Derrick Earls, More Heart than Scars tackle the AT together and in Spirit!: Day 61, July 15, 2014

11.9 AT miles.

Some days wanting to complete miles overwhelms the mind. Today I'm grateful to say I'm glad I slowed it down.

The morning was foggy and humid and my bag, pack cover, boots and clothes were wet. I had a pair of socks that were mostly dry, a soaked pair and a completely dry pair. It's always a good idea to keep a pair of clean/dry socks in the bank! I opted for the mostly dry pair and hung the drenched ones on my pack. I put on dry clothes and quickly switched to placing my previous days wet clothes before departing the shelter. If I would have placed dry clothes on, they would be wet in a matter of minutes. They were slightly cold but I began walking. My body heat warned me up and I made it to the historic halfway point. IHOP and I posed for a picture.

We arrived at Pine Grove State Park ready to conquer the half gallon challenge. I arrived and my group informed me their was one left. I thought they were joking and sure enough there was only one Coconut half gallon of ice cream left (-a pint) left. The prices were reasonable and I ordered two burgers and fries. I got me a $.75 nest tea out of the vending machine. This was around 10:15 a.m. We waited for the AT museum to open at 12 p.m. and it was worth the stall.

I spent an hour or two in the museum and it was remarkable. Benton MacKaye, Myron Avery, Ed Garvey, Grandma Gatewood and Gene Espy were amazing pioneers. Their stories each phenomenal and exceptional to the history of the Appalachian Trail.

After we toured the museum the Hershey Ice Cream truck arrived. I had approximately 9 miles to hike and begin processing my options. I quickly realized hiking would be horrendous after eating that much ice cream. We did some estimations and quickly realized it was approximately 2-3 cups of sugar, 2400 calories and overwhelming amounts of lactose. Your pancreas would be extremely upset with you as well. We also realized that the typical family ice cream which they were selling as a "half gallon was a pint short. They are 1 and a half quarts. Needless to say noone went back for the extra pint! The ones who participated were great sports. Most finished.

I walked my remaining miles and arrived at 5 p.m. I picked a top bunk at James Fry Shelter. Relaxed and completed chores. Another fire and beautiful evening.