McAfee Hikes

Date Written: 10/06/2024 | AT Mile 1012.1 | Day Total: 17.0 miles | Gain: 1761 ft

Woke up, ate breakfast and headed out this morning around 8. Only woke up once last night at 12:30 which is unusual. I’m generally turning every hour or two. Got an easy 17 miles to Stay-AT-Swatara. It’s a newly established “hostel” that has camping and a little bathroom with a shower and also laundry.

Had a small easy climb out of camp and to a view from a rocky outcrop. The trails still fairly rocky but has definitely died down a notch.

About 5 miles into my hike today I hit the 1000 mile marker for the trail!!! It’s hard for me to wrap my head around how far that is and I’m the one who’s hiked it! I ended up passing quite a few “1000 mile stick/rock creations” the best one was about 3 miles before the actual 1000 mile point. Some were from previous years and the trail has changed mileage since then.

Between the markers I passed Shower Steps Vista. I took a little snack break here and took in the beautiful day.

I pushed onto another view for lunch. I try to eat at views whenever possible even if I delay my lunch a little. Today’s lunch views was at Little Mountain Overlook. There was a nice rock just in the shade before the ledge that I sat at and ate lunch. No jump scares from any mock 10 deer today thankfully…

I had 4.7 miles after lunch to the hostel tonight. Really looking forward to that shower and clean clothes. I was along the ridge in the sun for a few miles and saw two black rat snakes. One was took a really aggressive stance when I walked up on it. I’m just glad it wasn’t a rattlesnake. I took the long way around the trail…

Just before the hostel I walked under interstate 81. There was a sign for the hostel at the bridge with direction to it. It would be pretty hard to miss as it’s 20 yards off trail.

The hostel is self checkin and they give you a code to a lock box to open the ahead with more info and snacks! They were established in 2023 and have plans on renovating the house into a hostel someday. The house seems to be in pretty rough shape. The “squattie pottie” is a new small bathroom with shower they made outside that’s really nice and clean.

I check in, showered, started laundry, and relaxed for a bit. I arrived around 3 so I’ve got some time before the sun falls down which is nice. For dinner I made a pizza, they’ve got little “pizza ovens” that rotate and cook the pizza in the shed.

Sky, Leaf and Kill Bill are also here. Sounds like Leaf is going to hike 2 miles more today to get away from the road noise, it pretty loud… hopefully it doesn’t bother me tonight.