Appalachian Trail - Day 2

Rainy Day on the Trail

GPS: (39.429389, -77.639396)

Well, I survived the first night sleeping in the woods (actually in the shelter). It rained on and off all night. By the time I woke up, the four southbound thru-hikers were already gone; they were on a mission to reach the southern end of the trail, Springer Mountain, Georgia, over 1000 miles before the end of the year.

After morning chores and breakfast, I got on the trail and experienced the taste of hiking in the morning rain. There is a saying about the AT, "No Pain, No Rain, No Maine." I just wished it wasn't this early.

Rainy Day

Appalachian Trail

Rainy Day

Washington Monument, Boonsboro, Maryland

GPS: (39.500519, -77.623065)

After a few hours of hiking in the rain, I reached the famous Washington Monument. This landmark holds historical significance as the first-ever monument dedicated to George Washington, located in Boonsboro, Maryland. Standing tall atop South Mountain, it was completed in 1827 to honor the nation's first president. 

Since it was pouring, I quickly asked a fellow hiker to take a single picture of me with the monument and proceeded to hike north.

Washington Monument, Maryland

I-70 Footbridge-US40, Maryland (End of Day #2)

GPS: (39.535555, -77.603942)

By the time I reached the trailhead, after hiking for just two days, I was completely exhausted. I wondered how these thru-hikers manage to hike day in and day out for six months straight. My initial plan was to complete the entire section of the Maryland Appalachian Trail, which spans 41 miles, in three days. However, I soon realized that I had about 19 miles left and couldn't cover them in one day. So, I called my wife to come and pick me up. Thus, my first-ever AT section hike ended in just two days, covering a total of 22 miles. 

I-70 Footbridge-US40, Maryland

Summary of the Day #2