Francis has us back to the Susquehanna bridge by 6:30 a.m., but he and X do a little videoing for an upcoming Association of Nature Center Administrators fund raising project before we start the climb in earnest. The first two miles are much rockier than we expected, but it is a fun challenge to navigate rather than being a “difficult just to walk” challenge.

As the trail snakes around the end of Peters Mountain, we have some hazy views back down to the river. Once we start down the spine of the ridge, the open space at two power line crossings provides the best vantage points of the day.

We are developing a hypothesis about Pennsylvania rocks and a late start in AT thru hiking season. Coming through after most other thru hikers, we find there is a “beaten path” where the heavy foot traffic has mostly chewed up last year’s leaf cover. Following this route lets you make use of the collective decisions on foot placement for all who have come before, and is a big help.

The AT today is dry and hot – there is no cloud cover like yesterday and the temperature is in the upper 90s. We take breaks at both shelters we pass, but they only partly revive us. What a relief when we reach our second road crossing and our stopping point for the day. Francis pulls up in his truck not two minutes later, with iced drinks in his cooler. We’re able to share them with a few other hikers arriving at the same time…