10-mile days

April 18-19, 2025

Tumbling Run to Birch Run

Mile 1095.2

Yesterday I made my first 10+ mile day. out of Tumbling Run, up to Chimney Rock, past Rocky Mountain shelter (some of these names—I mean, all the mountains have been rocky), and then further out to the intersection with Rt. 30.

I’d planned to camp at Caledonia State Park, but I’d heard that 1) only some of their facilities were open; and 2) Calculus had said that there was a nice little hostel he had been recommended to try right off of route 30. This was my ‘middle ground’ goal. Another 3.5 miles and I would have made it to Quarry Gap, where Been There was shooting for. At my usual 6-7 mile per day pace, Rocky Mountain shelter would have been just fine. I aimed for the hostel in the middle.

Between the AT and the hostel on Rt. 30, there was a BBQ place I’d heard about, both on the FarOut app and through word of mouth. When I got there around 3:30, though, it had already sold out. The place is open Thurs-Sun, from 11 to whenever they run out of BBQ. Nice work if you can get it, I figure. 

The fellow working there, Justin, saw me coming and invited me in anyway. He gave me a soda and some potato salad—that’s all they had left—and waved me away when I tried to pay for it. Trail magic has come in all kinds of ways from people well-known and just met—I truly am a fortunate human, I think.

He sat me down in the main area to eat while he went back to start smoking the next day’s BBQ, and turned the TV on. Either by design or by coincidence, on tv was a reality show about smoking meat. I found it curiously enthralling.

The hostel itself was about .4 down the road, run by some nice church folks who put a lot of large statues of various animals both in and outside the hostel. Right outside the hostel entrance was a person-sized sculpture of a seal with a ball; I passed a big wooden dog with sunglasses as I headed for the bunkroom. Calculus was there when I arrived, glad to see me and congratulatory on my mileage for the day. We ordered a pizza and talked plans for the next few days. I could make Pine Grove Furnace State Park in two days if I could keep doing ~10 a day. 

The next day felt harder, even though there were a lot of long, easy stretches. Maybe because I was increasing daily mileage, or maybe because it was a hotter day. I think weather and temp are going to make a big difference in my energy levels. I was able to do another 10 miles in 7.5 hours— not fast, but more, and longer.

I met up with Calculus at Birch Run shelter; the shelter itself was closed due to a bat bug infestation, but tent camping was plentiful and water was nearby. I knew I had to stop at the Ironmasters Hostel in Pine Grove Furnace to pick up a package; that was almost exactly 10 miles from Birch Run. Three 10s in a row? If I could do it, that would be awesome. If the hostel was closed for Easter, I might need to camp at Pine Grove campground until it opened. Calculus is aiming for Duncannon—he might stay at the hostel tomorrow, or continue a few more miles to get closer to his destination. Guess we’ll see. It’s been nice to have someone I know at the shelters these last few days. Makes me wonder where some of the others are now.