6/10/06 Saturday: Doyle Hotel, Duncannon, PA to Stony Mtn stream/rhododendrums (21mi)

PICTURES:
1&2. Nice views looking back toward Duncannon on my ascent of Peters Mtn.
3. A new and interesting hut configuration on Peters Mtn...
I got up for breakfast at a diner across the street and was looking for an excuse to take a zero day... It seemed the other hikers who joined me there were thinking the same thing...lol... But by 0830, I decided to get myself in gear and hit the trail... By 0900 I was out of town and climbing up a 1000" trail leading to Peters Mountain and a ridge I would follow N for some time... We had all been warned about the "Pensylvania rocks" and that they would start to harrass us after Duncannon... Well they wernt lying... I got my first tast for the rocks and it does slow you down... So although the terrain was relatively flat, the averages of 3mph were no longer possible as I weaved and jumped between and from on boulder to another... There wernt many views on "Peters Mtn" so I concentrated on moving as quickly as possible... About 2 hours into my hike I encountered a "young man" who chilled me as he darted out of the woods as I walked N up the trail... He didnt look the part of a hiker, more one of a homeless person and though the temps were in the 70s, he was wrapped in old, dirty, torn clothes. Only parts showing were his face and hands... After my initial fright, I approached him and decided to put on a strong front... We exchanged greetings and chatted a bit, he said he had come down from New York on the trail and was headed for Georgia...He asked me for some matches but I told him they were "buried" in my pack and would be a hassel to get to... I didnt really want to empty my pack in front of him... He said he was headed into town, to the Doyle and asked if they had food in the "hiker boxes" there... I told him yes, there was plenty and bid him good day... He seemed like a nice enough guy but certainly was out of place with his day pack on such a long journey... Just didnt add up... I kept looking over my shoulder for some time after we parted... Later that same morning I passed a couple of southbound hikers and I recounted my story... I was also worried about skunk and other women who ofter walk solo... A few hours later I met an ATC RidgeRunner... He's employed by the ATC and the local trail club in conjunction with the local and national authorities to keep the trail safe... After commenting on what a great job his club was doing with the trail and the shelters, I again recounted my story to him... He said he would keep an eye out for this person and chat with him about his plans... A few nights later, I stayed with some other hikers who claimed to have shared a shelter with this person... The young lady said she was very concerned for her safety by his presence there, asking some hikers for food and others for money... I felt justified in my concern and am not sure what if anything has come to pass... I finally descended from Peters Mtn and began my ascent of Stony Mountain... I passed a group of teenagers resting on the trail, part of an "Outward Bound" type group from Boiling Springs, they all had the "ARE WE THERE YET" look on their faces...LOL... I chatted with the young lady in charge of the group for a bit and knew these kids were experiencing something that would affect them for the rest of their lives. I recalled my teenage Youth Concervation Corps experience of 1975 and its long lasting effect it has had on my life... I bid them all a nice night and continued on... At 1630 and after 15miles, I stopped at a spring on Stony Mtn for a relaxing dinner.... The southbound hikers I had met earlier this day mentioned a campground near a creek and rhododendrums... After about another 6 miles a came across just such a setting and set up camp among the pines, flowers, and passing deer... What a peaceful setting after such a long day... I slept well here...