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"The anticipation of seeing and hugging her is enough to blank my mind of any other thought.."
Publisher's Note: This is a trail journal by Dustin Jackson in his own words and
thoughts.
He is hiking the Appalachian Trail southbound from Maine to Georgia. The News & Neighbor will follow his adventure as he reports to us via internet cafes. He
will also send photos from stopping points along the trail. The map included
with his journals will mark his progress. You can also follow along via
internet by viewing his trail journal at: www.trailjournals.com/Jackson
Dustin's email address is: appalachian.jackson@gmail.com
By Dustin Jackson (Trail name "Farsang")
Day 74 13.6miles Tent site at mile 908.4
The rocks have started. I’ve been hearing about PA rocks since I was a kid. Hearing how terrible they are and how hard it is to hike. We had lunch at the
pizza place and headed out.
We are done with this Delaware water gap, it cost us a lot of money. 'Obie' and 'Pyro' hiked out quickly. I just let my brain calculate my steps and move over these rocks. 'Alpine' and Princess Brat' had started earlier in the day. I met them about dark at camp. They had a fire going and I didn’t feel like hiking in the dark. 'Pyro' and 'Obie hiked on to Wind Gap. Our little group of hikers are all from the South. 'Pyro' (WV), 'Obie' (GA), 'Alpine' and 'Princess Brat' (GA). We all crave sweet tea, gravy, and grits.
Day 75 14.4 miles Cliffs @ mile 923.8
We hiked down to Wind Gap. We met up with 'Pyro,' 'Obie' who had hiked on. It was hot and none of us could get our energy going. We found a place to stop overlooking Allentown, PA 30 miles away. We rolled out our sleep mats haphazardly on the cliff, all the while conscience
of rolling off in the middle of the night.
We looked into the distance and could see fireworks for Labor Day. It was beautiful and quiet.
Day 76 25.7miles Allentown Hiking Club Shelter
'Pyro' and I hiked out first. We wanted to go into town for breakfast. We got a hitch from the first car we tried. She stopped right in the middle of the road on a blind curve. She drove past the spot where we thought we were going. She asked us if we needed groceries, “sure”. We thought she was going to wait on us, but instead she said ”see ya boys," and drove off. There we were 7 miles from the trail. We ate breakfast, a guy asked me about my trekking poles. I asked him for a
ride.
We met back up with 'Alpine' & 'Princess Brat' right before the “Dead Zone”.
The Dead Zone is an EPA superfund site where zinc had been mined until 1980. Now everything is dead on the mountain, no trees, only a few scrub bushes. There's not even lichen on the rocks, just bleach white. Signs from previous years, but no longer present read; “Do not camp or stay for long”. I guess we’re lucky we’re fast hikers. So I say thanks to the ATC for buying this poisoned land and allowing us hikers
to be exposed to it.
(Insert sarcasm.)
We hiked a hard rocky descent to the road to Palmerton, PA, then back up the
other side.
We all stopped at a spring for lunch. me and 'Pyro' hiked ahead. I was ready to
gain some miles.
We hiked 17miles after 12:30. We camped alone in the Allentown shelter with a few weekenders close by.
Day 77 22.6 miles Microtel Hotel Port Clinton, PA
Woke up this morning to more ridgeline walking. The North bounders said we would have such a hard time through the rocks, we
would never hike over 20 miles.
The rocks aren’t that bad, I just put my feet out there and let them get twisted and turned. I just continued to move forward. We hiked fast, nothing much to look at anyway. 'Pyro’s' dad drove down from WV to see his son whom he hasn’t seen in 3 months. 'Pyro' offered me a night in the hotel. No way I was passing on that. We drove over to Reading, PA for dinner. We ate and had beer at the Ugly Oyster.
His dad, Bob Evans, picked up the tab. I thought that was very nice. I turned down the AC on low and slept great.
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Guess what was next door to the hotel; a Cracker Barrel! Mason Dixon line is getting closer! I got some groceries, stopped by the PO and hiked the trail up and out of the
gap of Port Clinton.
I felt my back was wet again. My water was leaking. I threw my bag down and salvaged as much as I could, about a quart. This is a problem, water is scarce. Everything has dried up. I camped short today since I was hiking in the afternoon heat and I also was
stung on my inner thigh through my pants by a yellow jacket.
That made me dance around like a fool. I figured it would be cooler in the morning and I would make my quart of water
last longer.
Day 79 17.8 miles 501 shelter
Well, I ran out of water quick. It was hot and humid by 9 am. Every spring I went by was dried up. Luckily, about at 10miles in I found a slow spring that was not listed in my
book.
Trail magic helped me again. Everything was not so dismal with flat ridge walking all day. Hitched a ride to the buffet and filled up. The owner of the place gave me a ride back to the shelter. He told me, “He lives through the hikers since he can’t do it." I tried to tell him that anyone that has legs to walk on can do it.
Day 80 16.4 miles Campsite at mile 1,011
Today I hike for Verdund Arrowood. He is a good friend who was my neighbor when I moved into my house. He and wife, Mary, have always taken good care of me. He has always been involved with the Boy Scouts. He would take a group out on the AT for a 50 mile trek. He did this for years.
Today I passed the 1,000 mile mark. It’ like walking from Johnson City to Dallas, TX. Now I’ve got to walk back. I would be happy if 1,000 miles is what this journey took,
but it takes more.
I must and want to keep going. I can say that being halfway weighs on me pretty heavy knowing I have to repeat
what I just did.
I am not speaking of feelings of quitting, it hasn’t entered my mind. more>>
