was on the road before 8, despite moving rather leisurely.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-24-huckleberry-hill-to-big-woods\/\">Day 24: Huckleberry Hill to Big Woods<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/11\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Today\u2019s goal was Big Woods campsite, just under 20 miles (32.2 km) away. This is predicted to be the last nice day before the awful 90s F (+32 C) drift in for a few days. I got up and on the towpath by 8:30, which is kind of late.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-25-big-woods-to-williamsport\/\">Day 25: Big Woods to Williamsport<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/12\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Today\u2019s hike from Big Woods to Williamsport was exceptionally hard, but I\u2019m not sure why. I felt well-rested this morning and made sure to eat more than I usually do. But I was wiped out just halfway into the day. To backtrack a bit \u2026<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-26-williamsport-to-little-pool\/\">Day 26: Williamsport to Little Pool<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/13\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">I wasn\u2019t super stoked for today\u2019s hike, as it was supposed to be hot and humid as I made my way to the Little Pool campsite. And with so many campsite pumps being out of operation, I had no idea what I\u2019d be facing. But first, a look at last night.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-27-little-pool-to-devils-alley\/\">Day 27: Little Pool to Devil&#8217;s Alley<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/14\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Today\u2019s hike to Devil's Alley\u00a0nearly killed me. OK, so that\u2019s a bit of an exaggeration. But it did a number on me mentally. It wasn\u2019t the day in and of itself, but rather the culmination of hiking so many, many days in temperatures around 90 F (+32 C), with high humidity and a too-heavy pack.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-28-devils-alley-to-paw-paw-campground\/\">Day 28: Devil&#8217;s Alley to Paw Paw Campground<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/15\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">I needed a great night\u2019s sleep to prepare for the hike today, which featured the Paw Paw Tunnel. Or should I say, featured the\u00a0steep\u00a0climb up and over the mountain that the tunnel goes through, as the tunnel is undergoing repairs.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-29-paw-paw-campground-to-cumberland\/\">Day 29: Paw Paw Campground to Cumberland<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/16\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">The big question for today: Should I hike all the way from the Paw Paw Campground to Cumberland, a roughly 30-mile (48.3 km) trek, or stop a few miles\/kilometers short and tack them onto tomorrow? I decided to take it hour by hour.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-30-cumberland-to-frostburg\/\">Day 30: Cumberland to Frostburg<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/17\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">I was feeling pretty good about today\u2019s trip to Frostburg. First, yesterday\u2019s long hike had gone well, with one exception. I\u2019m starting to feel some pains in my right leg that are reminiscent of the leg issues I had on the Natchez Trace earlier this year.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-31-frostburg-to-meadow-mountain\/\">Day 31: Frostburg to Meadow Mountain<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/18\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Today\u2019s trek to the Meadow Mountain Overlook was actually on the itinerary for tomorrow. Here\u2019s what happened today, which will affect my entire experience of the Easter Continental Divide Loop (ECDL) of the Potomac Heritage Trail.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-32-meadow-mountain-to-deep-creek-lake-state-park\/\">Day 32: Meadow Mountain to Deep Creek Lake State Park<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/19\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Today\u2019s destination: Deep Creek Lake State Park. I slept great last night in my wooden aerie. I heard the usual birds and bugs at night, but no mammals or humans or even cars. It was such a quiet night! The temps were nice and cool, too.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-33-meadow-mountain-overlook-to-hoyes-run\/\">Day 33: Meadow Mountain Overlook to Hoyes Run<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/20\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">On the itinerary today: a road walk to Hoyes Run, which is a stone\u2019s throw from the popular Youghiogheny River, or the Yough (Yock), as locals call it. The day dawned sunny and cool \u2013 perfect conditions.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-34-meadow-mountain-trail-to-frostburg\/\">Day 34: Meadow Mountain Trail to Frostburg<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/21\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Today was my final leg of the Eastern Continental Divide Loop: Hiking the remainder of the Meadow Mountain Trail to its northern terminus near Frostburg. Josh with Garrett Trails shuttled me to the spot near the overlook where I\u2019d hopped on the trail two days ago, heading south.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-35-frostburg-to-meyersdale\/\">Day 35: Frostburg to Meyersdale<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/22\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">\r\nMy trek to Meyersdale today could be considered a loss. But I\u2019m choosing to view it as a win. The forecast called for rain starting last night around 4 or 5 p.m., and not ending until tomorrow morning.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-36-meyersdale-to-rockwood\/\">Day 36: Meyersdale to Rockwood<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/23\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Today\u2019s trek to Rockwood was an easy one. I took my time this morning, since the hike was a mere 12 miles (19.3 km), or about four hours of walking. I once again had my bags shuttled forward; why not slackpack when you can?<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-37-rockwood-to-youghiogheny-outflow-camping\/\">Day 37: Rockwood to Youghiogheny Outflow Camping<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/24\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Before I describe today\u2019s hike to Confluence and the Youghiogheny Outflow Camping site, I have to mention last night. After mailing my food box back home, I grabbed some onion rings and a small salad at a local restaurant.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-38-youghiogheny-outflow-to-laurel-highlands\/\">Day 38: Youghiogheny Outflow to Laurel Highlands<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/25\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">My hike to the Ohiopyle shelter along the Laurel Highlands Trail\u00a0was certainly a memorable one. As was last night. So, I was camping at the Youghiogheny Outflow Campground\u00a0along the Youghiogheny River.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-39-laurel-highlands-to-grindle-ridge\/\">Day 39: Laurel Highlands to Grindle Ridge<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/26\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">My hike to Grindle Ridge today was intense. But let\u2019s start with last night. I thought I heard critters on and off all night. That is, critters in\/near my shelter. I hadn\u2019t left any food out, but I do know mice are often in shelters. UGH.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-40-grindle-ridge-to-route-30\/\">Day 40: Grindle Ridge to Route 30<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/27\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Today\u2019s trek to the Route 30 shelter took everything I had. And then some. But first, last night. I slept quite well, in that I didn\u2019t hear any mice or critters outside my tent or in the shelter. Phew!\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-41-route-30-to-route-56\/\">Day 41: Route 30 to Route 56<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/28\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">I must be thankful for today\u2019s hike to the Route 56 shelter. It could have been so awful! So here\u2019s what happened, starting with last night.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/day-42-route-56-to-eastern-terminus\/\">Day 42: Route 56 to Eastern Terminus<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(9\/29\/2021)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">OMG, I was so excited to hike out to the Eastern Terminus of the Laurel Highlands Trail today, because that meant I'd have finished a thru-hike of my sixth National Scenic Trail. Woot, woot!<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_sidebar area=&#8221;sidebar-1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.7&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_sidebar][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.22.3&#8243;][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;3_4,1_4&#8243; make_equal=&#8221;on&#8221; module_class=&#8221; et_pb_row_fullwidth&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; width=&#8221;89%&#8221; width_tablet=&#8221;80%&#8221; width_phone=&#8221;&#8221; width_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; max_width=&#8221;89%&#8221; max_width_tablet=&#8221;80%&#8221; 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