Duncannon to Rt. 225

April 21, 2013

10 Miles
Tom, Molly, Shannon, Wyatt, Mike and Dakota

On a beautiful spring morning we started out in downtown Duncannon—took our picture in front of the famous Doyle Hotel—and began walking through the picturesque streets and then first over the Juniata River and moments later over the Susquehanna River on the Clarks Ferry Bridge.  

As a plaque on the bridge states, the pioneer Robert Clark operated a ferry along this section of the river in the days before a dam and canal system were operated by the Commonwealth, and later by the Pennsylvania Railroad.   Finally, the Clarks Ferry Bridge was constructed in 1925.

After a few miles in town and over the bridge, we came alongside the railroad tracks on the Dauphin County side of the river and posed for a picture before beginning the steep ascent up Peter’s Mountain.  The 2 miles of uphill switchbacks required some careful navigating, as the path began to get rockier as we approached the ridge.  Each lookout along the way provided a clear panoramic view of the Susquehanna Valley below, both across the river to Duncannon—and down the valley to Harrisburg.

Most notable on the way up were the ruins of the old Berkeheimer farm that had once inhabited the terraced side of the mountain.  The foundation stones of an old mule barn were all that remained of the homestead, but so well constructed and so large the stones that they are firmly locked in place all these decades later.

 

Atop the ridge, we stopped for a short break and met a gentleman who regularly hikes this section of the Trail and is involved with the Duncannon Appalachian Trail Community (DATC).  He gave us his business card, with the website to find out more about the annual festival that takes place on June 1.  For more information, visit: www.duncannonatc.org

Also, while taking a break on the ridge—and in anticipation of my 39^th birthday in a few days, my hiking companions sang a beautiful rendition of “Happy Birthday to You”, and I enjoyed a scrumptious muffin that Mona had baked for the occassion.  Thank you Mona!

For the next four miles, the Trail straddles the ridge—literally where the top boulders push out of the Earth—so it is not smooth walking and our regular pace was slowed quite a bit.

In this section of the Trail is located the Clarks Ferry Shelter, and the first privy or “outhouse” that I could recall since we started hiking at the Maryland border.    The original Peter’s Mountain Shelter in this area was built Earl "Crazy One" Shaffer, who is recognized as the first thru hiker of the Appalachian Trail.  (Mr Shaffer became the first northbound thru hiker in 1948 and the first southbound thru hiker in 1965.)  He also completed another northbound thru hike at the age of 79 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his first AT thru hike. 

Interestingly, the shelter he built is now in the Appalachian Trail Museum. The current structure was built in 1994 and sits about 300 yards off the Trail.

Indeed, a great hike on a beautiful day, and a wonderful way to celebrate my birthday with friends.